Early Childhood Studies

Do you enjoy interacting with children and helping them learn new things? If you want to serve your community and make a difference in the lives of children, then the early childhood studies program is right for you!

Allan Hancock College’s early childhood studies (ECS) program is committed to preparing highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals to hold careers that serve the children and families of California and our global community. Students will learn to work with and teach a variety of children in different settings, including: infant, toddler, and preschool programs; transitional kindergarten, family child-care homes, and special education settings.

Hancock’s ECS program includes a transfer degree and five specialized local degree and certificate pathways. Students can begin working with children after completing only 12 units! Additionally, the ECS program provides a pathway into four-year degrees specializing in social work, counseling, behavior modification, psychology, and over 300 other careers.

This program will help you to:

obtain credentials to teach others
understand and apply child development theories and principles
identify and implement observation and assessment strategies
value and cultivate family and community relationships
develop and implement curriculum and activities for children
develop environments that honor the diversity of the learning community through empowerment, equity, respect, and dignity
implement proactive problem-solving techniques

Degrees and Certificates Offered

Each program has unique requirements. The order in which you take courses may affect your completion time. Visit the links below to view the program requirements and a general semester-by-semester course schedule.

Associate in Science for Transfer- Early Childhood Education

Associate in Science- ECS: General

Certificate of Achievement- ECS: General

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE- ECS: ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT- ECS: ELEMENTARY EDUCATION

Associate in Science- ECS: Elementary Education in Diversity Studies

Certificate of Achievement- ECS: Elementary Education in Diversity Studies

Associate in Science- ECS: Special Education

Certificate of Achievement- ECS: Special Education

Associate in Science- ECS: Program Director/Administration Emphasis

Certificate of Achievement- ECS: Program Director/Administration Emphasis

Certificate of Achievement- Early Childhood Studies Teacher Certificate