This program is designed for students desiring to transfer to a four-year college or to meet requirements to work in public or private childcare facilities. The AA degree in Child Development will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the Major course requirements and the General Education requirements. The Child Development AA degree includes the State Curriculum Alignment Project (CAP) courses.

The Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education focuses on providing students with the knowledge, skills, and training required to prepare educators to work with young children.

This program is offered through Liberal Arts for students who wish to prepare themselves for an Associate degree or wish to transfer and earn a baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education.

The Early Childhood Education Program provides students access to knowledge, skills, and professionalism surrounding the field of early childhood education and family and community development to assure the provision of quality services that address Native American families' complex needs in the 21st century.

The Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) Early Childhood Education program is designed for students preparing to transfer to a four-year institution to obtain a bachelor's degree and Maryland teacher certification in Early Childhood Education Birth to Grade 3.

This vocational training program prepares future early childhood workers and educators to work with children with disabilities and special needs in public and private early intervention, special education and educational settings that serve typical and atypical developing young children and their families. Students are taught practical skills in early intervention and early childhood special education from a culturally responsive perspective. Students learn to integrate early intervention/special education practices and apply them to teaching young children with special needs. Certificate requirements include student participation in field experiences with community-based, inclusive educational programs. The Certificate of Achievement-Advancement prepares students for two career paths: early intervention assistant and early childhood teacher. It is the equivalent of the Teacher level permit on the California Child Development Matrix. The Teacher level permit also requires 24 quarter units (equivalent of 16 semester units) of General Education courses.

The AA in Early Childhood Education is designed for students who wish employment as a preschool director or open their own preschool or daycare facility.

The Paraprofessional Education program prepares teaching assistants to work in K-12 schools in special education, reading, and general education classrooms. The program articulates the core requirements of the Elementary Teacher Education program while providing needed coursework to improve student learning. This degree is designed for teaching assistants and early childhood care providers.

To teach young children in Illinois public schools (birth to second grade), teachers must be certified by the state of Illinois. To transfer into an approved baccalaureate program in early childhood education as a junior, students must complete specific requirements and a minimum of 60 semester credits. Students are strongly encouraged to complete an A.A. degree prior to transfer. Since admission is competitive, completion of the recommended courses does not guarantee admission.

The major purpose of the A.A. in Early Childhood Development is to provide students with fundamental understandings of the typical and atypical development of young children, the criticality of family-community partnerships, current findings of the interrelationships of health, safety, and nutrition for the developing child, and the nature of learning through different kinds of experiences.

The A.A. degree vocational training program prepares future early childhood workers and educators to work with diverse children in early childhood settings. The program prepares students for entry-level careers or entrance into a bachelor’s degree program in Child Development studies. The degree program focuses on integrating developmentally appropriate knowledge and practice, and developing professional competencies and job skills. Students learn how to build partnerships with local, national and international resource organizations in order to advocate effectively for the needs of children and families. The degree fulfills the Child Development course requirements to qualify for the Child Development Permit Site Supervisor on the California Child Development Matrix. Students who wish to qualify as a site supervisor must also take CD 59G "Supervision and Administration of Child Development Programs (Management Systems)", CD 59H "Supervision and Administration of Child Development Programs (Leadership Skills)" and CD 67 "Supervision and Administration of Child Development Programs (Adult Supervision)".

The Associate in Arts in Child Development can be the next professional step for students who have completed the Certificate of Mastery in Child Development. The A.A. in Child Development is designed to outline the freshman and sophomore years of study for students who plan to transfer to a university to major in child development or related fields.

The Child Development Center Laboratory for Child Study supports the Hartnell College mission by serving as an observation and training site, giving Hartnell students the opportunity to observe, interact with, and study preschool children in an environment which utilizes varied teaching strategies and methods to assure developmentally appropriate experiences for young children.