The Early Childhood Education program at College of Marin prepares you to work with children from birth through eight years old in diverse learning environments, including preschools, public and private schools, child development and child care programs, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs.
Under the supervision of qualified teachers, you learn to put theory into practice with real world training in the field. Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. You will learn to foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of young children.
Some of the core courses are also taught in Spanish.
Early Childhood Education Options – What does COM Offer?
CLICK on the program award to view costs and required classes for each certificate and degree
Early Childhood Education Associates Degree for Transfer (60.0 units)
| Time to Completion (minimum): | 4 semesters |
| Estimated Tuition & Fees*: | $3096.00 |
| Estimated Books & Supplies*: | $1800.00 |
Required Courses (24.0 units)
| Class Code | Name | Completed | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE 110 | Child Development | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 112 | Child, Family and Community | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 114 | Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 115 | Introduction to Early Childhood Curriculum | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 116 | Observation and Assessment | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 131 | Health, Safety and Nutrition Practices for Young Children | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 208 | Teaching in a Diverse Society | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 280 | ECE Fieldwork and Seminar I: Beginning Practicum | ◻ | 3.0 |
General Education (36.0 units)
See a counselor to plan your IGETC/CSU breadth General Education courses
Early Childhood Education Certificate of Achievement (42.5 units)
| Time to Completion (minimum): | 4 semesters |
| Estimated Tuition & Fees*: | $2199.00 |
| Estimated Books & Supplies*: | $1100.00 |
Required Courses (32.5 units)
| Class Code | Name | Completed | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE 100 | Licensing and Permits: Introduction to Childcare Programs | ◻ | 0.5 |
| ECE 110 | Child Development | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 112 | Child, Family and Community | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 114 | Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 115 | Introduction to Early Childhood Curriculum | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 116 | Observation and Assessment | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 131 | Health, Safety and Nutrition Practices for Young Children | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 208 | Teaching in a Diverse Society | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 222 | Working with Special Needs Children in Early Childhood Settings | ◻ | 2.0 |
| ECE 280 | ECE Fieldwork and Seminar I: Beginning Practicum | ◻ | 3.0 |
| PSY 114 | Psychology of Human Development: Lifespan | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ENG 120/120SL | Intro to College Reading and Composition II (native or non-native speakers) | ◻ | 3.0 |
Electives in Humanities and Fine Arts (Choose 3+ units) (3.0 units)
| Class Code | Name | Completed | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASL 101 | Elementary Sign Language I | ◻ | 4.0 |
| ASL 102 | Elementary Sign Language II | ◻ | 4.0 |
| ART 112 | 2-D Art Fundamentals | ◻ | 4.0 |
| DANC 121 | Beginning Pop Dance Styles | ◻ | 1.5 |
| SPAN 101 | Elementary Spanish I | ◻ | 4.0 |
| SPAN 102 | Elementary Spanish II | ◻ | 4.0 |
| SPCH 128 | Intercultural Communication | ◻ | 3.0 |
Electives in Math and Science (Choose 3 units) (3.0 units)
Geology 120, Geology 120L, Kinesiology 107 or Biology 107 (cross-listed), Math 101, Math 101AB, Math 101XY, Math 102G, Math 103, Math 103AB, Math 103XY, Math 115, Statistics 115
Electives in General Education (Choose 4 units) (4.0 units)
American Sign Language 101, American Sign Language 102, Art 112, Dance 121, English 116, English 150, English 151, English 155, Geology 120, Geology 120L, History 118, Kinesiology 107 or Biology 107 (cross-listed), Math 101, Math 101AB, Math 101XY, Math 102G, Math 103, Math 103AB, Math 103XY, Math 115, Political Science 100, Spanish 101, Spanish 102, Speech 120, Speech 128, Statistics 115
Early Childhood Education Skills Certificate (12.0 units)
| Time to Completion (minimum): | 1 semesters |
| Estimated Tuition & Fees*: | $627.00 |
| Estimated Books & Supplies*: | $310.00 |
Required Courses (12.0 units)
| Class Code | Name | Completed | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE 110 | Child Development | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 112 | Child, Family and Community | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 114 | Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children | ◻ | 3.0 |
| ECE 115 | Introduction to Early Childhood Curriculum | ◻ | 3.0 |
* These expenses may not reflect your actual cost to attend College of Marin. Tuition cost is for in-state tuition, which is currently $46/unit plus additional fees. For out-of-state tuition, see marin.edu. For information about opportunities for financial aid, please contact Enrollment Services at (415) 457-8811 Ext. 8822 or admissions@marin.edu.
