An early childhood education degree could be a fit for anyone who wants to teach young children in age-appropriate classroom environments.
Whether you’re interested in teaching preschool, running a childcare center, or coordinating community kids’ programming, check out your choices for colleges with early childhood education programs.
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You can even earn an early childhood degree online. In an online early childhood education degree program, you can gain essential training through a class format that works for your busy schedule.
Online Early Childhood Education Degrees
Maybe you want to become a beloved early childhood teacher who makes a lasting difference in the lives of students and their families.
Earning your bachelor’s degree in early childhood education could be a strategic way to get started with this meaningful career. You can learn how to work with young children and provide age-appropriate learning experiences.
Topics covered in this degree program may include:
- Classroom management
- Community and family engagement
- Curriculum planning
- Health and safety
- Human development
- Instructional methods
- Language and literacy
- Nutrition
As you take online classes for this degree, you might visit early childhood classrooms in your local area. You could observe the students and the teachers to learn more about effectively working with kids.
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An online bachelor’s degree in education may come in different forms. Some are designed as non-licensure tracks. While they won’t qualify you for state teaching licensure, they can help you prepare for jobs in childcare centers and private preschools.
Other tracks help you work toward becoming licensed by the state to teach in public school settings. These programs require student teaching experiences. They also have curricula that prepare students to pass licensure exams. Typically, a professional with an early childhood teaching license can teach third grade or below.
Early Childhood Education Careers and Salaries
Early childhood education majors often have a preschool career in mind. You might be interested in leading a classroom of young learners or even directing a school. Some early childhood graduates can teach in elementary schools as well. If you complete a licensure track, you might be eligible to teach up to second or third grade in a public school setting.
Special education might be another teaching route to consider. There are special education positions that focus on preschool students as well as special ed roles for early elementary learners. Even if you aren’t licensed, you could still work in a school setting with elementary students—or even middle or high schoolers—as a teacher assistant.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for education, training, and library occupations overall is $57,220.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Special Education Teachers | $61,820 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $61,400 |
| Kindergarten Teachers | $60,900 |
| Preschool and Childcare Center Directors | $47,310 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $37,610 |
| Library Technicians and Assistants | $34,050 |
| Preschool Teachers | $30,210 |
| Recreation Workers | $29,680 |
| Teacher Assistants | $29,360 |
| Childcare Workers | $27,490 |
Some educational positions are likely to require state licensure. Of course, schools aren’t the only places for early childhood graduates to work. Another popular option is to pursue a childcare career.
Daycare centers are one popular work setting for childcare providers. With a bachelor’s in early childhood education, you might even qualify to advance to a director role. Some graduates look into being a nanny or opening a home daycare. Experience and training in working with young children might prepare you for other jobs as well.
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Recreation workers may offer children’s programming in camps or community organizations. Library assistants could conduct programs and connect young readers to books in public or school libraries. Perhaps you’d like to support children in need. You might consider working as an assistant in a social or human service organization that serves kids and families. In time, you might advance to positions with more responsibilities.
Your background might also make you an effective salesperson who sells curriculum or educational materials to schools, daycares, and other child-oriented organizations.
Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Curriculum & Courses
Your bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education may include classes about child development as well as teaching strategies. Here are some course examples:
- Behavior Management and Classroom Culture: Your program might address ways to develop an educational environment in which everyone feels welcomed, encouraged, and able to learn.
- Classroom Diversity: This course will cover working with students and families from various backgrounds and being sensitive to differences among the members of your classroom.
- Curriculum Planning: You can learn how to develop lessons that are appropriate for your students’ learning levels, address diverse needs, and meet educational standards.
- Family Dynamics: As you study family relationships and structures, you may discuss how to foster communication and support between home and school.
- Growth and Development: Your program will help you understand how kids change physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively from birth through adolescence.
- Health, Safety, and Nutrition: This class will teach you what’s involved in helping kids grow healthy and strong in safe environments with nourishing food.
- Instructional Methods: There might be multiple classes that teach you how to offer effective instruction in various subject areas.
- Literacy for Young Children: You’ll learn about language development in the early years and consider how to guide children toward reading fluency.
- Motor Skills and Music: Movement and rhythms can be invaluable in preschoolers’ learning experiences, so this class will teach you how to incorporate age-appropriate music and movement activities.
- Special Needs: You’ll learn how to support exceptional students whose learning needs may differ from those of their peers.
If you choose an early childhood education bachelors with a licensure track, you’ll complete a student teaching experience as well.
Early Childhood Education Major Admissions Requirements
If you want to get into an early childhood program, you can check the application requirements. It’s necessary to know exactly what materials or documents a particular school expects to see.
Examples include:
- High school transcripts or GED certificate
- Personal essay or statement of purpose
- Recommendation letters
- Test scores — ACT or SAT (not required by all colleges)
If you’ve taken college classes before, you’ll submit your college transcripts as well as your high school ones.
BS in Early Childhood Education Accreditation
It’s beneficial to select a regionally accredited college for your studies in early childhood education. An accredited college has been approved by an independent organization that maintains the standards of what a college should provide for students.
