Early Childhood Education

Learn to teach children from birth to pre-kindergarten age in childcare centers and in-home settings.

Learn more about our nationally-recognized preschool program.

Gain valuable experience in our Family and Child Care Center on our main campus.

Hands-On Learning

As part of the ECE program, you'll get real-world work experience while earning credit through a Cooperative Education internship.

What you’ll earn

If your career goal is to teach children from birth to pre-kindergarten age in childcare centers and in-home settings, Lane Community College offers a two year, Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science Degree as well as a one year, ECE Certificate.

Associate Degree

Lane’s Early Childhood Education program develops skilled professionals who care for and educate our community’s children. Our graduates work in a variety of private and public child care settings and in family child care and early intervention programs. Graduates may also work with families and community organizations as parenting coaches, policy makers, and advocates. We’ll help you follow your passion and find your next steps in this program.

Learn more about the Early Childhood Education, Associate of Applied Science

2 years full-time

$18,030 Full program

Learn more about program costs.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Design and implement a Reggio-inspired curriculum approach
Apply age-appropriate strategies to help children develop empathy, moral autonomy, self-worth and the ability to self-regulate in challenging situations
Develop and apply research skills
Administer and manage the day-to-day operations of child care programs
Work effectively with children and families

AFTER LANE

Graduates of our program go on to work in preschool programs, continue their education, begin their own child care centers, and more. You'll have the opportunity for additional and ongoing professional development through Lane as well as organizations such as Quality Care Connections and the Oregon Registry Professional Development (myORO).

Stackable Certificates:

You can use embedded certificates to tailor your degree and specialize in early childhood education.

Early Childhood Teacher Aide, Career Pathways Certificate

Career Pathways Certificate

This certificate will prepare you to work in an early childhood education setting as a Teacher Aide 1 as defined by the Oregon Child Care Division. By earning this certificate you’ll also achieve Level 7.5 in the Oregon Professional Development Registry for Early Childhood.

Certificate of Completion

The certificate prepares you for a successful career as an early childhood professional in a variety of settings such as private and public child care programs as well as in-home family childcare.

Infant and Toddler

Career Pathways Certificate

This certificate prepares you to plan high-quality environments for infants and toddlers and to carry out developmentally appropriate curriculum.

Guidance and Curriculum

Career Pathways Certificate

This certificate prepares you to work as an early childhood education teaching assistant.

Not sure which is for you? Learn more about the types of degrees & certificates Lane has to offer

Credit for Prior Learning

If you're a professional in the field who has reached step 7 in Oregon Registry (ORO) through 120 hours of community-based training, you may be awarded 11 college credits through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). This training must include at least 10 hours in each ORO Core Knowledge Category. Additionally, you must be actively enrolled in credit courses during the academic year you apply. Please contact the program coordinator, Kathleen Lloyd, lloydk@lanecc.edu.

Student Teaching

All ECE students must enroll in the Central Background Registry (CBR) with the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) at least 1-2 terms before registering for ECE 240: Supervised Student Teaching or for ECE 280: Co-op. The application and fingerprints are free but it can take up to 6 weeks to approve—be sure to plan ahead.

All students seeking a degree or certificate in Early Childhood Education must complete 1-3 terms of student teaching (ECE 240). You’ll be able to complete your student teaching requirement in Lane’s childcare center lab school on Lane’s main campus. Center staff, families, and all student teachers enrolled in ECE 240 will be expected to follow mandated safety protocols. College students working in childcare centers are also required by Oregon law to provide documentation of an MMR(measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination. Plan to provide documentation of MMR vaccination requirements before enrolling in ECE 240. Students currently employed in childcare centers in the community may be eligible to complete ECE 240 in their own center. To discuss this possibility, please contact the program coordinator, Kathleen Lloyd, lloydk@lanecc.edu.

Support for ESL Students

Multilingual learners seeking support with Reading / Writing English Language skills while transitioning to Early Childhood classes may apply to PASS Lane ECE. Contact Marcia Koenig, koenigm@lanecc.edu.

Other Support

Students receiving SNAP food stamp benefits who are completing ECE Certificates may contact STEP at Lane program for coaching and access to financial resources.