Early Care and Education

If you enjoy children and creative activities, possess patience, excellent communication skills, and sound decision-making abilities, and have a strong work ethic, HGTC's Associate in Applied Science in Early Care and Education (ECD) might be the right career path for you. Early Care and Education professionals work in partnership with families to create a nurturing environment that is respectful of culture and rich in experiences to promote the optimal growth and development of each child. Students in this program receive the tools and resources necessary to provide language- and literacy-rich environments, appropriate math and science skills, an inquiry-based approach to learning about the world, and safe, healthy environments that promote emotional and social well-being. The program includes interactive classroom experiences, as well as off-site experiences in a variety of child-care and early-education environments.

For more information, contact:
Becky Hubbard - (843) 349-7117

Tina M. Winesette - (843) 349-7822

Career Outlook

Recent scientific research has confirmed the need for high-quality care and education during a child's early years, when optimal brain growth and development occurs. This has increased the demand for highly qualified early-childhood professionals. The Associate in Applied Science in Early Care and Education prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings for children ages birth through eight years. These settings include:

• Childcare centers
• Head Start centers
• Family childcare homes
• Morning preschool programs
• After-school programs
• Programs for children with differing abilities
• Summer camp programs
• Private schools
• Public schools

For students already working in a childcare or early-education setting, opportunities may be available for Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) scholarships and other bonus incentives.

For more information about careers, visit O*Net Online for an overview of South Carolina and National earnings statistics, and Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Office of Career Services for more employment, career, and professional development resources.

Employers of HGTC Alumni Include:

• Horry and Georgetown County Schools
• Horry County Head Start
• Child Development Ministries at First United Methodist Church
• The Learning Tree Day School
• The Learning Station
• Gateway Academy
• Carolina Forest Child Development Center