Iowa Western Community College

Few careers can give you as much pleasure as teaching the very young, and the Early Childhood Studies program can prepare you for this field. This program gives you a chance to immediately work in an on-campus childcare facility. Students get field experience and practicum in numerous early childhood settings while earning an Associate of Applied Science degree.

The interaction of students and children in Iowa Western’s childcare facility is an invaluable teaching tool that helps these future teachers understand how children interact with others, and how they react to the world around them. After two years, graduates can go right into preschools, family childcare homes, and Head Start programs.

If you want a higher-paying position, you can transfer to a four-year institution to work toward a bachelor’s degree. Iowa Western graduates often enter preschool environments or start their own childcare facilities. They’re comfortable in both arenas because of the many hours of interacting with children.   

Students who complete this AAS degree will have earned an Early Child Development certificate and an Early Childhood Studies diploma by completion.

If you like working with children, Iowa Western’s Early Childhood Studies Diploma program could be for you. In this program, you learn how to care for infants, toddlers, and pre-school age children.

Graduates of this one-year program earn a diploma, and graduates can go on to complete an Associate of Applied Science degree by enrolling in the Early Childhood Studies program. All students receive supervised hands-on work experience in the lab school on the Council Bluffs campus and in community sites. The Children’s Center is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.

Students who complete this diploma will have earned an Early Childhood: Child Development certificate by completion. Students who complete this diploma also will earn credit toward completion of the Early Childhood Studies AAS degree. 

The Early Childhood Certificate is designed to enhance the quality of child care experiences by increasing and recognizing the competence of those who care for and education young children.  The Certificate introduces a student to the foundational skills needed in working with young children, ages birth to 5 years.    

In this program, students will study positive guidance strategies to help children develop and grow healthy relationships, and become problem solvers.  Students study and develop strategies for implementing developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children.   In addition, students learn health, safety and nutritional aspects in providing well rounded care for young children.

Students who complete this certificate will earn credit toward completion of the Early Childhood Studies diploma and the Early Childhood Studies AAS degree.

The Education: Elementary program of study is designed for students who wish to become elementary teachers. The curriculum is structured so that students have the opportunity to explore the field of teaching.  It is designed for transfer to institutions that offer teaching certificates.  Graduates of this program are awarded an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree.

The Education: Secondary program of study is designed for students who wish to become secondary teachers. The curriculum is structured so that students have the opportunity to explore the field of teaching.  It is designed for transfer to institutions that offer teaching certificates.  Graduates of this program are awarded an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree.