Piedmont Technical College

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The Early Care and Education program offers a combination of classroom instruction and supervised, hands-on experience that prepares students for direct entry into the field of Early Care and Education. This program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

To succeed in the Early Care and Education program, students must score a grade of "C" or higher in all coursework with an ECD prefix, enjoy children, have patience, possess excellent communication skills with adults and children, enjoy creative activities, have decision making skills, be able to spend long lengths of time being actively involved with children and have a strong work ethic.

The program emphasizes a combination of early childhood care and education theory and practical application necessary for successful employment. Students complete two supervised field experiences and are required to have a current acceptable criminal background check and drug screening. A criminal record could make you ineligible for enrollment or participation in a supervised field experience, creating an inability to graduate from the program. Persons who have been convicted of a felony offense are not employable in the child care field.

Program Location: Greenwood, Laurens County, Newberry

Schedule Availability: Day-Fall, Day-Spring, Evening-Fall, Evening-Spring

Contact Information: Ashley Hollingsworth

Required Courses

Additional Program Information

Day Program (Beginning Fall Semester)

Evening Program (Beginning Fall Semester)

Day Program (Beginning Spring Semester)

Evening Program (Beginning Spring Semester)

Updated 4/18/2012

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Purpose Statement  – The mission of the Early Care and Education Program of Piedmont Technical College is to provide the community with professional early educators who are knowledgeable, competent, committed and capable of providing quality professional care for all children. The program’s graduates are able to evaluate and assess children and make quality developmentally appropriate decisions for children’s learning. Through the extensive study of NAEYC standards and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct our students are provided the knowledge needed to support advocacy for children and the profession of early educators. 

Student Learning Outcomes: aligned to NAEYC Program Standards:

Promoting Child Development and Learning

1a: Knowing and understanding young children’s characteristics and needs

1b: Knowing and understanding the multiple influences on development and learning

1c: Using developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments

Building Family and Community Relationships

2a: Knowing about and understanding diverse family and community characteristics

2b: Supporting and engaging families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships

2c: Involving families and communities in their children’s development and learning

Observing, Documenting, and Assessing to Support Young Children and Families

3a: Understanding the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment

3b: Knowing about and using observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches

3c: Understanding and practicing responsible assessment to promote positive outcomes for each child

3d: Knowing about assessment partnerships with families and with professional colleagues

Using Developmentally Effective Approaches to Connect with Children and Families

4a: Understanding positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation of their work with children

4b: Knowing and understanding effective strategies and tools for early education

4c: Using a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching/learning approaches

4d: Reflecting on their own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child

Using Content Knowledge to Build Meaningful Curriculum

5a: Understanding content knowledge and resources in academic disciplines

5b: Knowing and using the central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines

5c: Using their own knowledge, appropriate early learning standards, and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curricula for each child.

Becoming a Professional

6a: Identifying and involving oneself with the early childhood field

6b: Knowing about and upholding ethical standards and other professional guidelines

6c: Engaging in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice

6d: Integrating knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on early education

6e: Engaging in informed advocacy for children and the profession 5a: Understanding content knowledge and resources in academic disciplines

Advisement Information for A.A.S., Early Care and Education and A.A.S., Early Care and Education, Infant and Toddler Concentration

Due to some very specific changes to the Early Childhood and Infant and Toddler Degrees and Certificates for Fall 2012 and accreditation requirements, all students registering for a class with the prefix of ECD must be advised by Ashley Hollingsworth (864-941-8787, Hollingsworth.a@ptc.edu)  or Rhonda Pendergrass (864-941-8507, pendergrass.p@ptc.edu ).  Students will not be able to self-register or web  register.  Also, all advisors are to direct these students to ECD faculty for advisement.  ECD faculty will conduct phone advisement sessions for off campus students. Please have all students call or e-mail one of these faculty members.

• This program is primarily offered on the Greenwood campus; however, courses can be completed from county campuses or in the evening over a longer period of time.

• Students must score a grade of C or higher in all coursework with an ECD prefix. Students must retake any course with a D or lower.

• This program is accredited by the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

• Students need strong reading and writing competencies to succeed in ECD courses.

• Graduates of the Early Care and Education program (not the Infant and Toddler concentration) may transfer to many colleges or universities to complete a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, i.e., Columbia College, Newberry College, Lander University and the University of South Carolina. Students interested in transfer options should consult with an ECD advisor about appropriate selection of electives.

• Students in Early Care and Education programs are required to have a criminal background check and a urine drug screen test before placement in field experience courses: ECD 243, ECD 251 and ECD 244. In addition, some child development centers and schools may require a TB tine test.

• Students will be required to complete a CPR and First Aid course during ECD 135 and this training has a cost associated with it.

• Students should take ECD 101 in first semester.

• PSY 203 does not substitute for ECD 203.

• Students must complete developmental English and Reading coursework (100 levels) prior to ECD coursework.

Advisement Information updated 5/20/2011