Navigating the Path to Early Childhood Education: Ivy Tech's Program Requirements

Ivy Tech Community College offers a comprehensive range of Early Childhood Education (ECED) programs designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this rewarding field. Recognizing the critical role of early childhood educators, Ivy Tech's programs emphasize both theoretical understanding and practical experience, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to positively impact the lives of young learners.

A Spectrum of Programs: From Certificates to Associate Degrees

Ivy Tech provides multiple entry points into the field of early childhood education, catering to diverse student needs and career aspirations. These include certificates, technical certificates, and associate degrees, all designed with a "stackable" approach, allowing students to build upon their credentials as they progress in their education.

Certificate (CT) in Child Development Associate (CDA) Process

This certificate serves as an excellent starting point for individuals seeking to enter the early childhood education field. It is specifically designed to meet Indiana state licensure requirements and Paths to Quality standards for teachers in licensed early childhood education programs. This certification process certificate is designed to enable students to meet the requirements for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential for Home Visitors through the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington D.C. To enroll, students must be currently working with children ages 0-5 years as a Home Visitor and must have completed 480 hours of work experience as a Home Visitor before enrolling in the ECED 105 course.

Certificate (CT) in Early Childhood Classroom Support

This certificate is a beneficial first step for students new to the field, offering an introduction to working in early childhood education. It also serves as a stepping stone toward more advanced early childhood credentials.

Technical Certificate (TC) in Early Childhood Education

The Technical Certificate (TC) in Early Childhood Education provides a solid foundation for those pursuing an associate's degree in the field. This TC allows individuals to enhance their skills as early childhood educators, enabling them to deliver developmentally appropriate education to young learners.

Infant Toddler Classroom Educator Technical Certificate

This specialized certificate focuses on the unique skills required to support children ages 0-3 in high-quality early learning environments. The coursework emphasizes early brain development, responsive interactions, developmentally appropriate practice, and family-centered care.

Early Intervention Certificate

The Early Intervention Certificate provides specialized coursework to qualify as a First Steps Early Intervention Developmental Therapist in Indiana. This 15-credit certificate builds essential knowledge and skills in infant and toddler development, family-centered practices, and early intervention strategies.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Education

An Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education prepares graduates to become specialists in providing education to the youngest learners. This degree can lead to diverse career opportunities impacting infants, toddlers, preschoolers, or students in K-3 classrooms. A recommended path to the AAS degree in Early Childhood Education is to complete one of the two certificates (CT) or the technical certificate (TC) offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree.

Associate of Science (AS) in Early Childhood Education

An Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education provides a pathway for students intending to transfer to a four-year college or university to earn a bachelor's degree. Graduates of the Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education can choose to transfer to a four-year college or university where they can earn a bachelor’s degree. A recommended path to the AS degree in Early Childhood Education is to complete the technical certificate (TC) offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree.

Transfer Options: Seamlessly Transitioning to a Four-Year Institution

Ivy Tech recognizes the importance of providing pathways for students to further their education. They have established several transfer options to facilitate a smooth transition to four-year institutions.

Guaranteed Admissions

Ivy Tech has agreements with four universities that allow graduates of the associate degree program to automatically get into their bachelor's program.

Transfer as a Junior (TSAP)

The Associate of Science degree is designated as a TSAP program (Transfer Single Articulation Pathway). This partnership with 17 four-year universities enables students to transfer to Indiana public four-year institutions with automatic junior status.

Core Program Focus: Child Development and Nurturing Relationships

The early childhood education program focuses on childhood development and growth as well as adult-child relationships. It emphasizes appropriate environments and care for children as well as the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive areas of early childhood development.

Hands-On Learning: Bridging Theory and Practice

From on-campus labs to community learning opportunities, the early childhood education program gives students a chance to practice and take a closer look at their emerging skills. Students take their skills to real early childhood education settings, earning real world experiences with children, community members, and current educators. The early childhood education program (ECED) at Ivy Tech embraces the idea that learning is more meaningful when engaging in classroom activities. Students explore concepts supported by best practices and theories in ECED through the creation of hands-on learning experiences and curriculum that meet the needs of infants, toddlers, and young children.

Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program

Ivy Tech Community College Evansville is now accepting students for a registered Department of Labor Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program. The Early Childhood Educator apprenticeship offers an accelerated path to a career in education. The apprenticeship requires 2,000 hours of working in the field, so this program may be ideal for individuals who are working in the childcare field currently, who do not have these credentials, said Andrea Boberg, program chair at Ivy Tech. On June 25, Ivy Tech Evansville announced this first-of-its kind DOL registered apprenticeship in Indiana with employer partner Carver Community Organization. There will also be skills training classes offered in the near future. This summer, 10 students are finishing a pilot skills class.

Honors Program

If you're motivated and want a more robust, personalized academic experience, consider enhancing your associate degree in Early Childhood Education by pursuing an Honors pathway. Honors courses are fully virtual with opportunities to meet and network with honors students and faculty across the state. The coursework is designed to support a student’s spirit of inquiry and intellectual growth, as well as foster multicultural awareness and leadership.

Skills Training Classes

Ivy Tech skills training classes do not earn you college credit on their own, but they may crosswalk into Ivy Tech's academic degree programs should you decide to pursue that route in the future.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

The Ivy Tech application is free and easy-you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year-in January, March, June, August, and October-and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out to your local admissions team and arrange a meeting. After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation-such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts-that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed within MyIvy. After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in your MyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account.

Accreditation

Many of the early childhood education programs at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The AS in Early Childhood Education and the AAS in Early Childhood Education at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana Fort Wayne campus are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Dual Licensure Program at IU Indianapolis

Special Education Dual Licensure

Course requirements To get certified, you must take the following 18 credit hours in the appropriate sequence. You will also complete (7 Credit Hours) during student teaching to meet the requirements of this licensure program at IU Indianapolis. You will also complete (7 Credit Hours) in ECE General Education student teaching at IU Indianapolis) *student teaching may not be transferred in from another university/college. Families, School and Society (3) Classroom Management and Behavior Supports (3) Collaboration and Service Delivery (3) Assistive Technology in Special Education (3) Assessment & Instruction I - Mild (3) Transition Across the Lifespan (3) *You will also spend part of your student teaching experience working with students with disabilities.

ENL Dual Licensure

Course Requirements To get certified, you must take the following 18 credit hours in the appropriate sequence. You will also complete (7 Credit Hours) during student teaching to meet the requirements of this licensure program at IU Indianapolis.

Transforming Indiana's Early Childhood Workforce Skilled Badge

This training offers foundational knowledge in health and safety in early care and education settings, including communication with families, setting up an environment, and skills application. This is an opportunity for educators and support staff to build their skills. Upon completion of the 150 hours and passing the competency-based assessment, students will be awarded a badge. The training is delivered asynchronously through three self-paced modules, and learners practice skills learned in an early care and education program. Ivy Tech faculty will work with the learner on securing a setting for field work. The self-paced course is 60 clock hours, and the hands-on practice is 90 hours. Students will work in a high-quality early care and education setting under cooperative teachers who will provide evaluations of their work. After passing the assessment, students will be awarded a Heath, Safety & Nutrition Transforming Indiana's Early Childhood Workforce Skilled badge on their transcript that may be applied for future credit. All 150 hours must be completed within the 8-week term.

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