The Program
The Education Department at Villa offers two degree programs, both offered in day and evening options:

1. Early Childhood Education--a program which provides the knolwedge and techniques to teach children from infancy to age five and leads to an associates degree for immedaite employment or transfer for a baccalaureate degree.

2. Education Studies-- is a transfer-based program which fulfills course requirements for the NYS Teacher Assistant Certification and encompasses the first two years of study in pursuit of teaching certification for elementary education.

"The education I received at Villa allowed me to advance in my career. Classes specific to the Education Department prepared me to take the New York State Teaching Assistant Exam. Above all, the knowledge that I have gained by attending Villa has benefited me in all facets of my life." - Julie Ketterl, Teacher Assistant with the Cheektowaga Central School District


The Education department offers the opportunity for students and employees in the field of child care to complete college level course required for the New York State Association of the Education of Young Children (NYSEAYC)

The Requirements
Course requirements within the area of concentration for Education programs are 33-40 credit hours:

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (40 credit hours)
  • Child Growth and Development EDU 103
  • Children’s Literature EDU 201
  • Foundations of Education EDU 102
  • Infant and Toddler Curriculum and Methods EDU 222
  • Internship I and II EDU 109 and EDU 209
  • Literacy and Language Arts in Education EDU 207
  • Methods and Materials for Teaching for Early Childhood Programs EDU 101
  • Methods In Health, Safety and Nutrition for Young
  • Children EDU 106 (1 credit)
  • Nature and Needs of the Exceptional Learner EDU 211
  • Professional Practices in Education EDU 107
  • Administration of Preschool Programs EDU 215
  • Teaching of Reading and Writing EDU 225
  • Edcuation and the Urban Commmunity EDU 227
EDUCATION STUDIES (27 credit hours)
  • Child and Adolescent Development EDU 105
  • Child and Adolescent Literature EDU 201
  • Educational Psychology EDU 298
  • Foundations of Education EDU 102
  • Nature and Needs of the Exceptional Learner EDU 211
  • Professional Practices in Education EDU 107
  • Literacy and Language Arts EDU 207
  • Teaching of Reading EDU 225
  • Teaching Strategies for Elementary Education EDU 251
  • Education and the Urban Community EDU 227
Program Electives (6 credit hours)
  • Foreign Language I and II or
  • History I and II
  • American Sign Language I and II

Liberal Arts Core
The liberal arts core, a combination of humanities, natural sciences and social sciences essential to a solid career foundation, is required in all degree programs.

The liberal arts core for Education majors is 28-30 credit hours.

"Everything I learned in the Education Program at Villa I use on a regular basis in my current job at Little Angels Day Care Center." Andrea Tabak, Class of 2004


Employment Opportunities
Current employment trends indicate an excellent outlook for early childhood education. Preschool, kindergarten and childcare occupations are among those with the largest projected job growth through the year 2010.

Graduates of elementary and secondary baccalaureate programs face a job market expected to increase faster than the average of all occupations through the year 2010.

Upon graduation, students can take the NYS Teacher Assistant Certification Exam.

Special Program Notes
The Early Childhood Education Program includes two required cooperative education internships to provide students with hands-on work experience.

Education Studies, as a transfer program, provides for optional cooperative education internships. Students who desire field experience prior to transfer to a four-year program may elect to complete an internship.

Early Childhood Education and Education Studies are available in both day and the evening module program. The evening program is desinged for students who would like to pursue a degree in the evening. The program runs in eight week sessions on Tuesdays and Thursday nights. Class schedules run 5:45 - 7:50 p.m. and 8 - 9:55 p.m.

Students in both programs transfer to a number of local colleges including Daemen, Canisius, Buffalo State and Fredonia State.

The Teachers Love Children (TLC) student club provides Education majors with the opportunity to participate in activities servicing children in need.

For Further Information

Call or write:

Judith Piskun, Department Coordinator
Associate Professor/Early Childhood Education/Education
Phone: (716) 961-1842
Email: jpiskun@villa.edu

or: