Is This Program for You?

Students entering the Early Childhood Education program should:

• Have a warm and pleasant personality.
• Like working with children and adults.
• Be self-directed and organized.
• Have good management skills.

Program Basics

• Associate degree, requiring a minimum of two years to complete.
• Day classes.
• High school articulation and college transfer courses accepted.
• Complete First Aid/CPR with AED for Infants/Children
• Join The Registry of Wisconsin Early Care Professional Development
• Complete Fieldprint Fingerprinting Check
• Financial aid available.
• Classes start in August.
• Advanced standing for early childhood experience may be granted.

Note: Students must provide their own transportation to and from a supervised participation site.

Cost of Attendance (COA) 25-26

Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

Based on Wisconsin Residents.

Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

Admission and Program Requirements

• Submit Application
  
Admissions Preference Policy
Most programs admit students as applications are completed. For certain high-enrollment programs with limited space, applications are reviewed in order of residency and review dates. Programs currently in this category include Radiography, Electrical Power Distribution, Midwifery, Cosmetology, and Nail Technician. Learn more about our Admissions and Wait List Policy.

Academic Preparedness Requirements

Log in to your MySWTC account, go to My Profile → Document Center → All Programs to complete the following:


• Send your transcripts and scores to Southwest Tech: While not required, sending your transcripts and test scores helps us make sure your classes are the right fit. We consider any previous college credit you’ve earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit your high school transcripts, college transcripts, and test scores by emailing admissions@swtc.edu, or mailing them to Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
• Career Assessment Plan
  Start your Student Success Plan by exploring your career interests, talking through your program choice, and confirming your path feels like the right fit. This step can be completed either by setting up a One-on-One Career Assessment Meeting with a recruiter or as part of your Student Success Plan Meeting with an advisor. Schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor.
• Academic Map + Supports & Services Plan
  Continue building your Student Success Plan by planning your courses, reviewing funding options, and connecting with resources. To complete this step, schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

• Apply child development theory to practice
• Cultivate Relationships with children, family and the community
• Assess child growth and development
• Use best practices in teaching and learning
• Demonstrate professionalism
• Integrate health, safety and nutrition practices

Technical Skill Attainment (TSA)

This TSA scoring guide will be used to document your attainment of technical program outcomes for the Early Childhood Education Degree. To meet the requirements on the scoring guide, you will be asked to draw upon the skills and concepts that have been developed throughout the program and are necessary for successful employment in your field. Results will be used to inspire continual improvement of teaching and learning in Wisconsin Technical College System. In addition, this assessment will provide feedback to you about your performance.

Licensure Information

The Early Childhood program is designed to lead to a license for The Registry Level 12 in Wisconsin. More licensure information can be found on the Program Accreditations and Licensure page.

Career Pathways

Career Pathways offer a unique way to achieve your education goals. Instead of studying just one program, the Career Pathway model links related academic programs in a sequence. Each program offers direct job preparation AND a path to the next higher academic program.

Employment in the childcare industry will grow well into the future. Potential jobs may include:

• Child Care Teachers Work in full-day and part-day child care programs, nursery schools, and Head Start programs.
• Child Care Assistant Teachers Work under the supervision of a childcare teacher.
• Family Child Care Providers Care for eight children or fewer in the provider's home.
• Infant or Toddler Caregivers Care for children under two years of age.
• In-home Providers/Nannies Provide care in the child's home.
• Early Childhood Educational Paraprofessional Work in school district early childhood programs, and four-year-old kindergarten programs.
• Sub Teacher or Paraprofessional Work in a school district setting as a licensed sub-teacher or teacher assistant.
• Early Childhood Special Needs Paraprofessional Work in school district early childhood programs, and four-year-old kindergarten programs.
• Directors/Administrators Are responsible for managing child care centers and planning and implementing programs.

Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.

Credit for Prior Learning

Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.

Early Childhood Licensing Basic Ages 0-2 Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

Course #	Course Title	Challenge Exam (Demonstration)	Challenge Exam (Standard)	CLEP	Credential	Portfolio
10-307-148	ECE: Foundations of ECE
	Professional Preschool Credential
10-307-167	ECE: Hlth Safety & Nutrition
	Professional Preschool Credential