Early Childhood Education Programs

(found programs from 916 schools)

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Below is a directory (broken down by state) of all of the Early Childhood Education programs we could find, from over 1,700 accredited colleges and universities across the US.

Introduction to Early Childhood Education Careers

Enrollment in a quality early childhood education program is increasingly recognized as a key to future success. Before 1960, fewer than 10 percent of children attended preschool. Today, that figure has increased to nearly 60 percent according to a report from the Child Trends Databank.

As an early childhood educator, you can have a positive impact on the social, emotional and cognitive development of the next generation.

Interview with the NAEYC

Below, EducationDegree.com speaks with Dr. Barbara Willer, Deputy Executive Director for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, about the future of early childhood education and the use of technology in early childhood classrooms.




Early Childhood Education Job Description

Early childhood educators provide care, and instruction for children aged three to five years, preparing them emotionally, socially, and academically for elementary school and beyond. Many preschool teachers work a 10-month schedule with two months off for summer vacation. Early childhood educators in a daycare setting, though, typically work year-round.

Finger painting and story time still figure prominently in preschool instruction, but today's preschool teachers also draw on a wealth of research to craft developmentally appropriate instruction in letter recognition, phonics, math, science, and social studies.

Instruction at this age level is accomplished through a combination of play, experience and formal teaching. The delivery method may include small and large group activities, one-on-one instruction, and exposure to literature, music, art, and dance.

Early Childhood Education Requirements

Training requirements for early childhood educators vary from state to state and even from program to program. Some private preschool programs require only a high school degree and experience working with young children. Other institutions, particularly state-funded programs, require coursework at a community college or a college degree in child development or early childhood education.

The National Association for Early Childhood Teacher Educators advocates that teachers in state sponsored pre-K and kindergarten programs be required to hold an early childhood certification and/or endorsement from a qualified teacher-training program.

Early Childhood Education Career Outlook

Job opportunities for early childhood educators should be plentiful over the next decade. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment in the early childhood education field will grow faster than the average through 2018. Because turnover is high in preschool education, there will be plenty of openings for qualified candidates.

Average salaries for early childhood educators are lower than those of teachers in elementary and secondary schools. The Bureau reports that the median annual salary for preschool teachers was $23, 870 in 2008. The bottom 10 percent of preschool teachers earned less than $16,000 per year, while the top 10 percent averaged just over $41,000 annually.

Early Childhood Education Trends

Because research continues to highlight the importance of early learning on children's future academic and social success, government spending on early childhood education has increased dramatically in the last decade. A study by the Education Commission of the States reports that states spent an estimated $3.5 billion on pre-kindergarten education in 2006 compared with only $200 million in 1998. Some states now mandate full-day and/or universal preschool.

Early education teachers can expect to work with increasingly diverse student populations. Preschool teachers will need to be comfortable teaching students from a variety of religious, racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Early Childhood Education Degrees Online

Online early childhood education programs can be "enormously effective." Michelle Beedle, program coordinator for the School of Education at Rasmussen College, noted this in a January 2010 article for her college's website about the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Conference.

In addition to being effective, online degree programs are flexible. Students may access classes at any time of the day or night. Typical courses include early childhood growth and development, children's literature and early childhood teaching methodology.

Look for online programs that are accredited by a professional organization such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children or the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Also, make sure the program offers real-world experience through internships and student teaching practicums.

The length of time it takes to complete an online degree in early childhood education depends upon the individual and the program. Western Governors University in Indiana estimates that students with an associate degree can complete their online degree in two years, while students with no college experience may take four to five years.

Online Early Childhood Education Degrees to Consider:

Western Governors University was the first online teacher licensure degree program to be accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Its 122-credit Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education is aligned with the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and designed for those who want to work with children from birth through age eight. This program includes a teaching practicum.

Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, offers an online Bachelor of Science in child development and family living. This program is based on the principles of the Head Start program and accredited through the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences. It focuses on teaching students to nurture the social and cognitive development of young children.

If you'd like to move out of the classroom and into administration, consider Post University's online certificate program in early childhood education administration. This program includes courses on the developmental needs of young children but also focuses on the business aspects of managing early childhood education programs.


Useful Resources


Featured Online Programs:


Capella University

Accreditation:
NCATE accredited
Matching Program(s):
(for current teachers only)

MS - Early Childhood Education

Concordia University

Matching Program(s):
(for aspiring teachers and current teachers)
M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction: ECE

Grand Canyon University

Matching Program(s):
(for aspiring teachers and current teachers)
B.S. in Early ChildhoodB.S. in Elementary Education: Early Childhood (K-8)M.Ed. in Early Childhood (IR)M.Ed. in Early Childhood (Non-IR)

Stephen F. Austin State University

Matching Program(s):
(for aspiring teachers only)
Master of Education in Early Childhood

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Matching Program(s):
Master of Science in Elementary Education

University of Cincinnati

Accreditation:
NCATE accredited
Matching Program(s):

MEd - Curriculum & Instruction

University of Phoenix

Matching Program(s):
(for current teachers only)
Master of Arts in Education / Early Childhood Education

Walden University

Matching Program(s):
(for aspiring teachers and current teachers)
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Child Development Administration and ManagementBachelor of Science (B.S.) in Child Development Child & Adolescent StudiesBachelor of Science (B.S.) in Child Development Dual Concentration (Preschool & Infant/Toddler)Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Child Development Family Health and Wellness Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Child Development GeneralBachelor of Science (B.S.) in Child Development Infant/ToddlerBachelor of Science (B.S.) in Child Development PreschoolMaster of Science (M.S.) in Early Childhood Studies - Early Childhood Public Policy and AdvocacyMaster of Science (M.S.) in Early Childhood Studies - Teaching Adults in the Early Childhood FieldMaster of Science (M.S.) in Early Childhood Studies - Teaching and Diversity in Early Childhood EducationPh.D. in Education - KAM-based Early Childhood and Primary EducationPh.D. in Education - Mixed-Model Early Childhood and Primary EducationTeacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching - Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 3)



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Are we missing any schools or programs? If so, please let us know! We appreciate your help in making this the best directory of Education Degree Programs on the web. You can send us an email at schools@educationdegree.com.