The Columbia College Early Childhood Education Program was designed to increase the pool of
well-prepared, skilled, knowledgeable professionals who are responsive to, and effective in meeting, the
needs of children in a range of urban settings. The Program was developed out of the belief that both a
liberal arts education which embraces the arts as central to the human experience and professional
preparation in pedagogy are essential in developing child development professionals. To that end
program students complete a rigorous course of study in the major; a body of work the visual arts,
performing arts, or a defined area of language and culture; and extensive field work. Program graduates
are supported during their first year of work in school and non-school settings.