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Early Childhood Education (AA)

About the Early Childhood Education Associate Degree 

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at Fisher College provides comprehensive educational opportunities for students to develop abilities needed for career advancement. The framework that guides the ECE program at Fisher College is rooted in developmentally appropriate and best practice with children and adult learners, including being an intentional teacher, creating a community of learners, teaching to enhance development and learning, planning curriculum to achieve important goals, assessing children's development and learning, and establishing reciprocal relationships. The program recognizes diverse learning styles and provides supportive and flexible learning environments where student success is of primary importance.   Student will be continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. Students will be informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.  

This program is comprised of courses and practicum experiences that provide a solid background and preparation for a career as a child care professional. Students entering the Early Childhood Education Program are required, by the Massachusetts Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, to pass the CORI, SORI, and finger print screening before beginning their practicums.

Licensure Requirements

Fisher Colleges Early Education and Care Program is designed to meet certification for early childhood education (birth -5) in all 50 states, but is not a public school licensure program. Fisher College has not made a determination whether this program meets Pre K - 12th grade licensure. Students seeking professional licensure should contact the appropriate Department of Education licensing board in that state to verify licensure requirements. See list of licensure requirements for Early Childhood Centers by state.

Program Requirements

Program Snapshot

Credits: 62
Learning Format: Online
Term Length: 8-weeks 
Typical Time to Completion*: 10 terms; 20 months

Degree Pathways


Students who have earned a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential may be eligible to be awarded up to 7 credits through Prior Learning Assessment.

Learning Outcomes

This program will provide students with the opportunity to develop the following competencies and the ability to:

  • Develop a solid content knowledge base in child development theories that enables them to deliver effective educational and professional services based on current research, theory and practice.
  • Design, implement and evaluate environments and curriculum activities that support positive, developmental play and learning for all young children. 
  • Demonstrate the skills to establish and maintain positive collaborative relationships with families.
  • Identify informal assessment strategies to plan and individualize curriculum to meet the needs of each child physically, socio/emotionally, linguistically, cognitively, creatively and in a culturally appropriate  manner. 
  • Develop and implement strategies that promote partnerships between programs, teachers, families, and their diverse communities.
  • Identify and demonstrate ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practices.

Early Childhood Education Career Track

Associate in Arts Degree graduates may pursue a career in any a vast variety of childcare centers. The following list is just an example of some of the opportunities our students have pursued. Many of Fisher's ECE interns receive job offers from one or both of their Practicums. For those who choose to continue their education, the internships provide invaluable experience to help students succeed in a baccalaureate program.  

  • Early Intervention Specialist 
  • Early Childhood Educator
  • Early Childhood Education Director 
  • Assistant Teacher
  • Teacher
  • Head Teacher
  • Director
  • Nanny

*Based on continuous enrollment of two courses every term. Time to completion may be shorter based on eligible transfer credit or longer if course enrollment varies.