Choosing Your Major
The Early Childhood Education Program offers students the choice of a major focusing on infants and toddlers from birth to age three (ECI Major) or preschool to 2nd grade, children ages 3 to 8 (ECP Major). Coursework in each ECE major includes a progression of ECE courses that cover a wide range of knowledge and skills needed to prepare students to become assistant teachers in childcare, Head Start, nursery and pre-kindergarten programs, and public and private elementary schools. Upon completion of the program requirements in either the ECI or the ECP major, an Associate of Science (A.S.) in Early Childhood Education degree is awarded.
Upon Graduation, a large percentage of BMCC early childhood majors choose to continue their academic work at senior colleges in order to become head teachers with initial New York State certification (Birth to 2nd grade). Our ECE program has transfer agreements with several CUNY senior schools, New York University and Mercy College. When students come to the Teacher Education faculty for advisement, advisors will discuss options for transferring to a four year college after completing an A.S. degree in ECE at BMCC. In order to become a New York State certified teacher, students will need to earn a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited teacher education program and pass four state administered exams.
Why you may want to choose to focus on Infants and Toddlers and become an ECI major:
The earliest years are all about relationships. Infants and toddlers crave and develop attachments to special people in their lives. And, as an Infant/Toddler Teacher, you are one of those special people. As you think about this major, you need to realize that working with Infants and toddlers is very different than working with children at the later end of early childhood. Infants and toddlers go through so much rapid development in just three short years that it is amazing to behold. They use their senses and movement to actively explore and problem solve in the world around them. At the same time, they have little verbal language to help you figure out what they need and crying is a natural way to express themselves. Infant/Toddler teachers also deal with diapering and toilet learning as a regular part of caregiving. A big issue in the Infant/Toddler field is Continuity of Care, which means having one caregiver over an extended period of time. An Infant/Toddler teacher may work with the same child and his/her family over the course of several years.
Why you may want to choose to focus on preschool to 2nd grade and become an ECP major:
Children from age 3-8 years are wonderful. That is, they are full of wonder. They approach the world with great curiosity and use their imaginations to help understand it. Preschool to 2nd grade is a time of discovery and growing independence. Unlike during their earliest years, 3-8 year olds have verbal language and they can engage and carry out more complex planning and problem solving. They tend to seek out new experiences. They also want to be more self-reliant and seek to expand the areas of their lives where they can be decision-makers. As you think about this major, you need to realize that because every child’s development is unique and complex, you will be working to meet a variety of needs and strengths, both within and between children. Preschool to 2nd grade teachers also usually work with larger groups of children on a daily basis and have to meet to externally set teaching standards.
By the end of ECE 110, you will need to decide if you want to focus on the major for Infants and Toddlers (ECI) or the major for preschool to 2nd grade (ECP). The ECE course progressions from the 200-level and beyond are specifically geared towards the age range that a student plan to work with upon graduation.
Why an ECE major might NOT be the right choice for you:
The ultimate goal of students in an ECE major is to obtain a degree in order to work with young children in an educational setting. Two issues can affect a student’s ability to work with young children and to become a certified teacher are: Immigration Status and Past Criminal History.
Immigration Status: Different employers (childcare, Head Start, nursery and pre-kindergarten programs) may have U.S. citizenship as a requirement for employment, which can limit job availability to non-citizens. In addition, the New York State Board of Education requires U.S. citizenship for certification. In some instances, non-U.S. citizens may obtain teacher certification (see http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/part80-1.html). If you are concerned about how your immigrant status may affect employability after graduation, please speak to a Teacher Education Professor for advisement as soon as possible.
Past Criminal History: Per New York State regulations, all individuals employed as an assistant teacher/ teacher of young children must be fingerprinted, pass a criminal history check and be granted a clearance for employment and/or certification by the State Education Department. A criminal history check means a review of all convictions of crimes and any pending criminal charges maintained on an individual by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If an individual has a past criminal history with a direct relationship between one or more of the previous criminal offenses and the specific license or employment sought; or the issuance of the license or the granting of the employment would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety or welfare of specific individuals or the general public, then clearance will be denied (see http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/part87.html) and the person will not be able to work as a teacher. If you are concerned about how your past criminal history may affect employability after graduation, please speak to a Teacher Education Professor for advisement right away about whether or not this is the best major for you.
If you talk to a professor about sensitive issues such as immigration status or criminal background, with your permission, the professor may share this information with colleagues at BMCC who have expertise in that area. Every attempt will be made to protect your privacy. We are here to help you to do your best now, as you become a teacher, and, ultimately, in your work with young children.