** These courses have prerequisites.
Career Outlook
What work can I get and how much can I earn?
The demand for Early Childhood Educators is high and will continue to increase over the next five years and beyond. Employment opportunities include teachers or directors in children’s centers, nursery and preschools, pre-kindergartens, infant-toddler programs, employer-supported children’s centers, extended day-care or family day-care programs.
JOB TITLE: Infant/Toddler or Preschool Teacher
- Annual Earnings: $27,510 to $56,660
- What They Do: Instruct preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, day care center, or other child development facility. May be required to hold State certification.
JOB TITLE: Education Administrator, Preschool and Childcare Center
- Annual Earnings: $39,050 to $80,610
- What They Do: Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic and nonacademic activities of preschool and childcare centers or programs.
JOB TITLE: Kindergarten Teacher (except Special Education)*
- Annual Earnings: $40,280 to $100,590
- What They Do: Teach elemental natural and social science, personal hygiene, music, art, and literature to kindergarten students. Promote physical, mental, and social development. May be required to hold State certification.
Salary ranges reflect 10% to 90% of annual earnings per data sourced from Economic Modeling Specialists International (www.economicmodeling.com); data includes the North Bay Region (Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma) and San Francisco County.
*Typically requires a Bachelor Degree.
Key Contacts
Who do I contact if I have questions?
PLAN: Call the Counseling Office at (415) 485-9432
OTHER QUESTIONS: Call COM's Career Programs Dept at (415) 457-8811 x8200
PROGRAM QUESTIONS: Call the Early Childhood Education Dept.
- Corinna Calica, Director of Child Development and ECE, (415) 457-8811 x7132
- Peggy Dodge, ECE Coordinator (415) 457-8811 x7468
- Shaquam Edwards, ECE Professor (415) 485-9613
READY TO GET STARTED?
Why Choose College of Marin for Early Childhood Education?
- High-Quality Instruction: Our instructors are highly experienced industry professionals recognized as experts in their respective fields who understand their industry’s needs and trends.
- Affordable: College of Marin classes are open to all and cost only $46 per unit for California residents. Financial aid and student support services are available to those who qualify.
- Accredited: College of Marin’s Early Childhood Education classes are fully accredited and accepted as meeting requirements set by Community Care Licensing for child care programs and Commission on Teacher Credentialing for Child Development Permits.
- Industry Expertise: All faculty are experienced early educators. They have a passion for helping other adults develop their knowledge and skills to provide high quality education to our youngest children.
- Core Courses Taught in Spanish: The four Early Childhood Education core courses (ECE101, ECE112, ECE114, and ECE115) are taught in Spanish as well as English.
- Small Class Size: Most classes have 10-22 students. This low student-to-teacher ratio allows instructors to work individually with students as needed while covering material in-depth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What else should I know?
Are there any pre-requisites?
No, there are no requirements or prerequisites.
Which classes are available in Spanish?
You can complete the Core Skills Certificate in Early Childhood Education by taking the following courses in Spanish:
- ECE 101 – Licensing and Permits: Introduction to Childcare Programs (3 units)
- ECE 112 – Child, Family and Community
- ECE 114 – Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children
- ECE 115 – Introduction to Early Childhood Curriculum
Students taking ECE classes in Spanish must be also enrolled in appropriate level English as a Second Language (ESL) classes during the semester that they take the class in Spanish. Contact the College Skills Department at 415.485.9642 for information on placement and registration for ESL classes.