Early Childhood Education

Degrees & Certificates

Associate in Science

The 62-63 credit Associate in Science degree includes the courses in the certificates of achievement, fulfills Hawaiʻi preschool teacher education requirements, and to further their education and fulfill higher qualification standards, students can enroll in the University of Hawaiʻi West O‘ahu’s online Bachelor in Education, Early Childhood Concentration. With careful planning with the program coordinator and counselor, students can fulfill most of the prerequisites for application to the UH Mānoa Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education Bachelor's degree program.

Requirements for Certificate of Achievement (CA): 38 credits

ECED 105(3), ECED 110(3), ECED 115(3), ECED 131(3), ECED 140(3), ECED 193* or ECED 194*(4), ECED 245(3), ECED 263(3), ECED 264(3), ECED 295*(4)
English 100
Math 100, 103, 112 (recommended for UH Manoa), 115

Requirements for Associate in Science (AS) Degree: 62-63 credits

All CA courses(38), plus:
ECED 170 or ECED elective(3)
Human Services 110(3)
Art 101 or MUS 25 (3)
Communication 130, 145, or Speech 151(3)
HDFS 230 or PSY 240(3)
Humanities elective(3) – HWST 107 recommended
Natural Science elective (3-4) – except PHYS 101
English 210 or Global Multicultural Perspectives(FGA/B/C) or Natural Science (3)

Note: Students interested in a Bachelor of Education degree from UH Mānoa may take a Global Multicultural Perspective or a Natural Science, instead of ENG 210. See counselor.

Requirements for Certificates of Competence (CO)

Initial Early Childhood Certificate: 9 credits
ECED 105(3), 110(3), 131(3)
2.0 GPA required in courses taken for CO.
CO fulfills only the education part of CDA – see program coordinator

Basic Early Childhood Education in Hawaii: 9 credits
ECED 110, ECED 112, and either HWST 107 or Hawaiian 101
2.0 GPA required in courses taken for CO.
This CO demonstrates coursework in preparation for culturally responsive teaching in Hawaii.

Early Childhood Practitioner I: 16 credits
ECED 105(3), 110(3), 131(3), 140(3), 193* or 194(4)
2.0 GPA required in CO courses & grade C or better in each course.

*Note: Students may be required to obtain a physical or doctor’s note, and to be fingerprinted, all at students’ expense.

Early Childhood Option: 12 credits (for those with a Bachelor’s degree in a field other than Early Childhood, Child Development, or Elementary Education)

The 12-credit Early Childhood Option Certificate of Competence shows that the student fulfills Hawaiʻi Dept. of Human Services preschool teacher requirements (education requirement – there is also an experience requirement).

12 credits from this list (consult program coordinator to make choices that fit student’s needs best):
ECED 105(3), ECED 110(3), ECED 115(3), ECED 131(3), ECED 140(3), ECED 193* or ECED 194*(4), ECED 245(3), ECED 263(3), ECED 264(3), ECED 295*(4)
2.0 GPA required in courses taken for CO.

*Note: Students may be required to obtain a physical or doctor’s note, and to be fingerprinted, all at students’ expense.

Early Childhood Education – Degrees