Associate of General Studies Early Childhood Preschool
About this degree
The NPC Associate of General Studies Early Childhood Preschool degree offers a distinct and innovative degree alternative. This degree is designed for those who wish to enhance their personal development with the equivalent of two years of post-high school education and may be planning to transfer to a four-year college or university. The AGS Early Childhood Preschool degree enables a student to pursue this special occupational field that has both lower division and upper division options. Additionally, this special AGS degree meets specific work-related mandates in the field while fulfilling many of the general education requirements that will transfer to a four-year college or university. In some cases, depending on the college or university, the degree may fully transfer.
(Consult an NPC academic adviser for details.)
- Click here to see the easy steps to becoming an NPC student.
NPC Requirements
The Associate of General Studies Early Childhood Preschool degree will be conferred on those who successfully complete 64-65 credits of the planned program with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. Graduates must complete 31-32 credits of general education.
Some courses have course or placement prerequisites that must be fulfilled. Completion of these prerequisites may require coursework beyond the 64-65 hours of credit listed.
Students seeking this degree must meet with an NPC academic adviser to select and design a program of courses that will best meet the student's needs.
Degree Requirements
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS • 31-32 Cr.
English • 6 cr.
- ENL 101 College Composition I • 3 cr.
- ENL 102 College Composition II • 3 cr.
- or
- ENL 109 Technical Writing • 3 cr.
Mathematics • 3-4 cr.
- MAT 105 Mathematics for General Education • 3 cr.
- or
- MAT 112 Algebra II: Intermediate • 3 cr.
- or
- MAT 121 Intermediate Algebra • 4 cr.(or a course for which MAT 121 is a prerequisite)
Discipline Studies:
Arts and Humanities • 6 cr.
Courses must be selected from the following list and from at least two disciplines:
- ART 101 Understanding Art • 3 cr.
- ART 115 Art History I • 3 cr.
- ART 116 Art History II • 3 cr.
- ENL 220 World Literature I • 3 cr.
- ENL 221 World Literature II • 3 cr.
- ENL 224 English Literature I • 3 cr.
- ENL 225 English Literature II • 3 cr.
- HUM 150 Humanities in the Western World I • 3 cr.
- HUM 151 Humanities in the Western World II • 3 cr.
- MUS 150 Music Appreciation • 3 cr.
- PHL 101 Introduction to Philosophy • 3 cr.
- PHL 105 Introduction to Ethics • 3 cr.
- SPT 130 Introduction to Theatre • 3 cr.
- SPT 150 Introduction to Film • 3 cr.
- SPT 155 History of Television • 3 cr.
Physical and Biological Sciences • 4 cr.
Courses must be selected from the following list:
- BIO 100 Biology Concepts • 4 cr.
- BIO 105 Environmental Biology • 4 cr.
- BIO 160 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology I • 4 cr.
- BIO 181 General Biology I • 4 cr.
- BIO 182 General Biology II • 4 cr.
- CHM 130 Fundamental Chemistry • 4 cr.
- CHM 151 General Chemistry I • 4 cr.
- CHM 152 General Chemistry II • 4 cr.
- GEO 111 Physical Geography • 4 cr.
- GLG 101 Introduction to Geology I - Physical • 4 cr.
- GLG 102 Introduction to Geology II - Historical • 4 cr.
- PHY 113 General Physics I • 4 cr.
- PHY 114 General Physics II • 4 cr.
Social and Behavioral Sciences (from two disciplines) • 6 cr.
- ANT 102 Cultural Anthropology • 3 cr.
- BUS 140 Principles of Economics - Macro • 3 cr.
- BUS 141 Principles of Economics - Micro • 3 cr.
- GEO 110 World Regional Geography • 3 cr.
- HIS 105 U.S. History to 1877 • 3 cr.
- HIS 106 U.S. History since 1877 • 3 cr.
- HIS 155 Western Civilization to 1700 • 3 cr.
- HIS 156 Western Civilization since 1700 • 3 cr.
- POS 110 American Government • 3 cr.
- PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology • 3 cr.
- PSY 200 Psychology of Adjustment • 3 cr.
- PSY 240 Developmental Psychology • 3 cr.
- SOC 120 General Sociology • 3 cr.
- SOC 121 Social Problems in America • 3 cr.
- SOC 130 Racial, Ethnic & Gender Relations in Modern Society • 3 cr.
- SOC 225 Sociology of the Family • 3 cr.
Additional courses that will meet AGS Early Childhood discipline studies requirement • 6 cr. (minimum)
Includes additional courses listed in any of the discipline studies above or from the following list:
Foreign Language
- FRE 101 Elementary French I • 4 cr.
- FRE 102 Elementary French II • 4 cr.
- GER 101 Elementary German I • 4 cr.
- GER 102 Elementary German II • 4 cr.
- SPA 101 Elementary Spanish I • 4 cr.
- SPA 102 Elementary Spanish II • 4 cr.
Computer Science
- CIS 100 Introduction to Computer Science • 3 cr.
Verbal Communication
- SPT 120 Public Speaking • 3 cr.
CORE REQUIREMENTS • 29 cr.
- ECD 100 Providing a Healthy Environment • 1 cr.
- ECD 101 The Child's Total Learning Environment • 1 cr.
- ECD 102 Ensuring a Safe Environment • 1 cr.
- ECD 103 Planned Arrangements and Schedules • 1 cr.
- ECD 105 Guidance Principles for Encouraging Self-Discipline • 1 cr.
- ECD 108 Techniques for Observing Children • 1 cr.
- ECD 110 Building Relationships with Parents Through Communication • 1 cr.
- ECD 112 Enhancing Family Involvement • 1 cr.
- ECD 113 Fostering Communication and Language Skills • 1 cr.
- ECD 114 Beginning Mathematical Concepts • 1 cr.
- ECD 115 Nutrition in Early Childhood I • 1 cr.
- ECD 116 Sciencing and Discovery II • 1 cr.
- ECD 117 Enhancing Questions and Problem-Solving Abilities • 1 cr.
- ECD 118 Blocks in Early Childhood Programs • 1 cr.
- ECD 120 Enhancing a Positive Self-Concept • 1 cr.
- ECD 123 Music and Creative Movement • 1 cr.
- ECD 124 Dramatic Play in the Early Childhood Setting • 1 cr.
- ECD 125 Creative Media • 1 cr.
- ECD 126 Large Muscle Development • 1 cr.
- ECD 127 Small Muscle Development • 1 cr.
- ECD 136 Understanding How Children Learn • 1 cr.
- ECD 175 Professionalism • 1 cr.
- ECD 200 Introduction to Early Childhood Education • 3 cr.
- or
- EDU 200 Introduction to Education • 3 cr.
- ECD 216 Transitions • 1 cr.
- ECD 250 Child Development I • 3 cr.
Electives
REQUIRED ELECTIVES • 4 cr.
Four credits must be selected from the following list:
- Any ECD courses not listed above in required core credits, with the exception of ECD 199's and ECD 299's.
- EDU 200 Introduction to Education • 3 cr. (if not taken as part of core)
- EDU 201 Substitute Teaching in the Schools • 3 cr.
- LAN 120 Conversational Navajo I • 3 cr.
- LAN 121 Conversational Navajo II • 3 cr.
- LAN 125 Conversational Apache I • 3 cr.
- LAN 126 I Conversational Apache II • 3 cr.
- LAN 160 Beginning American Sign Language • 3 cr.
- LAN 161 Intermediate American Sign Language • 3 cr.
- POS 221 Arizona Constitution and Government • 1 cr.

