The Associate in Applied Science degree program in Child Development: Pre-school Education provides child development theory and skills for the student who intends to work immediately in a pre-school program as a teacher or teacher assistant in public and private preschools, child care centers, or nursery schools as well as prepare students to work as teacher aides and activities supervisors.

Related Degrees and Certificates

• Child Development: Pre-school Education, Basic Certificate
• Child Development: Pre-school Education Infant/Toddler, Advanced Certificate
• Child Development: Pre-school Education, Advanced Certificate
• Child Development: Pre-school Education, Associate in Applied Science

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Education Coursework
ENGLISH 101	Composition	3
Additional General Education Courses 1,2		12
Required Program Core
CHLD DV 101	Human Growth & Development I 2	4
CHLD DV 107	Health Safety And Nutrition 2	3
CHLD DV 109	Language & Literacy Development in Early Childhood 2	3
CHLD DV 120	Intro To Early Childhood Education Group Care 2	3
CHLD DV 143	Science & Math for Young Children 2	3
CHLD DV 149	Creative Activities For Young Children 2	3
CHLD DV 201	Observation, Assessment, & Documentation to Support Young Children & Families 2	3
CHLD DV 258	Principles & Practices of Pre-School Education 2	4
CHLD DV 262	Child, Family & Community Relations (HD) 2	3
Required Work-Based Learning Courses
CHLD DV 259	Practicum In Pre-School 2	6
Program Electives
Select a minimum of 12 credit hours of the following along with others as recommended by a College Advisor:		12
CHLD DV 102	Human Growth & Development II
CHLD DV 142	Methods & Materials for Infant Toddler Care 2,3
CHLD DV 205	Development of Exceptional Child
CHLD DV 248	Principles & Practice of Infant & Toddler Care 2,3
CIS 120	Introduction to Computer Applications
Total Hours		62

¹

Select an additional 12 hours of general education courses from Communications, Fine Arts & Humanities, Mathematics, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or Physical Sciences and Life Sciences.

²

Requires completion of clinical experience/observation hours

³

Select these electives to earn the Gateways to Opportunity Infant Toddler Credential

Pathway

This is an example course sequence for students interested in pursuing Pre-School Education. This does not represent a contract or guarantee course availability. If this five-semester pathway is followed as outlined, students will earn a Basic Certificate (BC), an Advanced Certificate (AC), and an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Child Development: Pre-School Education. This pathway is a great option for students intending to go to work in an Early Childhood setting, or looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree program or a teacher certification bachelor degree program in Early Childhood Education. Please see your advisor for more specific information.

Semester-by-Semester Program Plan for Full-Time Students

All plans can be modified to fit the needs of part-time students by adding more semesters.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
CHLD DV 107	Health Safety And Nutrition	3
CHLD DV 120	Intro To Early Childhood Education Group Care	3
ENGLISH 101	Composition 1	3
Select one Mathematics or Physical Sciences or Life Sciences course 1,2		3
	Hours	12
Semester 2
CHLD DV 101	Human Growth & Development I	4
CHLD DV 149	Creative Activities For Young Children	3
CHLD DV 262	Child, Family & Community Relations	3
Select one of the following:		3
ANTHRO 202	Cultural Anthropology (HD) 1
Social and Behavioral Sciences course (HD) 1
	Hours	13
Semester 3
CHLD DV 109	Language & Literacy Development in Early Childhood	3
CHLD DV 143	Science & Math for Young Children	3
CHLD DV 201	Observation, Assessment, & Documentation to Support Young Children & Families	3
LIT 130	Children's Literature 1	3
	Hours	12
Semester 4
CHLD DV 258	Principles & Practices of Pre-School Education	4
Select one of the following:		3-4
CHLD DV 102	Human Growth & Development II 3
MATH 122	Math For Elementary Teachers II 3
Elective course 3
Select one of the following:		3
CHLD DV 142	Methods & Materials for Infant Toddler Care 3
Elective course 3
Select one of the following:		3
PSYCH 201	General Psychology 1
POL SCI 201	The National Government 1
HISTORY 111	History of American People To 1865 1
HISTORY 112	History of American People From 1865 1
General Education course 1
	Hours	13-14
Semester 5
CHLD DV 259	Practicum In Pre-School	6
Select one of the following:		3
CHLD DV 205	Development of Exceptional Child 3
Elective course 3
Select one of the following:		3-4
CHLD DV 248	Principles & Practice of Infant & Toddler Care 3
Elective course 3
	Hours	12-13
	Total Hours	62-64

