Child and Youth Studies
Associate Degrees
Child Care Professional Career Path
School-Age and Youth Development Career Path
Certificates
Infant and Toddler Development
School-Age and Youth Development
What can I do in child and youth studies?
As a professional in child and youth studies, you may become a child care worker, teacher or an assistant in a child care center. Depending on your level of education, you may also become an assistant teacher in the Head Start/Early Head Start and public school classrooms. The higher your degree, the more qualified you will become for certain positions. The Early Care and Education program is nationally accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
What characteristics and skills do I need to work in this field?
Child and youth educators must have patience and possess a genuine concern for children, and have a strong desire to help them learn and succeed. Child and youth educators must also have good communication and interpersonal skills when partnering with parents, children and other professionals to create a nurturing environment, respectful of culture and rich in experiences to promote the optimal growth and development of EVERY child.
Where can I work?
Child and youth educators typically work in schools and child care centers and out-of-school-time programs. However, to teach in the public school systems, you will need to obtain Professional Teaching Certification.
What does Trident Technical College offer?
The Child and Youth Studies department is dedicated to preparing students for employment in settings that include, but are not limited to, any part-or full-day program in a child care center, school classroom or home care that serves young and school-age children and their families, including children with special developmental and learning needs. Each career path and certificate is designed for the child care professional who works with or is interested in working with children from birth through age 17.
Accreditation
The Associate of Applied Science degree program in Early Care and Education at Trident Technical 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 (https://www.naeyc.org/). The current accreditation term runs from March 2019 through March 2026.
To review accreditation status, please visit Accreditations and Approvals.
Program Outcome Data:
Associate in Applied Science: Early Care and Education
Accreditation Outcome Measures: Reporting Program Outcome Data-Early Care and Education
Candidate Learning Objectives:
Candidate Learning Objectives 2023: TTC Candidate Learning Objectives - Outcomes 2023
Important Links
State Credential Requirements: SC Endeavors
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship Program
If you are currently working in a childcare program, HeadStart, Early HeadStart or Preschool you may qualify for a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship to help with the costs of tuition and textbooks.