Regional accreditation is widely accepted. Other colleges appreciate it, and they’re more likely to accept transfer credits or graduate applicants from regionally accredited schools. Licensure boards appreciate it, too.
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To qualify for industry licensure or certification, you may be required to have a regionally accredited education. Even for jobs that don’t require licensure, you may be more likely to qualify if you’ve attended an accredited school.
Early Childhood Education Licensure and Certifications
To teach in a public school, a state teaching license is often required. Qualifying for licensure requires completing an approved licensure-track college program, participating in a student teaching session, and passing a state exam. To run a childcare center, you might pursue a different type of licensure.
You can check with your state to learn about the requirements. In addition to licenses, many early childhood professionals seek industry certifications. Examples include Child Development Associate (CDA) and Child Care Professional (CCP). These are offered by the Council for Professional Recognition and by the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation, respectively.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
If you want to become a preschool teacher or a childcare professional, there are funding options available that may help you pay for an early childhood education bachelor degree online program.
You can start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This document will contain details to help the federal government—and perhaps your state as well—determine what sort of assistance you qualify for. You might receive government loans that you’ll pay back after school. Depending on your income level, you might get grants, too. Grants never need to be repaid.
Like grants, scholarships are monetary awards that help pay for your schooling. Colleges often give scholarships directly to some of their students. Other organizations establish scholarship funds as well. Some employers also help with schooling costs.
What Is an Early Childhood Education Degree?
An early childhood education (ECE) degree is a college bachelor’s degree program for people who are interested in working with young children. The scope of an ECE program usually focuses on children from birth to age 8. Often, ECE professionals intend to work with preschool-age students.
In an early childhood education program, you’ll take classes on literacy, classroom methods, curriculum planning, and child development. There may be opportunities to visit real-world children’s classrooms for observations or practice sessions. Some ECE programs are licensure tracks. They include a semester of student teaching. Afterward, you may qualify for state teaching licensure.
Is Early Childhood Education a Good Career?
Yes, early childhood education is a good career for many professionals. Working with kids is a joyful experience for many people. You might enjoy guiding young learners during their formative years.
Many ECE jobs include regular hours and predictable schedules. Depending on your position, you might even have summers off. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, preschool, and childcare center directors usually earn between $31,200 and $78,350 annually.
The median annual salary for preschool teachers in a school setting is $48,190. Public school kindergarten teachers have a median salary of $61,640.
What Can I Do with an Early Childhood Education Degree?
Many graduates with a degree in early childhood go on to work as preschool teachers. Public schools typically pay the highest wages, but licensure may be required.
Another option is to work in the childcare field. There are roles in daycare centers for assistants, teachers, and directors. Some ECE professionals provide nannying services, and others watch children in their homes. Depending on your college program and your state’s requirements, you might also be able to work as a kindergarten or early elementary teacher.
Some graduates of BA programs continue on in on-campus or online masters in early childhood education programs.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education Online?
A standard timeframe for bachelor’s degree programs is 4 years with full-time enrollment. Online programs can sometimes be shorter than that because of their innovative format. They might have 8 week terms and offer back-to-back course sessions all year long. Also, students can often choose from multiple start dates throughout the year.
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If your program requires student teaching, that can affect your program length. This component requires you to spend a set amount of time in a real-world classroom before you can graduate.
What Are the Highest Paying Early Childhood Education Jobs?
Often, the highest-paying early childhood positions are available for professionals who have state teaching licensure.
Examples include:
- Preschool special education teachers — $62,420
- Public elementary school teachers — $61,760
- Public kindergarten teachers — $61,640
- Preschool teachers in elementary schools — $48,190
Not all top-paying jobs need a teaching license, though. For instance, the median salary for preschool and childcare center directors is $47,310. These annual pay figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and represent national medians. Your personal earnings may differ based on factors like geographic region and work experience.
What’s the Difference Between a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education vs. Elementary Education?
If you want to guide young learners’ classroom experiences, you could choose to major in early childhood education or elementary education.
| Early Childhood Education Degree | Elementary Education Degree |
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Spending time with groups of children may help you decide which age you’d most prefer to teach.
Is an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education Worth It?
Yes, an online bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is worth it for many students. Teaching young children or guiding their development can be a rewarding career for many professionals. You could make a difference for kids and their families, and you have the potential to make a lasting impact.
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Also, communities always need teachers of all sorts. Jobs for preschool teachers are expected to be particularly in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15% growth rate for preschool teachers over the next ten years, which is much faster than average.
Universities Offering Online Bachelors in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Ball State University offers a bachelor’s in early childhood and family education program online. The program is designed to teach skills needed to work with children and their families in a non-licensed educator capacity. An associate degree in early childhood education or at least 45 credits in early childhood education earned from an accredited college or university is required for admission.
Ball State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Chaminade University of Honolulu offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. Potential courses include Children’s Literature, Math Curriculum and Methods, and Developmentally Appropriate Practice.
The program requires the completion of 120 credit hours plus an internship in the field.
