Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education department strives to deepen students’ understanding of young children, families and the teaching-learning process. The early childhood profession provides care and education for children ages birth through age eight. This profession is vital to the health of families and success of schools throughout our communities.

Students who complete the program may:

• Teach in an infant-toddler program, preschool or work in a school-age program
• Open a child-care business, family child-care program, private child-care center or assisting in a public school early childhood program
• Transfer to a four-year program to continue in a field of study relating to children, schools or families
• Learn more effective parenting skills/strategies
• Become a foster parent
• Work as a head teacher or teaching assistant in an early childhood classroom setting (i.e. Head Start or other preschool setting)

Yavapai College opened the Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center/Lab School (FEC) in the fall of 2007. The FEC operates in partnership with the Yavapai College Early Childhood instructional program. This high quality program for children six months through age five serves as an observation site for students and model program for the entire community.

The ECE program is proud of the partnerships that have been developed with area preschools and other early childhood centers and agencies. Our ECE program will continue to partner with area Head Start programs and other public/private early childhood programs through practicum and internship opportunities.

Yavapai College has a 2+2 partnership with Northern Arizona University, enabling students to complete their four-year degree in Education-Early Childhood, which will qualify degree holder to an Arizona Teaching Certificate for birth through grade 3.

All ECE programs are available on the Prescott and Verde Campuses. All courses (except Weekend College classes) are delivered through ITV (broadcast to other campuses) and/or online.