Associate degree in early childhood care and education
The associate degree in early childhood care and education degree program is offered by the Virtual University of Pakistan. It is designed to provide teachers with a deep and multidimensional understanding of the various aspects of early childhood education. The program covers the first phase of education, which includes playgroup, nursery, Montessori school education, and up to grade 3.
The main objective of the program is to equip teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills to create a nurturing and supportive learning environment for young children. It focuses on developing the content knowledge of prospective teachers and training them in the best ways to foster children’s cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development. This includes teaching strategies, methods, and techniques that are effective for young children.
The associate degree in Early Childhood Care and Education program also aims to prepare students to manage early childhood education programs effectively. It provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and operate their own ECCE schools, should they choose to do so.
Objectives
- Acquire a foundational understanding of comprehensive child development and appreciate the importance of providing adequate healthcare and nutrition for children
- Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in both theoretical and practical knowledge, and possess a thorough understanding of the principles that underpin Early Childhood Care and Education.
- Gain a fundamental understanding of holistic child development and appreciate the critical importance of providing appropriate healthcare and nutrition to children
- Understand the psychological principles that underlie the teaching and learning process for young students
- Adapt teaching methods to cater to the diverse learning needs and styles of students, employing innovative techniques to ensure effective instruction
- Apply pedagogical analysis to ensure effective teaching and learning of elementary school subjects.
Learning objectives
- To promote the development of reasoning skills and the capacity for self-reflection, connecting theoretical concepts with practical applications
- Display a comprehensive understanding of the content
- Implement varied pedagogical strategies during instruction
- Develop an understanding of how to leverage different learning styles to enhance student learning
- Expand knowledge of appropriate communication techniques for success in both personal and professional contexts
Eligibility
12 years of Education, minimum 45% marks, FA/FSC/ICS/I.COM
- Candidates who have completed ‘A’ levels must provide an equivalence certificate from the Inter Board Committee of the Chairman in Islamabad.
- Candidates with less than 45% marks can be admitted after completing the “Zero Semester“.
Course Exemption
Course selection is available for this program.
Duration
The course is designed to be completed over two years, with each year consisting of two semesters spanning at least 18 weeks each.
Study Scheme
Semester 1
| Course Code | Subject Title | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CS101
|
Introduction to Computing |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
GSC101
|
General Science |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
ENG101 |
English Comprehension |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
MTH100 |
General Mathematics |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
URD101 |
Urdu |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
ETH202 |
Ethics (for Non-Muslims) |
Elective |
|
2 (Theory:2), Practical:0) |
|
|
ISL202 |
Islamic Studies |
Elective |
|
2 (Theory:2), Practical:0) |
|
|
VU001 |
Introduction to e-Learning |
Required |
|
1 (Theory:1), Practical:0) |
|
Semester 2
| Course Code | Subject Title | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ECE101
|
Introduction to Early Childhood Education |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
ECE202
|
Physical Development of the Child |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
ECE301 |
Classroom Management for Young Learners |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDUA305 |
Classroom Management for Young Learners |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDUA411 |
Teaching of Urdu in Early Childhood |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
MCM301 |
Communication skills |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) |
|
|
PAK302 |
Pakistan Studies |
Required |
|
2 (Theory:2), Practical:0) |
|
Semester 3
| Course Code | Subject Title | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ECE201
|
Language Development of the Child |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDU306
|
Teaching of Social Studies and Islamiat in Early Years of Education |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDUA403 |
Teaching of Arts, Crafts & Calligraphy |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDUA405 |
Assessment and Evaluation in Early Years of Education |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
ENG201 |
Business and Technical English Writing |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
GSCA201 |
Teaching of General Science in Early Years of Education |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) |
|
Semester 4
| Course Code | Subject Title | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ECTA519
|
Teaching Practice - I |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
ECTB519
|
Teaching Practice - II |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDUA430 |
Use of Information and Communication Technology for Early Childhood Education |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDUA501 |
Role of School, Community & Teacher in Early Years of Education |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDUA510 |
Teaching of Mathematics in Early Childhood |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3), Practical:0) |
|
|
EDUA516 |
Teaching of English in Early Childhood |
Required |
|
3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) |
|
Assessment of Study Progress
The evaluation of students’ academic progress is based on continuous assessment throughout the semester, including assignments, online quizzes, Graded Discussion Boards (GDBs), and mid-term and final-term exams. The mid and final-term exams are conducted at VU’s designated exam centers and typically account for 80-85% of the total marks for a course.
Teaching Practice
Students must complete the teaching practice of 6 credit hours in the final year. It is mandatory that the teaching practice be held in public or private elementary schools and preschools.
Degree Awarded
To be awarded an associate degree in Early Childhood Care and Education program, a student must complete at least 74 credit hours of coursework with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0 out of 4.
Fee Structure
| Degree Program | Admission Fee | Registration Fee | Security Fee | Admission Processing Fee | Semester Enrollment Fee | Per credit hour fee | Fee of Convocation | Fee payable at admission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ADP |
3,000 |
2,500 |
2,000 |
500 |
1,000 |
935 |
2,000 |
11,905 |
Semester Fee
Semester fee Approximately Rs. 17,000/-
Disclaimer
- The courses are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date with those taught at top universities, taking into account the needs of local industry and the job market.
- The University may alter its fee structure from time to time.