Program Details

The Early Childhood curriculum covers a complete spectrum of issues in child development and education. The curriculum is common across the state by peer group agreement, and it covers the areas recommended for NAEYC Associate Degree programs in Early Childhood Education. The curriculum is designed to prepare Early Childhood Professionals. This includes people presently employed in early learning settings, and those seeking employment in the field. It also provides seamless articulation for those who wish to continue their education at a four-year institution.

• Transfer Opportunities

  Transfer is not the primary purpose of this degree; however, NOVA may have agreements that facilitate the transfer of this and other career-oriented programs to selected senior institutions. The Transfer Pathway link provides the GMU Advance program and details how the Early Childhood Development, A.A.S. (ECD) program transfers. Other Virginia institutions also accept the ECD degree. Students interested in transferring should contact a faculty advisor or counselor to discuss their options and plans.

  Articulation Information: Several senior institutions in Virginia accept this degree in its totality for entrance into programs that may lead to public school Early Childhood Teacher Licensure (PreK-Grade 3 and/or Early Childhood Special Education) in Virginia. Students interested in early childhood pathways to teacher licensure should speak with a NOVA Early Childhood Development (CHD) advisor.

• Credit for Prior Learning

  Northern Virginia Community College accepts industry-standard certifications, credentials and/or professional courses for credit. Broadly, licenses, credentials and/or certifications must be current and valid for consideration. For more information regarding the status of the certification and its eligibility for credit, please see an advisor or faculty members in the discipline area that awards CPL credit.

  The most current information can be found here for CPL: Certifications and Credentials.

• Career Prospects

  Students attaining an AAS in Early Childhood development may serve as lead teachers, directors, owners/operators, and curriculum specialists in child care and preschool settings. Students may also work as instructional assistants in public school settings.

• Faculty

  Alexandria

  Name	Phone	Email
  Dr. Christine Schull Assistant Dean	703.845.6224	cschull@nvcc.edu
  Pam Blankenship (adjunct)	703.575.4722	pblankenship@nvcc.edu
  Sherry Chevalley (adjunct)	703.575.4722	schevalley@nvcc.edu
  Stephanie Cunningham (adjunct)	703.575.4722	scunningham@nvcc.edu
  Virginia Holloway (adjunct)	703.575.4722	vholloway@nvcc.edu
  Ana Hoover (adjunct)	703.575.4722	ahoover@nvcc.edu
  Nancy Hoyler (adjunct)	703.575.4722	nhoyler@nvcc.edu
  Amy Johnson (adjunct)	703.575.4722	ajohnson@nvcc.edu
  Shelley Keith (adjunct)	703.575.4722	skeith@nvcc.edu
  Trista Mason (adjunct)	703.575.4722	tmason@nvcc.edu
  Kristine Ruscello (adjunct)	703.575.4722	kruscello@nvcc.edu
  Yvonne Spencer (adjunct)	703.575.4722	yspencer@nvcc.edu

  • Access - Increase access to under-served populations.
  • Partnerships - Develop strategic partnerships to create gateways of opportunity.
  • Leadership - Serve as a catalyst and a leader in developing educational and economic competitiveness.

  Loudoun

  Name	Email
  Susan Johnson-Program Head	sjohnson@nvcc.edu
  Dawn Crowson (Adjunct)	dcrowson@nvcc.edu
  Dr. Jennifer Kaywork (Adjunct)	jkaywork@nvcc.edu
  Lauren Lang (Adjunct)	llang@nvcc.edu
  Ann-Marie Lanius (Adjunct)	alanius@nvcc.edu
  Gail Multop (Adjunct)	gmultop@nvcc.edu
  Laura McCarty (Adjunct)	lmccarty@nvcc.edu
  Dr. Rachel Sweeney (Adjunct)	rsweeney@nvcc.edu
  Kathleen Tanas (Adjunct)	ktanas@nvcc.edu

   

  Manassas

  Dr. Kathleen Ludlow, Program Head
  kludlow@nvcc.edu
  Since January 2002, Dr. Ludlow has served full-time as the Early Childhood Program Head at the Manassas Campus.  Dr. Ludlow brings a wealth of experience from both public and private sectors to NOVA.  Expertise as an early childhood educator, trainer, and former owner of early learning centers make her an ideal program head and early childhood professor. 

  Ms. Bernice Mayfield
  bmayfield@nvcc.edu
  Since August 2014, Ms. Mayfield has served full-time as an early childhood professor at NOVA. Prior to this time, Ms. Mayfield was an adjunct at NOVA for the early childhood programs.  Ms. Mayfield’s experience, in both public and private sectors of early childhood education as an educator and mentor, make her an ideal early childhood professor.

  Adjuncts

  Ms. Lucy Amos
  Experienced early childhood educator and trainer.  Ms. Amos brings a global perspective to the early childhood classroom.  Ms. Amos enjoys spending time with her family and early childhood advocacy.

  Dr. Rosemary Burton
  Long time adjunct professor of early childhood education at NVCC.  Dr. Burton is instrumental in preparing child care providers to work in the field of early childhood education.  Dr. Burton enjoys ballroom dancing and working with early childhood committees for the betterment of this field.

  Ms. Deborah Donovan
  Experienced licensed public teacher.  Ms. Donovan begins a wealth of knowledge, talent and interest in early childhood education to the classroom.  Ms. Donovan enjoys spending time with her family and teaching at NVCC in the early childhood programs.

  Ms. Amy Josephson
  Knowledgeable early childhood educator who enjoys rich hands-on learning experiences.  Ms. Josephson enjoys spending time with her family and planning early childhood activities.

  Ms. Kristal Menchaca
  Highly experienced educator at both the community college and university levels.  Ms. Menchaca is particularly knowledgeable in the areas of infant and child development, behavior guidance, and health/safety of young children.  Ms. Menchaca enjoys spending time with her family and child advocacy.

  Ms. Deborah Stepien
  Knowledgeable early childhood professional with 28+ years of experience working with young children and families in a variety of settings.  Ms. Stepien is a highly skilled child development and Child Find specialist, assessor, child advocate and licensed teacher.  Ms. Stepien enjoys volunteer work and travel.

• Academic Advising

  Alexandria Campus

  Dr. Christine Schull, Program Head
  cschull@nvcc.edu

  Ginny Holloway
  vholloway@nvcc.edu

  Loudoun Campus

  Susan Johnson, Program Head
  sjohnson@nvcc.edu

  Manassas Campus

  Dr. Kathleen Ludlow, Program Head
  kludlow@nvcc.edu

  Bernice Mayfield
  bmayfield@nvcc.edu

• Scholarships
  • Virginia Child Care Provider Scholarship Program
  • Project Pathfinders Scholarship for Early Childhood
  • Northern Virginia Community College Office of Financial Aid
• Professional Resources
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children
  • National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
  • National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
  • Southern Early Childhood Association
  • Association for Childhood Education International
  • Loudoun Family Child Care Coalition
  • Eastern Prince William Family Child Care Association

NAEYC Accreditation

The Early Childhood Development Program at Northern Virginia Community 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. The accreditation term runs from March 2018 through March 2025.

NVCC bases the content of all ECE courses on NAEYC’s Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation. This link is to data on program outcomes.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcome Measure #1: The Number of Program Completers

Outcome Measure #2: The Program Completion Rate

Expected graduation timeframe two years

Outcome Measure #3: Fall-to-Fall Retention Rate