Apprenticeship in Early Childhood

The Associate Degree of Science in Apprenticeship in Early Childhood prepares students to transfer into a baccalaureate degree program in Child Development or a related field of study, while also preparing them to work in the field of Early Childhood Development Students will gain general knowledge and on-the-job learning in early childhood education topics enabling them to obtain a California Child Development Teacher Permit and meet the standards set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children for appropriate teaching practices in early learning settings. These courses are aligned with the California Early Childhood Curriculum Alignment Project (CAP) which means that your courses are transfer-ready and consistent with statewide guidelines for preparation of early childhood education.

We currently have plans to run 3 consecutive cohorts of approximately 25 each for a total of 75 in the first 2 years. This may vary for part-time students. 

This program will package the required apprenticeship courses into a degree making it achievable for students to complete the apprenticeship program while working towards an associates. The apprenticeship program requires students to complete 24 units of Child Development coursework as well as 16 units of General Education; creating a pathway for students to continue beyond these requirements allows for a clear path to a bachelor's degree and allows the apprenticeship to be a starting point for many education and career paths.

In addition, the program has 2 primary goals: 

• Demonstrate a knowledge of early childhood curriculum, program practices, and the development of young children.
• Apply for and receive a Child Development Center permit

The child development apprenticeship program at Santiago Canyon College aligns with the college’s mission by supporting the core outcomes, Learn- learning through practical experience, Act- actively applying knowledge in real-world situations, Communicate- learning to effectively communicate with children, parents, and colleagues and Think- thinking critically to addresses course challenges. The apprenticeship program harmonizes well with the broader objectives of higher education for the State of California by providing career-ready, skilled professionals for the workforce.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
APCD 107	Apprenticeship Child Growth & Development	3	S1
APCD 108	Apprenticeship Observation & Assessment	3	S2
APCD 110	Apprenticeship Child, Family & Community	3	S1
APCD 111B	Apprenticeship Introduction to Curriculum for Young Children	3	S4
APCD 116A	Apprenticeship Infant/Toddler Growth and Development	3	S3
APCD 202	Apprenticeship Introduction to Children from Special Populations	3	S5
APCD 221	Apprenticeship Living and Teaching in a Diverse Society	3	S3
APCD 298A	Apprenticeship Practicum in Early Childhood Programs	3.5	S6

The second reading was approved in November

Santa Ana College is applying for the same program. No other program in Orange County exists.

25 apprentices per year; may vary based on full-time or part-time students