Early Childhood Studies

Do you enjoy interacting with children and helping them learn new things? If you want to serve your community and make a difference in the lives of children, then the early childhood studies program is right for you!

Allan Hancock College’s early childhood studies (ECS) program is committed to preparing highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals to hold careers that serve the children and families of California and our global community. Students will learn to work with and teach a variety of children in different settings, including: infant, toddler, and preschool programs; transitional kindergarten, family child-care homes, and special education settings.

Hancock’s ECS program includes a transfer degree and five specialized local degree and certificate pathways. Students can begin working with children after completing only 12 units! Additionally, the ECS program provides a pathway into four-year degrees specializing in social work, counseling, behavior modification, psychology, and over 300 other careers.

This program will help you to: 

• obtain credentials to teach others
• understand and apply child development theories and principles
• identify and implement observation and assessment strategies
• value and cultivate family and community relationships
• develop and implement curriculum and activities for children
• develop environments that honor the diversity of the learning community through empowerment, equity, respect, and dignity
• implement proactive problem-solving techniques

To view the program requirements and suggested course sequences for the degrees and/or certificates available for this program, please visit the course catalog.

Programs you may also be interested in exploring:

• Human Services 
• Liberal Arts
• Psychology 
• Speech Communication 

Contact Information