Childhood Education (Liberal Arts & Sciences) (A.S.)
Jamestown, USA
Associate of Science
DURATION
4 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 5,820 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
* full-time out-of-state resident
Key Summary
About: Jamestown Community College (SUNY) offers an affordable, structured pathway to an A.S. in Childhood Education for international students. You’ll prepare to work with children in grades 1-6, choose a concentration (English, modern languages, social sciences, math, math/science, general science or specific sciences) with an advisor, and build credits to transfer toward a bachelor’s degree required for public school teacher certification. You can also apply for teaching assistant positions after graduation.
Career Outcomes:
Potential career opportunities: teaching assistant, instructional aide, classroom paraprofessional, early childhood educator, child care specialist, or continued study toward a bachelor’s degree and public school teacher certification.
Study childhood education at JCC
Teach future generations of students. When you earn an associate degree in Childhood Education at Jamestown Community College, you’ll be able to work in the education field with children in grades 1-6. You can also pursue your bachelor’s degree and become a public school teacher.
As an education major at JCC, you will select a concentration as your subject area of expertise. Appropriate concentrations should be discussed with your advisor and are highly dependent on your transfer school. Some examples include English, modern languages, social sciences, math, math/science, general science, and specific sciences.
The A.S. degree prepares you to transfer and continue coursework in order to earn a bachelor’s degree, which is necessary to become a public school teacher. You can also apply for teaching assistant positions directly after graduation from JCC.
Semester 1
- EDU 1510: Foundations of Education
- PSY 1510: General Psychology
Program Core Specialization Elective
Choose a concentration course
- ENG 1510: English Composition I
World Language
Recommended:
- ASL 1510: Introduction to Sign Language I or
- SPA 1510: Introductory Spanish I or
- RE 1510: Introductory French I
Semester 2
- PSY 2520: Child Development
Program Core Specialization Elective
Choose a concentration course
Mathematics Elective
Recommended:
- MAT 1500: Problem Solving or
- MAT 1540: Elementary Statistics
- ENG 1530: English Composition II
World Language
Recommended:
- ASL 1520: Introduction to Sign Language II or
- SPA 1520: Introductory Spanish II or
- FRE 1520: Introductory French II
Semester 3
Program Core Specialization Elective
Choose a concentration course
Program Core Electives
Recommended:
- EDU 2450: Exceptional Children and
- EDU 2460: Field Experience/Exceptional Child
Elective
Recommended:
- HIS 1530: US History Before 1865 or
- HIS 1540: US History Since 1865 or
- HIS 2610: Intro to US Women’s History
Elective
Recommended:
- HIS 1510: World History Before 1500 or
- HIS 1520: World History Since 1500 or
- ENG 2730: World Mythology
Program Core Specialization Elective or Program Core Elective
Recommended:
- EDU 2330: Behavior Management in the Inclusive Classroom or
- ENG 2440: Children’s Literature or
- MAE 2510: Math for Educators
Semester 4
Program Core Specialization Elective
Choose a concentration course
Program Core Elective
Recommended:
- EDU 2500: Literacy in the Classroom or
- MAE 2510: Math for Elementary Teachers
Science Elective
Recommended:
- BIO 1510: Health Science or
Lab Science (dependent upon Program Core Elective choices)
Elective
Recommended:
- ENG 2540: Creative Writing or
- ENG 2740: Newswriting and Editing or
- ENG 2890: Creative Nonfiction or
- CMM 1610: Public Speaking or
- THE 1510: Introduction to Theater or
- ART 1500: Intro to Art or
- MUS 1570: Music Theory I or
- MUS 1630: Beginning Piano or
- MUS 1670: Beginning Guitar
After you complete the program, you will be able to:
- Compose a basic personal philosophy of education using established criteria based on their combined experiences integrating course instruction, reading, reflective writing, discussion, and field placements.
- Demonstrate and practice basic applications of tenets of effective teaching through presentation projects, reading, reflective writing, discussion, and field placements This includes, but is not limited to, principles of lesson planning, classroom management, and reflective teaching.
- Understand how elementary school age children learn and develop, and will demonstrate this by designing and implementing appropriate and meaningful learning opportunities that support elementary age children’s intellectual, social, and personal development.
Your career after JCC
To become a public school teacher, you will need to transfer for a bachelor’s degree in education. Once the bachelor’s degree in childhood education is completed, you’ll be eligible for initial certification as a teacher for children grades 1-6.
If you do not transfer and instead move directly into the workforce, you will be eligible for positions such as a teaching assistant or teacher’s aide in a public or private school setting. You can also specialize in special education, education administration, curriculum design, and student counseling. Consider roles in youth organizations, residential life, student activities, prison systems, rehabilitation centers, and tutoring in addition to teaching in public schools.