Q: How long will this program take to complete?
A: A student may complete the Associate degree programs in as short a time as four or five semesters or as long a time as it takes doing one course a semester. Many of our students go part time and take their time doing the work well.
Q: When are the courses offered for this program?
A: Courses for all our programs are offered both day and evening and a few offered on weekends, particularly the General Education requirements.
Q: Can I do this program online? At night? During day? Weekends?
A: You can do some of the General Education requirements on line, but the other Departmental courses are done as classroom courses to assure the classroom discussion is rich for learning and sharing with classmates.
Q: When does this program start? Fall? Spring? Anytime?
A: A student may start the program at any time of the year.
Q: Is this program accredited?
A: The Early Childhood Program follows the accreditation guidelines for two-year colleges from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
The Human Services Program follows the curriculum developed by Cornell University for Family Development Credentialing.
Q: How do I get into this program?
A: A student must apply for admission to the college and state his/her chosen major. A CORI check is also required before practicum or community service placements are allowed.
Q: What kinds of jobs can I get with this degree/certificate?
A: Jobs are outlined in the catalog under the Job Outlook section.
Q: How much money does someone make doing that?
A: Salaries in all the helping professions in the United States are low compared to other professional jobs. But, this is changing in both Human Services and Early Childhood as society begins to value the work done in these fields more. Salaries in education are usually higher, but still lower than many professional fields.
Q: How easy will it be for me to get a job?
A: There a many jobs available in all three of these fields.
Q: Will someone help me find a job when I am done?
A: BHCC’s Career Center has job postings to help students secure jobs. Students are often hired by their placement sites to continue with full and part time work after graduation.
Q: Can I transfer to a 4-year college with this degree?
A: All three of these areas transfer to 4-year colleges.
Q: Are there any articulation agreements etc?
A: There are formal articulations with Lesley University and Springfield College for Early Childhood Development and with Springfield College for Human Services and Education.
Several other colleges have informal agreements accepting coursework freely in transfer to their institutions (for example, Lesley University for Education; Boston University Metropolitan College for Human Services). Additional articulations are being worked on with Lesley and Salem State for Human Services and Wheelock College for all three programs.
The A.A. in Education meets the MassTransfer requirements for transfer to any state college in Massachusetts.
Q: Will I be a junior when I transfer?
A: This depends upon the program into which you are transferring and the college’s admissions transfer policies. Check the college specifically to determine which courses you should take to assure transfer.
Q: Are there practicum requirements with this program?
A: Students in Early Childhood and Human Service must take an extensive practicum. A guide to the practicum is posted on the web site for your review.
Practicum (and prepracticum) is taken at the END of your course of study, just before you are ready to graduate.
Check the practicum guide posted here or consult the catalog for more information. Permission to enter the practicum is required from the Department Chair one semester prior to enrollment.
Q: Can I pick where I do that practicum?
A: Not exactly. The Department has relationships with many agencies and centers in the Metro Boston area where students do their practicum activities. You will work with the Coordinator of your particular program to work out where you will do your work. See more about this in the guide to the practicum and on the web site that outlines practicum particulars.
Q: What kinds of courses will I be taking?
A: Coursework is divided into four areas. First, you will take any developmental courses that are required to assure you will be successful in college level work. These may be in Reading, Writing, or Math. Second, you will take General Education courses required of all students at the College. These are in areas of English, History, Behavioral Science, Science, Math, and Humanities. Third, you will take content level courses related to your area of study and required by all majors. Finally, you will take other professional studies courses related to your major. Some programs have free electives that allow you to choose two or more courses to take just because you are interested.
Q: What are the career electives in the program plans?
A.
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