Early Childhood Education

Are you passionate about helping young children learn and grow? The Early Childhood Education Associate Degree at Nashua Community College gives you both the theoretical foundation and hands-on experience you need to turn your passion into a rewarding career. Working with young children means shaping the next generation—and making a lasting difference.

Why Study Childhood Education Here?

Our program combines classroom learning with real-world experience in high-quality childcare settings serving children from birth to age 8. You’ll gain valuable skills while earning professional development certificates that enhance your résumé and job opportunities.

The NCC Early Childhood Education Program follows NAEYC Professional Standards and meets the requirements for the New Hampshire Early Childhood Professional credential of Early Childhood Educator II.

What You’ll Experience:

• Collaborative learning environments that encourage growth and connection
• Hands-on activities that bring classroom concepts to life
• Dedicated instructors who are experts and advocates in the early childhood field
• Stackable credentials that build your qualifications as you advance:
  • Associate Teacher Certificate
  • Lead Teacher Certificate
  • Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education

Start your journey toward a meaningful career in early childhood education—learn, grow, and make an impact at Nashua Community College.

Career Options

• Child care center Lead Teacher or Associate Teacher
• Head Start or Early Head Start Programs
• Family child care
• Para-educator at elementary schools
• Field of child advocacy
• Further your education at a 4-year college or university to become a pre-k – 3rd-grade teacher
• Director of childcare center

Related Program

• Early Childhood Associate Teacher Certification
• Early Childhood Lead Teacher Certification

Upon the completion of the degree in Early Childhood Education, graduates will be able to:

1. Promote Child Development and Learning in Context
   Early childhood educators are grounded in an understanding of the developmental period of earlychildhood from birththrough age 8 across developmental domains. They understand each child as an individual with unique developmental variations. Early childhood educators understand that children learn and develop within relationships and within multiple contexts, including families, cultures, languages, communities, and society. They use this multidimensional knowledge to make evidence-based decisionsabout how to carry out their responsibilities.
2. Build Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections
   Early childhood educators understand that successful early childhood education depends upon educators’ partnerships with the families of the young children they serve. Theyknow about, understand, and value thediversity in familycharacteristics. Early childhood educators use this understanding to create respectful, responsive, reciprocal relationships with families and to engage withthem as partners in their youngchildren’s development andlearning. They usecommunity resources to support young children’s learning and development and to support children’s families, and they build connections between earlylearning settings, schools, and community organizations and agencies.
3. Understand Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment
   Early childhood educators understand that the primary purposeof assessments is to informinstruction and planningin early learningsettings. They know how to use observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment approaches and tools. Early childhood educators use screening and assessment toolsin ways that are ethically grounded and developmentally, culturally, ability, and linguistically appropriate to document developmental progress and promote positive outcomes for each child. Early childhood educators build assessment partnerships with families and professional colleagues.
4. Use Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices
   Early childhood educators understand that teaching and learning with young childrenis a complex enterprise, and its detailsvary depending on children’s ages and characteristics and on the settings in which teaching and learning occur. They understand and demonstrate positive, caring, supportive relationships and interactions as the foundation for their work with young children. They understand and use teaching skills that are responsive to the learning trajectories of young children and to the needs of each child. Early childhood educatorsuse a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate and culturally and linguistically relevant, anti-bias, and evidence-based teaching approaches that reflect the principles of universal design for learning.
5. Demonstrate Knowledge, Application and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum
   Early childhood educators have knowledge of the content of the academic disciplines (e.g., language and literacy, the arts, mathematics, social studies, science, technology and engineering, physical education) and of the pedagogical methods for teaching each discipline. They understand the central concepts,the methods and tools of inquiry, and the structures in each academic discipline. Educators understand pedagogy, including how young children learn and process information in each discipline, the learning trajectories for each discipline, and how teachers use this knowledgeto inform their practice They apply this knowledge using early learningstandards and other resources to make decisions about spontaneous and planned learning experiences and about curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation to ensure that learning will be stimulating, challenging, and meaningful to each child.
6. Demonstrate Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator
   Early childhood educators identify and participate as members of the early childhood profession. They serve as informed advocates for young children, for the families of the children in their care, and for the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other early childhood professional guidelines. They have professional communication skills that effectively support their relationships and work with young children, families, and colleagues. Early childhood educators are continuous, collaborative learners who develop and sustain the habit of reflective and intentional practice in their daily work with young children and as members of the early childhood profession. 
7. Complete Early Childhood Field Experience
   Early Childhood educators participate in field experiences and clinical practices that are planned and sequenced for students to develop the knowledge, skills and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood – in at least two of the three early childhood age groups (birth- age 3, 3 through 5, 5 through 8 years) and in the variety of settings that offer early education (early school grades, child care centers and homes, Head Start programs). 

 In addition, the graduate will be able to demonstrate competency in the general education outcomes.

Students are advised that to participate in practicum field experiences, and to gain employment working with young children, they must be free of criminal convictions as required by the NH Bureau of Child Care Licensing and the NH Department of Education. Students are required to complete the fingerprinting process through State Police or DMV to participate in the ECE practicum field experience. The student may incur fees in meeting these requirements. The College must ensure students in the program do not put themselves or children in jeopardy during the practicum field experience.

