New York 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.
4 colleges · 43 sections · 43 unique courses · Spring 2026 · Updated today
New York community colleges train the people who staff licensed daycare centers, preschools, Head Start programs, and pre-K classrooms across the state. The 43 sections at 4 CUNY 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 New York 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
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borough of Manhattan Community College | 15 | 15 | 12 | — | — |
| Bronx Community College | 14 | 14 | 12 | — | — |
| Eugenio María de Hostos Community College | 13 | 13 | 10 | — | — |
| Queensborough Community College | 1 | 1 | 1 | 28 | — |
Early Childhood Education Availability Snapshot
How early childhood education sections are being offered across 4 colleges in New York this term (43 sections total).
Delivery format
- online35 (81%)
- in person7 (16%)
- hybrid1 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)8
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)3
- Evening (5 PM and after)6
- Asynchronous / TBA26
Start dates
Sections begin on 4 distinct dates. 2 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 34 distinct instructors across 4 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Borough of Manhattan Community College1 program
Degree Requirements - Associate of Science
60 creditsSee catalog for course list
General Education Requirements - Common Core
6 creditsSee catalog for course list
Major Requirements - Core
3 creditsMajor Requirements - Specialization
- ECE 209Infant Care and Curriculum(4 cr)1 section
- ECE 308Infants and Toddlers Practicum I: Observing and Recording(4 cr)1 section
- ECE 309Toddler Care and Curriculum(3 cr)1 section
- ECE 409Infants and Toddlers Practicum II: Pedagogy for Infants and Toddlers(5 cr)1 section
- ECE 410Educational Foundations and Pedagogy for The Exceptional Child(3 cr)1 section
- ECE 211Curriculum for Young Children I(4 cr)1 section
- ECE 311Early Childhood Practicum I: Observing and Recording(4 cr)1 section
- ECE 312Curriculum for Young Children II(3 cr)1 section
- ECE 411Early Childhood Practicum II: Pedagogy for Young Children(5 cr)1 section
Source: College catalog
Bronx Community College2 programs
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College1 program
Degree Requirements - Associate in Applied Science
60 creditsSee catalog for course list
General Education Requirements - Required Common Core
- ENG 110Expository Writing(3 cr)1 section
- ENG 111Literature and Composition(3 cr)1 section
- MAT 100Introduction to College Mathematics(3 cr)2 sections
- MAT 115Quantitative Reasoning(3 cr)not offered
- MAT 119Introduction to Probability and Statistics(3 cr)not offered
- MAT 120Introduction to Probability and Statistics(3 cr)2 sections
- MAT 150College Algebra with Trigonometric Functions(4 cr)2 sections
- MAT 160Precalculus(4 cr)1 section
- MAT 210Calculus I(4 cr)1 section
- MAT 220Calculus II(4 cr)1 section
- MAT 310Calculus III(4 cr)1 section
General Education Requirements - Flexible Common Core
Major Requirements - Overall
42 creditsSee catalog for course list
Major Requirements - Core
1 credits- HLT 103Interpersonal Relations and Teamwork(3 cr)1 section
- HLT 111Health and the Young Child(3 cr)1 section
- EDU 101Foundations of Education(3 cr)1 section
- EDU 107Creative Art Activities for Young Children(3 cr)1 section
- EDU 109Music and Movement(3 cr)not offered
- EDU 111Science and Mathematics for Young Children(3 cr)1 section
- EDU 113Field Experience in Early Childhood Education(3 cr)1 section
- EDU 116Child Development(3 cr)not offered
- EDU 130Teaching in the Multicultural/Multi-lingual Classroom(3 cr)1 section
- EDU 150Introduction to Special Education(3 cr)1 section
Major Requirements - Major Concentrations
Source: College catalog
Common Early Childhood Education courses
- ECE 110Psy Foundation Early Dev & Edu(1 section)
- ECE 209Infant Care and Curriculum(1 section)
- ECE 210Social Found Early Care & Edu(1 section)
- ECE 211Curr For Young Children I(1 section)
- ECE 308Infants & Toddlers Practicum I(1 section)
- ECE 309Toddler Care and Curriculum(1 section)
- ECE 311Early Childhood Practicum I(1 section)
- ECE 312Curr for Young Children II(1 section)
- ECE 409Infants & Toddler Practicum II(1 section)
- ECE 410Ed Found & Ped Exception Child(1 section)
- ECE 411Early Childhood Practicum II(1 section)
- EDU 10Child Study - Birth to Grade 6(1 section)
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 New York’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
New York's typical pay is about 27% above the typical state — a strong sign of healthy local demand.
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 New York?
- 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 New York?
- Preschool teachers in New York 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 New York’s early childhood education programs stack up.
Other programs in New York
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.