2024-2025 Catalog

Early Childhood Education — Intermediate (Certificate)

Program Advisor: Patricia Kay, M.Ed.

413-236-4626 • pkay@berkshirecc.edu

After completion of the Introductory Early Childhood Education certificate or equivalent, students may begin work on this pathway. This certificate, together with nine months of additional experience in the field, prepares people to pursue lead teacher qualification through the MADOEEC. The required ECE courses will be offered in the evening in rotation.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

  • Demonstrate understanding of significant theories of child development and their practical implementation in child care settings;
  • Develop practical skills in guiding and interacting with youth from studying various program models;
  • Understand diverse family structures and use culturally competent practices to support and communicate with children and families;
  • Ensure children’s safety, promote health practices and recognize and respond to abuse and neglect;
  • Recognize characteristics of high-quality environments and developmentally appropriate curriculum; and
  • Understand the goals, benefits and uses of observation and assessment in early childhood.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a certificate in this program, a student must complete all program credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.

Program Courses

EDU-122Special Needs in Early Childhood Education

3

EDU-223Early Childhood Education Practicum II

3

EDU-224Early Childhood Education Seminar II

1

ECE-
Early Childhood Electives

6

-
 

SOC-105Introductory Sociology

3

-
Or

SOC-136Sociology of the Family

3

Total Credit Hours:16

ECE Early Childhood Electives: See footnote 1

Additional Requirements

Demonstrated college-level skills in reading & writing

Minimum Cumulative Average

Overall 2.0002
Program requirements 2.000

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

Graduates of this program should be able to:

  • Demonstrate understanding of significant theories of child development and their practical implementation in child care settings;
  • Develop practical skills in guiding and interacting with youth from studying various program models;
  • Understand diverse family structures and use culturally competent practices to support and communicate with children and families;
  • Ensure children’s safety, promote health practices and recognize and respond to abuse and neglect;
  • Recognize characteristics of high-quality environments and developmentally appropriate curriculum; and
  • Understand the goals, benefits and uses of observation and assessment in early childhood.

Required

EDU-122Special Needs in Early Childhood Education

3

EDU-223Early Childhood Education Practicum II

3

EDU-224Early Childhood Education Seminar II

1

SOC-105Introductory Sociology

3

-
Or

SOC-136Sociology of the Family

3

EDU-
Early Childhood Electives

6

EDU Early Childhood Electives: See footnote 1

Gainful Employment Disclosure 2019

Below you'll find program costs, student loan debt, graduation rates, and jobs associated with this program.

Program Name: Early Childhood Education (Intermediate) Certificate

This program is designed to be completed in: one (1) year.

Costs for this program if completed within normal timeframe:

  • $3,708 in-state tuition and fees
  • $3,916 New England/New York resident tuition and fees
  • $7,452 out-of-state tuition and fees
  • $800 estimated books and supplies
  • $1,024 estimated transportation

There may be additional costs to consider such as reduced income if you will be cutting back on work hours, child care, room, board, and general living expenses while enrolled.

Loan debt of the typical graduate of this program: As fewer than 10 students completed this program within normal time, median indebtedness is being withheld to preserve their confidentiality.  

Program meets licensure requirements in Massachusetts.

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions, please see: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

Footnote

  1. One of the early childhood electives must be either EDU-107, Understanding & Guiding Children’s Behavior; or EDU-241, Design Curriculum: Creativity. For those seeking to work with infants and toddlers, EDU-220, Infant & Toddler Care, should be taken, and the student should select a practicum in this area.
  2. For many transfer institutions, a 2.5 or higher is required.

Notes

Should the student choose to continue toward an associate degree, the appropriate program would be the Liberal Arts concentration in Early Childhood Education. Early childhood electives will not apply to the degree program.

CORI Check, SORI Check, and Fingerprinting (additional state fee): Any prior criminal offense could hinder placement in practicum agencies and the ability to take the national licensure exam. See Criminal & Sex Offender Record Information Checks for details.