Chaminade University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Charter Oak State College offers a program for a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. Concentrations include Montessori, Infant and Toddler, Preschool, Program Administration and Leadership, and Early Childhood Teacher Credential. The program typically offers 6 start dates each year. Transfer credit and college credit for prior learning may be awarded.
Charter Oak State College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Eastern Oregon University offers an online program for a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Non-licensure teaching roles in settings like private schools, nonprofit organizations, and church-related programs are common places of employment. Upon completion of general bachelor’s degree requirements, At least 57 major-specific credits must also be completed. Most major coursework may be finished in 2 years.
Eastern Oregon University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Eastern University offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. The curriculum typically teaches concepts in science, health, mathematics, social studies, special education, communication arts, and literacy. Classes typically span 7 weeks each. Upon completion of class-based requirements, the completion of a teaching internship in the field is also required.
Eastern University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Florida International University offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. The program seeks to provide an understanding of holistic childhood development and early education theory and practice. After graduation, either non-licensure teaching roles or next steps toward licensure may be pursued.
Florida International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Florida State College at Jacksonville offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. Common courses include Classroom Management, Child Growth and Development, and Strategies to Support Emergent Literacy. The curriculum is designed to prepare for a Florida teacher certificate to teach pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade. The program requires the completion of 120 credit hours.
Florida State College at Jacksonville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Fort Hays State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Education primarily online with a specialization in Early Childhood. The program is designed to prepare for teaching roles from birth to 3rd grade. Potential courses include Human Growth and Development, Educating Exceptional Students, and Emergent Literacy. The completion of at least 126 credit hours and a hands-on teaching experience are required.
FHSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Grand Canyon University offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. The program is designed to lead to teacher licensure. Classes are typically 7 weeks long and cover concepts like instructional strategies, student assessment, teaching methods, childhood growth and development, and cultural diversity.
Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Indiana Wesleyan University offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. Potential courses include Foundations of Early Childhood, Child Growth and Development, and Current Issues and Trends in Early Childhood. The program requires the completion of 66 major-specific credits. Field experiences at local schools may also be available. On average, the program is completed in about 30 months.
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Liberty University offers an online program for a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. Non-licensure educator roles in early childhood centers, churches, and homeschool settings are common places of employment. Classes are typically 8 weeks each. The 120 required credit hours may be completed in just 3.5 years of full-time attendance.
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Lynn University offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. Courses typically teach classroom management skills, a comprehensive knowledge of childhood development, and mastery of teaching methodologies.
In addition to coursework, an onsite practicum designed to provide experience in an early childhood environment is typically available. The program commonly offers start dates for summer, fall, and spring terms.
Lynn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
National University offers an online program for a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Common courses include Early Cognition, Ethical and Legal Issues, and Play as Pedagogy. Classes are typically 4 weeks long and are often taken 1 at a time. Admissions are commonly open year-round, which may allow for entry into the program at any time.
National University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Regent University offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. The program is designed to prepare for teaching roles in diverse settings without obtaining licensure. The program typically teaches topics like human development, teaching ethics, and classroom management and requires the completion of 120 credits.
Regent University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Alabama offers a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program online. The curriculum is designed to teach development and teaching methodologies for children from birth to age 8. The program may accept the transfer up to 60 of the 120 required credit hours from outside institutions.
The University of Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Cincinnati offers an online program for a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. This non-licensure program seeks to provide the knowledge and skills needed to teach effectively in a variety of private learning environments. The program requires the completion of 120 credits and typically offers the flexibility of attending classes on a full-time or part-time schedule.
UC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Missouri–Columbia offers a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. Common topics of instruction include developing programs in relation to community needs, research methods in the social sciences, and cultural and diversity considerations for families. The program requires the completion of at least 120 credits hours.
The University of Missouri – Columbia is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission..
The University of Phoenix offers a Bachelor of Science in Education program online with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. Courses are designed to teach topics like student engagement, ethical practice, curriculum planning, innovation, and differentiated instruction. Each course is typically 5 or 6 weeks long, and on average, the 120 required credit hours are completed in 4 years of full-time study.
The University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Washington offers a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Family Studies program online. The program’s Teaching and Learning track is designed to prepare for working directly with children and their families. The program requires the completion of 86 major-specific credits and is designed to teach skills in areas such as early learning, childcare, policy, family support and education, and mental health services.
The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Wilmington University offers a Bachelor of Science in Education program in a hybrid format. Classes typically meet using a blend of flexible online and traditional on-campus classes during the day and in the evening. Concentrations include Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle Level Education, and Skilled and Technical Sciences. The program requires the completion of 121 credits.
Wilmington University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Getting Your Bachelors in Early Childhood Education Degree Online
If you love working with kids, then you might consider spending your career in an early childhood classroom. Whether you decide to work in a preschool, elementary school, daycare, or community setting, you can help children learn and grow.
When you’re ready to get started on the path to becoming an early childhood professional, you might consider earning an online bachelor degree in early childhood education. Through an innovative online format, you can develop robust knowledge and practical skills that can help prepare you for an in-person teaching career.
Why not start exploring accredited online early childhood programs today?
