Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway AS

Transfer Pathways are designed so students can complete a specific associate degree at a Minnesota State college and transfer with junior-year status to a Minnesota State university to earn a bachelor's degree without losing credits or taking extra courses.

M State's Transfer Pathway in Early Childhood Education, offered on the Fergus Falls campus, prepares you to work as a highly skilled professional in the essential career field of early childhood education.

With an Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway AS, you'll have a solid foundation from which to complete a bachelor's degree in elementary or early childhood education. Courses in the 60-credit degree focus on children from birth through age 8 and include onsite experience and instruction in behavior guidance, children with special needs, and the development of environments and curriculum for infant/toddler, preschool-age and primary school-age children.

Observations and internships are a valuable part of M State's program. These hands-on learning experiences are offered at off-site early childhood programs including Head Start, licensed family childcare, preschools, infant/toddler care and school-age care. There are also opportunities to complete some lab work in our on-campus childcare facility.

The program meets the educational requirements for assistant teacher and paraprofessional in an educational setting, assistant teacher and teacher in a childcare setting and/or family childcare provider, and group family childcare provider.

Career opportunities

The Early Childhood Transfer Pathway prepares you for a wide range of positions, including:

Head Start program, preschool or childcare center teacher
Food program monitor
RBPD (Relationship-based Professional Development) specialist
Home visitor
Achieve Trainer I
Public school paraprofessional or teacher aide
School-age childcare provider

As a graduate, you'll also be prepared to work with and on behalf of children and families in a variety of non-teaching career fields such as human service agencies and services, home visiting, coaching, early childhood management and child life.

The Early Childhood Transfer Pathway program has updated all curriculum to include the Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice for Teachers and The Minnesota Early Childhood Content Standards. Articulation agreements are in place with Southwest Minnesota State University and Mayville State University.

Here's what you'll learn

Developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children
Professional practices that meet the NAEYC Early Childhood Code of Ethical Conduct
Appropriate child guidance strategies based on developmental stages
Age-appropriate nutrition practices for early childhood
Effective communication with parents and coworkers
Care and planning for children with special needs
Typical and atypical development in children ages birth through 8
Physical, emotional and safety issues related to childcare