Why study Early Childhood Care and Education?

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), "The demand for early childhood care and education programs continues to increase, not only in response to the growing demand for out-of-home child care, but also in recognition of the critical importance of educational experiences during the early years." This associate degree program in early childhood education prepares professionals who can provide high-quality educational experiences for their community’s youngest children. Students are usually practitioners working in preschools and other child-care and educational settings.

Graduates will be able to implement developmentally appropriate integrated activities and materials across the domains, including visual arts, music, movement, science and math, and early language development.

Admission Requirements

Admission into the University of Cincinnati’s Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Care Education (ECE) online program is open to all students with a high school diploma or GED and the desire to succeed in college.

Our Admissions Office is happy to work with you to answer any question you may have and help determine your eligibility. Contact an Enrollment Services Advisor or email onlineenrollment@uc.edu.

Prerequisites

  • Students with no previous college experience: High School diploma or a GED.

Admission Materials

  • Application Form
  • Transcripts:
    • Students with no previous college experience:
      • Original high school transcripts and proof of graduation (diploma or graduation certificate) or GED.
    • Students with previous college experience:
      • Official transcript(s) from every college or university you have attended besides the University of Cincinnati regardless or the number of credits you received.
      • Official high school transcripts and proof of graduation (diploma or graduation certificate) if you have earned fewer than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours.

 

 

Graduates of this major pursue careers such as:

  • Head Start Teacher
  • Preschool Teacher
  • Infant/Toddler Specialist
  • Family Child Care Provider
  • Program Administrator in an early childhood setting

This degree does not lead to Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 5 licensure.

 

The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast. Their product, called Career Coach, combines extensive labor market data from Lightcast and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides insights on industry, occupation, compensation, and projected growth for each profession. Economic and workforce information is available for various geographic regions. Some careers may require additional training or education.
  • All Early Childhood Education (ECE) courses must be completed with C or higher (C- or below does not count towards graduation requirements and the course must be repeated).
  • Obtain at least a 2.0 University Grade Point Average.
  • Obtain at least a 2.5 University Grade Point Average if seeking Ohio Preschool Licensure.
  • Complete a minimum of 60 credit hours (at least 20 credit hours must be completed at the University of Cincinnati).
    • Electives: 9 credit hours
    • Child Development Coursework: 36 credit hours
    • Concentration Coursework: 15 credit hours
  • Be in good academic standing; that is, not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
  • Submit a formal application for the degree by the posted semester of graduation deadline.

Four Concentration Options:

  • Preschool: In the Preschool concentration, you will dive into planning developmentally appropriate curriculum experiences for children age three (3) through five (5) to ensure that they are ready for Kindergarten. This option includes two (2) semesters of practicum experiences in a preschool that may lead to the faculty’s recommendation for Ohio’s Pre-Kindergarten license.
  • Infant & Toddler: In the Infant & Toddler concentration, you will get an in-depth education on providing quality interactions and environments for children from birth to age three (3). This option includes a practicum experience in both infant and toddler classrooms.
  • Nature-Based Early Learning: The Nature-Based Early Learning concentration will provide the knowledge base or dispositions to work in Nature-Based Early Learning programs. This concentration specifically targets students seeking ways to use their greened-up playgrounds, playscapes, and nearby green space or those planning to obtain employment in nature-based early childhood programs or forest schools.
  • Administration: The Administration concentration is designed specifically for those in leadership positions in the field of early care and education. This option does not require a classroom practicum but includes shadowing an administrator.

Explore unique opportunities, faculty, and resources available in Early Childhood Learning Community

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

UC Online
45 W. Corry Blvd
Cincinnati, OH 45221
(513) 556-6826
onlineenrollment@uc.edu

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Program Code: 18ASC-ECLC-AAS-.ECLC-DL