The Associates of Science degree in early childhood education is a program designed to give prospective preschool teachers and child care workers the understanding in child development and the practical experiences needed to work effectively with young children. Students who complete this program will be prepared for employment in public school child care facilities, and other child care facilities such as day care centers, day care homes, private and cooperative nursery schools, church-affiliated programs, and Head Start classrooms. Students completing the associate degree also would be eligible to apply many of the completed courses toward a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or elementary education.