Aerial view of brown building situated on a lush, green campus.

Otero College

About

Otero College is located on an attractive 40-acre campus on the southern edge of La Junta, Colorado. Otero College is proud of its reputation as one of the finest community colleges in the State of Colorado. Their students can be found working in many of today's high demand careers, including fast-growing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers.

Otero is an accredited Hispanic Serving Institution and provides cutting-edge education that offers various two-year degrees, transfer degrees in preparation for four-year bachelor degree programs, and workforce ready certificates.

College or University
La Junta

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Otero College

Programs

Associate Degree

Early Childhood Teacher Education Transfer Major, Associate of Arts

24 months
Program Duration
Hybrid
Program Format

Relevant Links

Program

Program Info

Do you want to help shape young minds? A career in early childhood education can be serious fun! Teachers in early childhood settings have an enormous impact on the lives of young children, as they help their developing brains build critical skills like curiosity, persistence, and collaboration that will support success in kindergarten and beyond. As an early childhood educator, you’ll monitor developmental progression while creating a safe, engaging environment for play-based learning to occur.

An Early Childhood Education teaching degree can lead to a role as a classroom teacher, a center director, or an advocate for this important industry on which many families rely. In an associate program in Early Childhood Teacher Education, you will study developmental milestones, learn observation techniques, and explore culturally responsive and engaging teaching practices. This degree is transferable to universities offering bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education.

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Application Fee & Annual Tuition

$7,812
In State Tuition
$7,822
Out of State Tuition
$0
Application Fee

Ways to Lower Your Costs

Students at Otero College have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with Otero College to see if you can, too!

Amount

Description

Varies

Grants, Stipends, Scholarships

$1,000-$2,500
Otero College offers Rattler Nation Merit Scholarships to Colorado residents who enroll in at least 15 credit hours at Otero College the fall semester following their high school graduation date. These annual awards are based on Cumulative High School GPA and an Otero GPA of 3.0 or higher is required to renew each year.

The COSI Finish What You Started program is a grant funded program to provide financial assistance and support services to students who have earned credits at Otero and want to return to complete their degree/certificate. To be eligible, you must have “some-credit, no-degree” from Otero or another accredited college in the past; be impacted economically by the pandemic, or show some sort of financial hardship; and be pursuing a first higher education degree or certificate.

Otero College offers many other scholarship opportuni ties for students as well.

The T.E.A.C.H Scholarship is available for Early Childhood professionals working in licensed settings and pursuing higher education. This scholarship covers up to 90% of tuition, along with a supplies allowance, paid study time, and bonus incentives for completing classes successfully.

The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is used by the state of Colorado to pay a portion of the total cost of undergraduate degrees if you are a Colorado resident attending a Colorado public institution. For the 2022-2023 school year, the COF stipend is $104 per credit hour. COF is not considered financial aid. Students eligible for in-state tuition can receive the stipend every term that they take eligible undergraduate courses, and have not met the 145 credit hour lifetime limit.

Colorado Merit Aid
The state of Colorado allocates funding for students who have achieved high academic success. You must be enrolled in 6 or more credit hours and be a Colorado resident. Please check with the Financial Aid Office on current requirements.

Colorado Student Grant (CSG)
The Colorado Student Grant program is designed to assist students with financial need with their educational expenses. You must be a resident of the State of Colorado and must demonstrate documented financial need. The maximum award for the 2022-2023 academic year is $3,500 for full-time students. You must be making satisfactory academic progress. Funds are awarded to early applicants who meet the financial aid deadline of May 1st. All other applicants are awarded until the funding is exhausted.

Work Study, Working While Still Enrolled

Students who are enrolled in at least 6 credit hours are eligible for work-stu dy. The monetary amount offered is determined by your financial aid and various budget items.

For more information visit:Financial Aid Office

Program Overview

The first year of this program includes math and English courses for general education requirements. Other general education courses will cover Arts and Humanities, History, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural and Physical Sciences.

Program-specific courses may begin as soon as the first semester and become more advanced as the student moves along the degree pathway. Through this course sequence, knowledge of early childhood education concepts and instructional methods will grow and deepen. Coursework will include Guidance Strategies for Young Children, Curriculum Methods and Techniques, Child Growth and Development, and Working Parents, Families, and Communities. After completing a 60-credit associate degree, students can continue with guaranteed transfer to a 4-year college.

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