Students in the Early Childhood Education program must have sufficient strength, stamina, motor coordination, and sensory capabilities to perform the following:

• Standing for sustained periods, walking, running, bending, and sitting on the floor to meet children’s needs and accomplish tasks;
• Frequent lifting, moving and transferring children, especially infants and toddlers;
• Sufficient visual and hearing acuity to ensure a safe environment; and ability to respond quickly to children, colleagues, and professional partners in the event of an emergency;
• Sufficient verbal ability to express and exchange information and ideas as well as to interpret important instructions to children, colleagues, professional partners, and parents;
• Sufficient skills in written expression to accurately record children’s daily progress and milestones as well as medications administered, accident and suspected child abuse/neglect reports, etc.;
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions, to respond appropriately to unexpected situations including situations requiring immediate crisis response and role responsibility exchange; to demonstrate safe and required care for children, families, colleagues, and the workplace as a whole; and to cope with substantial variations in workload and stress levels;
• Ability to consistently attend and participate in classes and practice on time;
• Ability to demonstrate and maintain organizational skills and time management in classes and at the practicum site;
• Ability to respond to children’s personal needs, including changing diapers, in a manner that safeguards the health and safety of the student, children, and staff;
• Ability to work professionally and respectfully with a diverse range of children including children of different races, cultures, religions, and ethnicities as well as children with a wide range of disabling conditions;
• Ability to maintain proper boundaries in both the school and home environments; and
• Ability and disposition to adhere to and practice the Code of Ethical Conduct set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NCC reserves the right to amend its technical standards at any time and impose them on all current students

Technical Standards guide you as to skills and abilities required to function successfully in the program and ultimately in the Early Childhood Education profession. If you feel you may not be able to meet one or more of the technical standards you should contact department faculty to discuss individual cases. The Early Childhood Education Department will seriously consider all academically qualified candidates provided that the technical standards can be met with or without reasonable accommodations. No essential technical standards will be waived or modified. Information on the Technical Standards for this program is also available in the Technical Standards section of this catalog.

As part of the Early Childhood Education program, you’ll complete observational hours at approved childcare centers. These experiences are integrated into your early childhood courses to help you connect theory with real-world practice.

The Practicum I and The ECE Capstone courses each require up to 112 hours of field teaching experience during the semester. You may need to adjust your work schedule to meet these requirements.

Before beginning any field observations or practicum placements, students must complete a criminal background check and fingerprinting as required by the state. A small fee applies, and it is the student’s responsibility to complete this process.

Several of our courses are designated NoLo (No or Low Cost) courses, keeping textbook expenses to a minimum.

Early College (formerly known as Running Start and Dual Enrollment) courses provide a seamless pathway for high school students to transition into Nashua Community College while earning college credit.

Students who already hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential may also be eligible to receive credit for prior learning, allowing them to build on their existing experience and progress through the program more efficiently. To learn more, students should connect with their academic advisor or the ECE Program Coordinator.

Nashua Community College also partners with four-year colleges and universities to create clear transfer opportunities for students who wish to continue their education and pursue a bachelor’s degree after completing their associate program at NCC.

FAFSA
Students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to explore federal and state financial aid options that can help cover tuition, fees, and other education-related expenses. Visit the FAFSA website to apply.

CCSNH ECE GAP Scholarship
The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) ECE GAP Scholarship provides financial support for students pursuing a career in early childhood education. This scholarship helps eligible students reduce the cost of tuition and stay on track in their program. Visit  CCSNH ECE Scholarship for eligibility details and the application.

TEACH NH Scholarship Program
The TEACH NH Scholarship supports students in the Early Childhood Education program by covering tuition and books, offering paid release time from work for scholarship recipients, and providing a completion bonus after completing.  Visit TEACH NH  for eligibility details and the application.

Important Note
It is essential for students to connect and collaborate with their academic advisor and ECE Program Coordinator, Dr. Lisa Furman, to explore scholarships and program planning.

The Early Childhood Education program at Nashua Community College emphasizes hands-on learning, giving students the chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world early childhood settings.

Observation Hours
Early in the program, students’ complete observation hours at approved childcare centers. These experiences allow students to see theory in action, learn from experienced educators, and reflect on developmentally appropriate practices.

Practicum I
In Practicum I, students complete 112 hours of field experience. You’ll actively participate in daily classroom activities, conduct a child development study, and begin designing and implementing a curriculum unit, applying foundational skills from your coursework.

ECE Capstone
The ECE Capstone serves as a culminating experience, also totaling 112 hours of field experience. This is your opportunity to demonstrate mastery of early childhood education by integrating theory and practice, creating a thematic unit, and participating in a family conference.

Partnerships and Learning Environments

Nashua Community College partners with local childcare centers, including Head Start on campus, providing students with access to diverse, high-quality early childhood environments. These partnerships offer meaningful, hands-on opportunities to make a real impact on children’s lives while developing your skills as a reflective and confident early childhood educator.