Early Childhood Multicultural Education

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School of Communication, Humanities & Social Sciences

CONTACT INFORMATION

Program Director: (505) 224-3588, Program Outreach Specialist: (505) 224-3607

cnm.edu/teachered

Program Description

This degree is designed for students who are in or would like to work in the field of early childhood education. Students interested in this degree should choose their concentration based upon their career and educational goals. Students may wish to complete more than one degree concentration.

• Birth – 3rd Grade Teacher: This concentration is designed for students who are or would like to work as early childhood teachers in the private sector or teachers aides in an elementary school. Students interested in becoming a licensed PreK-3rd grade teacher in an elementary school can do so upon completion of a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. This concentration is fully transferable to any college or university in New Mexico with an early childhood associate’s or bachelors degree.
• Early Childhood Program Administration: This concentration is designed for students who are or would like to work as administrators of early education programs. Student completing this degree concentration are eligible to apply for an early childhood administrative specialist certificate with the New Mexico Office of Child Development.
• Family, Infant, and Toddler: This concentration is designed for students who are or would like to work in the early intervention or home visiting field. Early interventionists work with families with children birth-three that have developmental delays or are at risk for developmental delay. Early intervention services are provided in multiple setting to include the home, child care center, or other community setting. Early childhood home visitors work directly with families in the home to promote the healthy and safe growth and development of infants and children in at-risk families. Students completing this degree concentration are eligible to be certified as a Developmental Specialist I Advanced by the New Mexico Department of Health Developmental Disabilities Support Division.
• Child Development Certificate: This certificate provides students with the coursework required for the New Mexico Child Development Certificate created to meet the entry-level professional requirements for teachers who are already working in a classroom setting with preschool children. It is particularly designed to assist Head Start and Early Head Start programs meet the interim staff qualification requirements of the Head Start Reauthorization.

Special Requirements

Students may be required to undergo a TB test and a criminal background check prior to beginning their field/practicum experience. All courses required for transfer must be taken for a traditional grade of A, B, C, etc. For courses offered only for credit/no credit, a grade of credit (CR) must be earned.

Career and Educational Opportunities

Students from all concentrations are employed almost immediately upon graduation. There is tremendous need for well-qualified early care and education workers in some of the following areas: child care, educational assistants, head start and early care teachers, early care administration, early intervention and home visiting. Work is available with programs such as Head Start, Even Start, private and public child-care facilities and preschools serving the needs of children birth to age five. Private and public schools also employ students as educational assistants.

Students completing the associate of arts in early childhood multicultural education with a concentration in Birth-3rd Grade Teacher can currently continue to a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education to become a licensed PreK-3rd grade teacher. Development of majors in early childhood administration and family, infant, toddler studies for the bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is pending at this time.

The New Mexico Child Development Certificate certifies individuals to become an early childhood teacher in private, accredited child care centers.

Exit competencies (see Program Exit Competencies ) for this program of study are available at cnm.edu/exitcomp.

For the graduation policy refer to the Moving On  section, cnm.edu or the Students tab in my CNM.

Special Notes

Students pursuing the New Mexico Child Development Certificate must be currently working in a child-care setting. In order to qualify for the New Mexico Child Development Certificate, an applicant must request a Certificate Packet from the NewMexicoKids Network office (505) 254-9922 ext. 108 which includes verification of successful completion of the certificate coursework, professional resource file, family opinion questionnaire, observation and oral interview. A completed packet must be submitted to the New Mexico Office of Child Development.

Students completing all of the ECME coursework within any degree concentration are eligible to apply for the One Year Vocational Certificate issued by the New Mexico Office of Child Development. For more information, contact the Office of Child Development at (505) 827-7946.

Student completing the Family, Infant and Toddler degree concentration may apply for initial certification as a Developmental Specialist I Advanced at health.state.nm.us/ddsd/fit.

Students should see an academic advisor to customize their educational plans. Students must meet prerequisites by placement scores or specific course work. Please see Course Descriptions for prerequisite(s) information.

See  Prerequisite Requirement Guide   for Accuplacer score equivalencies.

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