Photo of Casper College student in the early childhood education program working with children.

Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education program prepares individuals for teaching and management positions in child care centers, preschools, and child development centers.

What are the features of Casper’s program?

After completing the associate degree program at Casper College, students may transfer to a bachelor’s degree program focusing on elementary education, early childhood education, or child development. Students may also pursue coursework for a minor degree and/or teaching endorsement in early childhood education.

What can I do with this major?

Transferring your degree

If a student is interested in going on to receive a bachelor’s degree, they should consult the catalogs of the colleges or universities to which they are transferring for requirements.

Employment info

Learn more about wage ranges and general occupational info for these jobs in Wyoming and across the U.S.: preschool teacherskindergarten teachers, and elementary school teachers.

Program Goals/Mission

Casper College Early Childhood Education Department Mission: Casper College Early Childhood Education program provides high quality teaching/learning experiences to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities in the prospective teacher so that students can readily matriculate to transfer institutions and as graduates serve as educators who value diversity and excellence in education.

Mission, Vision, and Conceptual Framework (PDF)

Student Objectives/Proficiencies

Students will demonstrate competency in the NAEYC Standards for Professional Preparedness

  1. Child Development and Learning in Context
  2. Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections
  3. Child Observation, Documentation and Assessment
  4. Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices
  5. Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum
  6. Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator

Program Outcomes Data

Outcome Measure #1: The Number of Program Completers
Program name: Associates of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Academic YearNumber of program completers% of program completers who were attending full-time (at the time of completion)% of program completers who were attending part-time1 (at the time of completion)
2020-2021728.6%71.4%
2021-2022520%80%
2022-2023922.2%77.8%

Outcome Measure #2: The Program Completion Rate
Program name: Associates of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Academic year in which a Fall cohort of full-time candidates enrolled in the program (select three sequential years)Percentage of those candidates who completed the program within 150% of the published timeframePercentage of those candidates who completed the program within (select one measure): ☐ 100% (exactly the published timeframe) ☒ 200% (twice the published timeframe) or ☐ 300% (three times the published timeframe)
2017-201814.3%14.3%
2018-20190%0%
2019-202010%10%

Outcome Measure #3: The fall-to-fall retention rate in the program for each of the three most recently completed academic years
Program name: Associates of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Academic Year% of Part-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment)Retention Rate among Part-Time Candidates% of Full-Time Candidates Enrolled in the Program (% of Total Enrollment)Retention Rate among Full-Time Candidates
2020-202139%43.5%61%61%
2021-202255%64.3%45.1%60.9%
2022-202346.4%69.2%53.6%56.7%

What are the special admission requirements, if any?

Notice of background check: All education students are subject to background checks and fingerprinting for selected educational coursework involving student contact and future employment as professionals in education and related fields.

What courses would I take?

The Early Childhood Education Associates of Arts Degree at Casper College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, www.naeyc.org. The accreditation term runs from November 2019 through July 2024.

For requirements and more information about this program, view its listing in the academic catalog:

Interested in online learning?

A portion of the courses in this program may be available online. Learn more about online programs and courses at Casper College.

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Secondary Education CTE Endorsement

Are you a licensed teacher or teaching with a PIC permit? Are you interested in teaching this subject matter in classes at the junior, middle, and/or high school levels? You can complete a set of courses within this program to qualify for a career and technical education teaching endorsement. Learn more about which courses count toward a CTE endorsement...

Contact Info

Autumn Baker

Academic Assistant, School of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Renee Griffith

Academic Chair; Education Instructor

Kerri Mahlum

Education Instructor

Jennifer Johnson

Education Instructor

Pete Van Houten

Dean, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

seal for NAEYC accredited early childhood higher education program