Job experience possibilities

If you are interested in job experience, you can be an aide at a community childcare center, volunteer to assist with special projects or tutor at a public school or serve as an assistant Boy or Girl Scout leader.  Experiences in teaching Sunday School, refereeing/coaching park and recreational sports, serving as a summer camp counselor or recreation work provide wonderful opportunities to learn about working with children and families.

Career Opportunities

A degree in early childhood education provides many fulfilling career opportunities for qualified individuals.  Career opportunities depend on the graduates’ area of specialization.  These careers include, but are not limited to:

-Teacher in a half-day preschool or full-day childcare center

-Teacher in a kindergarten, first or second grade

-Director and/or owner of child care facility or preschool

-Elementary teacher, grades K-8 (with education certification; cooperative students only)

-Residential care provider for young children

-Head Start teacher, program director, home visitor

-Early Head Start teacher, program director

-Parent educator

The degree also prepares students to go on to graduate school in areas such as early childhood education, child development and family studies, counseling, human resource development, psychology and others.

Faculty and Facilities

Faculty are well-qualified and enthusiastic educators.  They specialize in the areas of early childhood education, early childhood special education and child development.

The SDSU Laboratory Preschool is a state-of-the-art early childhood facility.  Recently renovated over the past two years, the preschool is fully accessible for children, students, families and staff.  A large motor lab, assessment room, and student workroom are part of the facility in Pugsley Center.  All early childhood majors spend two semesters in the lab with some additional observation time.  A one-way mirror is part of each observation booth from which you watch and listen to the children and teachers.  Upper level courses provide opportunities for interaction and guidance of children as well as opportunities to work with parents.  The lab experience is an important step in learning to understand child behavior, determine needs and discover ways to meet those needs.  All ECE faculty are housed in newly remodeled offices adjacent to the lab classrooms.

Department Highlights

The early childhood education major is offered through the Human Development, Consumer and Family Sciences Department in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.  The department sponsors a local student affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which provides social, scholastic and career information and support.  Each winter, the state-level (SDAEYC) organization sponsors a professional conference which students are encouraged to attend. Check with ECE faculty for dates and location of the conference.

Many scholarships are available to students in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.  For more information about these and other general SDSU scholarships, contact the Financial Aid Office.

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