Early Childhood Education (ECE)

The Center for Early Childhood Education at NCC is proud to be featured in the Community College Week. You can read the article at http://bit.ly/ePp3cX.

The Center for Early Childhood Education prepares early childhood teachers and leaders with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to provide the best-possible early education and care. Our ECE program is designed to inspire and equip you to create and sustain art-based, inclusive programs that are responsive to the uniqueness of each child, family and community.

In addition to our NAEYC Accredited Associate Degree Program, ECE Certificate and Specialized Diploma Academic Programs, we operate Children's Centers at both the Bethlehem and Monroe campus. The children's classrooms serve as LAB sites for enrolled students. Teachers use strategies and techniques central to Art as a Way of Learning®, a concept that is a major focus of all our endeavors. By placing the arts central to teaching and learning, it enables children and adults to use the arts to construct and express knowledge, and develop critical and creative thinking.

Leadership and Professional Development is also a critical component of the center's mission. Programs of technical and professional support are offered in all areas of ECE leadership, strategic planning, center accreditation, and more.

We're extremely proud of the fact that so many people - from the online and campus students in our academic programs, to the families at our children's centers to the community early care and education staff and educational leaders in our professional development classes - tell us how much they enjoy the Northampton experience. We believe it's because we focus on building relationships, which we're convinced is a prime foundation for learning at any age.