The Early Childhood Education program at Vance-Granville Community College recently received recognition as one of the top ten best values in its field across the United States. VGCC came in at number eight on the list of the nation’s most affordable online early childhood degrees published by Texas-based AffordableColleges.com.

The organization, which also recently recognized the VGCC Criminal Justice program, ranked community college programs based on how they combined quality with affordability. VGCC was praised not only for its affordable tuition and financial aid options but also for its low student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1 and its technology resources. The organization’s stated mission is “to help students find a path to a rewarding, quality education that won’t leave them crippled by student debt.”

All of VGCC’s Early Childhood Education courses are offered either fully-online and/or in a hybrid format that combines online coursework with traditional face-to-face instruction. “After the spring 2017 semester, the only course that will not be offered fully-online will be our practicum course, in which our students apply what they’ve learned by working in an early learning or child care center under the supervision of qualified teachers,” explained Tracey Bennett Carter, who chairs the Education department at VGCC.

“We are excited that our program has been nationally recognized, which we attribute to our outstanding faculty, who maintain high academic standards to prepare students for the important work of nurturing and teaching young children,” Carter added.

The VGCC Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares students to work with children from birth through age eight in diverse learning environments. Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs; preschools; public and private schools; recreational centers; Head Start Programs; and school-age programs.

VGCC offers not only the two-year associate degree in Early Childhood Education, but also a three-semester diploma program and three certificate options, as well as a certificate in Infant/Toddler Care.

Registration is going on now for the spring 2017 semester at VGCC, which begins Jan. 9. For more information on Early Childhood Education, contact Tracey Bennett Carter at (252) 738-3471 or bennettt@vgcc.edu.