Explore Degrees & Certificates

Make the difference in the life of a child

Our program will teach you how to educate, nurture, and engage young children from birth to Grade 2. 

What You'll Learn

Studying child development and learning how to plan age-appropriate activities is important for your success in this field. We'll also cover how to foster a positive learning environment that sets kids up for success. It'll be rounded out with field placements so you can get hands-on experience.
 

Where You'll Go

You'll be able to immediately start your career as a teaching assistant, Head Start representative, or a family child care provider. If you want to continue your education, you can transfer your credits to a four-year school. 
 

The Early Childhood A.A.S. at Onondaga Community 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 March 2017 through March 2024.

[Accreditation Report Data]

Early Childhood Accreditation

Typical Salary

5 years after graduating

$27,000

Popular careers, growth potential, and regional demand for the past 12 months.
Career 10-year growth potential Regional Demand
Childcare Worker 10% Average

Real Data from Central New York

  • Data reflect previous twelve-month period in the Syracuse Metropolitan Area and surrounding five-county Central New York region.
  • Salary gathered from SUNY Graduate Wages (data source: NYS Unemployment Insurance) unless otherwise indicated. 
  • Demand is determined by the number of job postings in the region over the past twelve months. 
  • Occupational growth potential gathered from Burning Glass.   

Transfer Paths

4-year School Bachelor's Degree
Le Moyne College Psychology, B.A.
Le Moyne College English, B.A.
SUNY Oswego Psychology, B.A.
Lincoln University
Johnson C. Smith University