¹

General Education Requirement

²

MATH 121 Math For Elementary Teachers I is recommended.

³

Program Elective

Program Elective

The courses listed below in the Child Development and Computer Information Systems disciplines are recommended for elective credit in addition to other courses recommended by a College Advisor:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CHLD DV 102	Human Growth & Development II	3
CHLD DV 142	Methods & Materials for Infant Toddler Care	3
CHLD DV 205	Development of Exceptional Child	3
CHLD DV 248	Principles & Practice of Infant & Toddler Care	4
CIS 120	Introduction to Computer Applications	3

Choose your courses with your College Advisor.

Careers

This program can prepare students for the jobs listed below. Click on each one to learn more, including average earnings, annual job openings, and how much education people in that field have. For additional guidance and resources on career options, current City Colleges students and alumni can contact the Career Services Office.

 
 

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

Job Description

Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

Salary Based on Experience Level

Take a look at the average hourly/annual earnings for this career in Cook County

Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES data from the BLS and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

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• View Hourly Wages

Annual Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$30,210
Median 50th Percentile	$37,720
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$57,775

Hourly Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$15
Median 50th Percentile	$18
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$28

Annual Job Openings

1258 annual openings in Cook County

National Education Attainment

Here, you can see the level of education that people in this career complete.

Degree Program	% of Jobs
A high school diploma or less	28.75%
A certificate	10.34%
Some college	12.17%
An Associate degree	11.55%
A Bachelor's degree	25.14%
A Master's or Professional degree	12.04%
A Doctoral degree or more	0.00%

37.18% continue their education beyond an associate degree

Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education

Job Description

Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

Salary Based on Experience Level

Take a look at the average hourly/annual earnings for this career in Cook County

Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES data from the BLS and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• View Annual Wages
• View Hourly Wages

Annual Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$26,071
Median 50th Percentile	$32,329
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$49,938

Hourly Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$13
Median 50th Percentile	$16
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$24

Annual Job Openings

2596 annual openings in Cook County

National Education Attainment

Here, you can see the level of education that people in this career complete.

Degree Program	% of Jobs
A high school diploma or less	22.08%
A certificate	30.84%
Some college	23.39%
An Associate degree	18.65%
A Bachelor's degree	0.00%
A Master's or Professional degree	5.05%
A Doctoral degree or more	0.00%

5.05% continue their education beyond an associate degree

Childcare Workers

Job Description

Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.

Salary Based on Experience Level

Take a look at the average hourly/annual earnings for this career in Cook County

Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES data from the BLS and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• View Annual Wages
• View Hourly Wages

Annual Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$20,050
Median 50th Percentile	$28,372
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$49,221

Hourly Wages

Entry-Level 10th Percentile	$10
Median 50th Percentile	$14
Senior-Level 90th Percentile	$24

Annual Job Openings

4305 annual openings in Cook County

National Education Attainment

Here, you can see the level of education that people in this career complete.

Degree Program	% of Jobs
A high school diploma or less	52.82%
A certificate	5.59%
Some college	10.17%
An Associate degree	22.71%
A Bachelor's degree	8.71%
A Master's or Professional degree	0.00%
A Doctoral degree or more	0.00%

8.71% continue their education beyond an associate degree