Associate Degree Programs
Explore Urban College of Boston’s associate degree programs
Urban College of Boston offers three associate degree programs. Click on the link below to view degree requirements or to request information:
Students are required to complete 60 credits (generally 20 courses) to attain an associate degree.
If you want to continue your education after Urban College, associate degrees can be applied toward bachelor’s degrees at other colleges and universities.
Please view our College Catalogue to explore specific degree requirements for each program of study.
Learning Outcomes for Associate Degree Programs of Study
Each of Urban College’s associate degree programs prepares our graduates for their chosen fields.
Early Childhood Education Associate Degree Program
Upon successful completion of all Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree requirements, graduates will be able to:
Integrate learned theories with practice in early childhood settings and placements.
Articulate a personal philosophy of Early Childhood Education.
Implement a wide array of research-based, developmentally appropriate educational approaches, instructional strategies, and tools that recognize and support individual learning differences and social and cultural influences.
Apply knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes as outlined by the Massachusetts Core Learning Competencies as well as Early Education and Care standards.
Analyze current issues, trends, and policies that affect young children and their families to effectively advocate for their needs.
Observe, Document, and Assess young children and use this information to make decisions about curriculum implementation and modification as well as to engage in reflective practice to strengthen professional skills, knowledge, and competencies.
Create high-quality early childhood environments that embrace full inclusion and strengths, work to eliminate structural inequities that limit equitable learning opportunities, and develop classroom strategies that show respect for family differences.
Human Services Program
The Associate of Arts in Human Services Administration degree at Urban College prepares students for transfer and employment in social service agencies, schools, and centers. The program provides a unique combination of college course work and human services field experience employers value. Upon successful completion of all Human Services degree program requirements, graduates will be able to:
Understand the nature of human systems: individual, group, organization, community and society, and their major interactions.
Describe the underlying principles and possible causation of social problems and analyze strategies for change.
Examine the ways institutions, service delivery systems, social policies, and funding mechanisms impact service delivery.
Apply an understanding of human behavior to examine one’s own conduct as well as the behavior of others.
Demonstrate skills, techniques, and intervention strategies needed for problem solving, crisis intervention, and providing equitable social and emotional support to people of different cultural, ethnic, faith system and socio-economic backgrounds and abilities.
Identify core principles in the Human Services field, including the values and ethics of the profession.
General Studies Program
Through a blend of general education core courses and electives aligned with individual aspirations, the Associate of Arts in General Studies degree provides students the opportunity to plan, analyze, and execute their individual career and education goals. Upon successful completion of all General Studies degree program requirements, graduates will be able to:
Explore prospective career and academic goals and the pathways through ongoing personal and professional development.
Demonstrate clear connections among academic choices and personal, career academic aspirations.
Engage in a reflective process of information discovery, articulate the value of information and its cycle of development, and conduct discipline specific research using appropriate technology.
Examine the diversity of the human experience to develop civic and intercultural knowledge and competence.
Produce oral, written, and digital communication that best serves the setting and audience and imparts information to others, promotes understanding, and/or influences opinion.
Utilize quantitative and qualitative reasoning or computational skills to make informed decisions.
Professional Licensure & Certification Disclosures
As part of our commitment to transparency and student success, we provide the following general disclosures for programs designed to prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Licensure requirements vary by state and may include additional steps such as exams, background checks, or supervised experience.
Students residing in states where UCB has not yet determined whether a program meets that state’s licensure requirements will receive a direct email disclosure upon application or enrollment, as required by federal and NC-SARA guidelines.
Programs with Licensure or Certification Alignment
Early Childhood Education Certifications (Massachusetts)
EEC Teacher Certification
Course: ECE 104 – Child Growth and Development
Meets the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)’s requirement for a three-credit child development course for Teacher-level certification.
EEC Certification Details
EEC Director Certification – Level I
Course: ECE 218 – Early Childhood Education Administration
Covers essential topics including program budgeting, staff supervision, licensing regulations, and evaluation methods. Satisfies the additional administration credit requirement for Director Level I certification in MA.
EEC Certification Details
EEC Director Certification – Level II
Course: ECE 221 – Supervision and Staff Development
Fulfills the advanced topics requirement for Director Level II certification. Topics include leadership, professional development, and conflict resolution.
EEC Certification Details
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
Courses:
ECE 119 – CDA Professional Resource File Development I
ECE 120 – CDA Professional Resource File Development II
These courses guide students through the 120 hours of formal training, development of the CDA portfolio, and preparation for the verification visit and exam required by the Council for Professional Recognition. Visit the CDA Council
ParaPro Assessment (ETS)
Recommended Courses:
ENG 111 – College Writing I
ECE 109 – Early Language and Literacy Development
MAT 100 – College Mathematics
These courses help prepare students for the ETS ParaPro Assessment, a national test evaluating skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, commonly required for paraprofessional roles.
ETS ParaPro Assessment
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Certification
Course: HUS 108 – Behavior Analysis and Intervention Skills
Satisfies the 40-hour training requirement set by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) to qualify for the RBT examination. Additional steps include a competency assessment under BCBA supervision. BACB RBT Certification
Community Health Worker (CHW) Certification (Massachusetts)
Course: HUS 110 – Core Competencies for Community Behavioral Health Workers
Aligned with the 10 core competencies outlined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health under 272 CMR 5.00, this course supports eligibility for CHW certification.
MA CHW Certification Overview
Need Help Understanding Licensure in Your State?
If you’re currently enrolled or considering one of the programs above and live outside Massachusetts, we’re here to help.
Contact:
Dr. Noemí Custodia Lora
Vice President, Academic Affairs & Workforce Development
Urban College of Boston, 2 Boylston Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02116
AcademicAffairs@urbancollege.edu
REQUEST INFORMATION
“Urban College is not just an institution; UCB is a family, a home, a place where you feel loved, and a place that makes you feel like you belong.”