Arizona Community Colleges
Early Childhood Education Programs
Early childhood education programs at community colleges in this state. Coursework for child-care, preschool, and elementary-track teachers.
15 colleges · 101 sections · 64 unique courses · Summer 2026 · Updated today
Arizona community colleges train the people who staff licensed daycare centers, preschools, Head Start programs, and pre-K classrooms across the state. The 101 sections at 15 Public 2-year institutions this term cover child development, early-literacy methods, classroom management for ages 0–5, family engagement, and the supervised practicum hours required for the state's child-care or T-K teaching credentials.
Most Arizona ECE associate programs are designed for working students — evening and weekend sections are standard — because the typical student is already employed at a child-care center and using the degree to move into a lead-teacher or assistant-director role. Pay is modest but the work is stable and the credentialing pathway is clearer than almost any other field.
Colleges offering Early Childhood Education
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Early Childhood Education is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
Early Childhood Education Availability Snapshot
How early childhood education sections are being offered across 15 colleges in Arizona this term (101 sections total).
Delivery format
- online81 (80%)
- in person9 (9%)
- hybrid8 (8%)
- zoom3 (3%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)21
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)2
- Evening (5 PM and after)9
- Asynchronous / TBA69
Start dates
Sections begin on 19 distinct dates. 76 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 62 distinct instructors across 15 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Coconino Community College2 programs
Mohave Community College2 programs
Pima Community College3 programs
Yavapai College3 programs
Common Early Childhood Education courses
- ECE 103Engineering Problem Solving and Design(4 sections)
- EDU 239Structured English Immersion Grades K-8(4 sections)
- ECE 105MATLAB Programming(3 sections)
- ECE 216AAComputer-Aided Engineering(3 sections)
- ECE 102Engineering Analysis Tools and Techniques(3 sections)
- ECE 107Human Devel & Relations (3 sections)
- EDU 115Digital Literacy for Teaching and Learning in Education(3 sections)
- EDU 220Introduction to Serving English Language Learners (ELL)(3 sections)
- EDU 223AFAssessment and Eligibility in Special Education(3 sections)
- EDU 230Cultural Diversity In Education(3 sections)
- EDU 242Language Development and Disorders(3 sections)
- EDU 272Educational Psychology(3 sections)
Career outlook for Early Childhood Education graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Arizona’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a degree to work at a daycare in Arizona?
- Requirements vary by role and facility type. Assistant teacher roles at licensed centers typically need a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential — a one-year certificate. Lead teacher in a public pre-K classroom usually requires an associate or bachelor's. Family child-care homes have lower minimums but the higher-paying jobs all require the AAS in early childhood.
- Can I transfer this credit to a teaching bachelor's?
- Usually yes for the general-education portion (English, math, US history) and the foundational child-development courses. Methods-and-practicum credits often need to be re-taken at the four-year level because state teacher-certification programs require specific supervised hours at their own partner schools. Compare colleges' transfer agreements below.
- What's the typical salary for an early-childhood teacher in Arizona?
- Preschool teachers in Arizona earn roughly the state's living wage — lower than public-school K–12 teachers but higher than minimum-wage daycare assistant roles. Head Start lead teachers earn more than private-center teachers thanks to federal funding. Many graduates stack on the CDA, AAS, and eventually a B.A. to keep climbing the pay scale.
- How long does the ECE associate take?
- Two years full-time, including the supervised practicum semester. Many programs are offered fully part-time and online (except for the practicum hours), letting working assistants complete it in 3–4 years while continuing to work.
Compare Early Childhood Education programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Arizona’s early childhood education programs stack up.
Other programs in Arizona
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.