Would you like a career helping children grow and thrive? Our program will teach you how to help kids learn, develop independence, build self-esteem, and interact with others. Demanding? Yes. But few careers are as gratifying.
Is This Program Right for Me?
SFCC’s two-year Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Development gives you the marketable skills to enter the workforce quickly, or to continue your education at a four-year institution. You also can earn a bachelor’s degree in Education through Central Methodist University on SFCC’s Sedalia, Clinton and Lake of the Ozarks campuses.
To succeed in this field, you will need strong communication skills, including speaking, listening, writing, and reading; social perceptiveness; creativity; critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities; compassion; dependability; and the ability to work with others.
A background check is required prior to beginning this program.
CDA Test Preparation
We also offer classes for students preparing to take the national Childhood Development Associate (CDA) test. Students who successfully pass the exam earn CDA certification, which is endorsed by Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Anyone working with children in those programs must either have CDA certification or complete it within the first year of employment.
Occupational Outlook
Jobs in the childcare industry should continue to grow over the next decade. Opportunities for self-employment are among the best in the economy; more than 40 percent of all workers in the industry are self-employed. Job opportunities include child caregiver, daycare provider, childcare provider, early childhood teacher, preschool teacher, and teacher assistant. Salaries range from $16,600 to $21,200.
Data Sources – The website mynextmove.org, which is developed and maintained by the National Center for O*NET Development, under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC).
- This program is offered at the Sedalia and Clinton campuses.
