4 Excellent Early Childhood Online Degree Programs and What They Offer that Makes them the Best
1. Post University: Post University's program prepares the student to work at schools and in private settings. They not only offer an Associate Degree, but the also offer a Baccalaureate Degree and their classes are small and interactive. Their online courses offer the same curricula as the on campus courses. The classes are scheduled in eight week accelerated modules and taught by the same faculty who teach on campus. This school is regionally accredited and most of your credits will transfer to other schools if you want to work towards a baccalaureate degree. Your diploma will not specify that it was earned online, instead you will receive the same official, traditional diploma that students receive on campus.
2. Western Governors University: Western Governors University offers one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation, paying about $201 per credit. 120 credits are required to graduate for a Bachelor of Arts degree. Western Governors is also the only exclusively online school in the U.S. to receive accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The accreditation team evaluates the curriculum to ensure that graduates have the skills and knowledge to become effective teachers.
3. Kendall College: Kendall College also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and it has a regional accreditation. It's teaching elements include pre-primary and primary levels. This program also offers innovative features such as DVD's, lesson plans, assessments, student work samples, and teacher journal entries to give you a richer learning experience. Kendall College uses a Virtual Field Experience to help you see how the best teachers interact with their students in various settings. Their program also prepares the student to apply for the Illinois Type 04 Certification, which is specific to Illinois but similar to the teaching certificates in other states.
4. California University of Pennsylvania: California University of Pennsylvania offers a Masters Degree and is a 33 credit graduate program for certified teachers interested in earning additional certification in Early Childhood Education. Their program is affordable and is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Students learn how to apply knowledge of child development to different educational settings and are prepared to work in public schools, preschools, Head Start programs, and family support programs.
If you love children and think you would love teaching, a degree in Early Childhood Education could lead to a career that is challenging and rewarding. The qualifications for jobs in this field vary, but most will require a college degree so if you are looking at this career option you will want to have a degree to advance. There are many good options for online degree programs in this field and you should have no problems finding a good program that also offers scheduling flexibility and affordability.