Degree pathways are designed for the student who plans to transfer to the University of Central Florida as a junior to complete a Bachelor’s degree after completing an Associate in Arts degree at Valencia. Students who plan to transfer to a limited-access program are responsible for completing the specific requirements of the institution to which they will transfer as completion of this degree pathway does not guarantee admission to an upper division limited-access program. Show
This degree pathway includes the following Common Program Prerequisites (CPPs) which are required for transfer to the Early Childhood Education major at the University of Central Florida and/or any Florida public institution:
CPPs may also satisfy some general education requirements. Start Right - Pathway PlanYou are encouraged to develop an education plan that includes the courses required for your A.A. degree and the CPPs needed for transfer to your intended bachelor's major. For course sequencing recommendations, visit the Degree Pathways website. Once you have created your plan, you are encouraged to review it with an advisor. Financial AidIn order to be eligible for and calculated in your enrollment status for financial aid, courses for which you are enrolled must count toward your Associate in Arts degree (36 credits of general education and 24 credits of electives). CPPs may not be calculated in your enrollment status for financial aid purposes if you took other course work outside of the Associate in Arts degree requirements (examples include prior course work from prerequisites, changing a major, and transfer course work). Next program start dateJanuary 03, 2023 Finish in as few as18 months Learning includes
Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education for Under $19K4You can earn your online Associate’s in Early Childhood Education for under $19,000 to help make your goals more affordable. You could save almost $5,200 more with self-directed assessments, which allow you to show that you don’t need to take a specific course.6 Make a positive difference in the lives of children as a well-equipped early childhood educator—earn your ECE Associate’s degree in as few as 18 months. With career-focused learning and flexible online courses, our Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education prepares you to meet the academic requirements for the CDA® credential application.5 Already have your CDA? You can request a course waiver for up to 12 credits, allowing you to finish in as few as 15 months and save almost $2,500.7 Our ECE programs do not prepare students for licensed teaching positions in any public school setting, but students will have the opportunity to help shape the futures of young children from birth to age six in a childcare or non-public school setting or leadership role. Request Information
Advance Your EducationRasmussen University’s ladder curriculum allows you to easily transfer your Early Childhood Education Associate's degree credits toward an ECE Bachelor's degree—an average of 93 credits, which is equal to $25,017 transfer credits.3
Be a Positive InfluenceOur Early Childhood Education courses give you the knowledge and skills you need to create a positive and thriving learning environment for your children and their families.
Pursue Potential Job GrowthAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth potential between 2020 and 2030 for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education, is 18%. An ECE Associate's degree online from Rasmussen University can help set you up for success in this growing field. To grow your skills in your particular area of interest, choose between two specializations—Special Needs and Child Development. Both paths emphasize working with diverse families and dual language development while also exploring unique aspects of early childhood education. Promote Inclusive EnvironmentsSpecial Needs Specialization Develop strategies for promoting and supporting an inclusive environment and explore how to support young children with special needs and English Language Learners in the early childhood setting. Effective Education TechniquesSpecial Needs Specialization Use your knowledge and skills from our coursework to create customized curriculum and education techniques to effectively help children with special needs develop their mental, emotional and physical capabilities. Infant and Toddler DevelopmentChild Development Specialization Understand the importance of creating environments for childcare and education that foster optimum social/emotional, physical and cognitive development for children from birth to age 3. Language Learning and SupportChild Development Specialization Use your knowledge and skills to help infant, toddler, preschool and school-aged dual language learners acquire language and literacy, as well as working with families to support children's home languages. Transferable SkillsBoth Specializations You’ll also develop the soft skills you will transfer into your role. Core courses develop your skills in critical thinking, communication, digital fluency, information literacy, diversity and teamwork, and ethics and professional responsibility. Specifically, you'll further your diversity and teamwork skills as you explore diverse family dynamics and how building relationships and collaborating with families successfully supports each child's growth and development. Grow your digital fluency by utilizing appropriate technological tools to share information with families and colleagues about developmentally appropriate practices. Learn more about transferable skills. Make a lasting impression on a child’s life by gaining the necessary skills to create a safe learning environment.
Early Childhood Education Curriculum and InstructionThis course promotes the development of young children in the academic, social, and emotional domains. It examines developmentally appropriate methods for writing and assessing behavioral objectives, lesson plans, and activity goals. Various curriculum models will be reviewed. Strategies to enhance parent and family involvement will be emphasized. Students will continue to explore the Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) standards and application requirements. Advocating for Children with Special NeedsExplore current trends, resources and advocacy on behalf of young children with special needs. Examines the role of early childhood educators in supporting and advocating for young children with special needs and their families. The Exceptional ChildExplores the benefits of inclusion in the early childhood setting. Develops an understanding of exceptional development. Identifies the parties relevant to exceptional development and their roles as resources in support of the child and their families. Estimate Your Tuition Estimate Your TuitionRasmussen University is committed to making education more affordable for all students. Our tuition estimating tool can help you visualize the cost of your degree and see what savings opportunities are available to help you achieve it. Estimate Your Tuition MN T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship ProgramT.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® MINNESOTA is a scholarship program that helps early childhood and school-age care providers increase their levels of education, compensation and commitment to the field by earning college credits and degrees. WI T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship ProgramT.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® WISCONSIN provides higher education scholarships to professionals who work in regulated early childhood and school-age care settings. FL T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarship ProgramT.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® FLORIDA provides scholarships for early childhood teachers and facility/family home directors to work toward earning an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in early childhood education, a Florida Staff Credential, a Director Credential, a National CDA Assessment or credential renewals. IL Gateways Scholarship ProgramThe Gateways Scholarship Program will pay a portion of tuition for eligible professionals working in early care and education or school-age programs who want to earn college credit, credentials or degrees. As an entitled institution, Rasmussen University has aligned coursework to the IL Gateways Credentials. More information on the IL Gateways Credentials can be found here.
Entrance RequirementsThere's no application fee and you can get started sooner with 8 start dates throughout the year. Entrance requirements at the Rasmussen University School of Education vary depending on the program. We do not require enrolling students to submit standardized test scores; however, every entrant must have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent. Talk to an admissions advisor Transfer StudentWe believe in giving credit where it’s due. Prospective students can transfer credits and receive course waivers in this ECE program. For example, if you already have your CDA credential, you may be eligible to transfer up to 12 credits toward your certificate. Talk to an admissions advisor today or explore our Transfer Policy page to review our seamless credit policies designed to maximize credits, potentially save money and expedite graduation. Visit our Transfer Policy page Help Paying for CollegeHigher education should be a manageable investment. Talk to an admissions advisor and learn how these programs can make it more affordable with self-directed assessments, credit for prior learning, loans and grants, scholarship opportunities, corporate grants and military discounts for those who qualify. Learn more about other ways to save
logo-accreditation-acen logo-accreditation-ccne chart-credential-laddering-associates-bachelors-masters0 Credits90 Credits180 Credits48 CreditsStart HereHIGH SCHOOL GRADSStart Here TRANSFER STUDENTSStart HereSECOND DEGREE PURSUERSEnd HereASSOCIATE'S DEGREEStart HereMASTER'S DEGREEPURSUERSEnd HereBACHELOR'S DEGREEEnd HereMASTER'S DEGREE chart-credential-laddering-associates-bachelors0 CreditsStart HereHIGH SCHOOL GRADSStart HereTRANSFER STUDENTS90 CreditsStart HereSECOND DEGREE PURSUERSEnd HereASSOCIATE'S DEGREE180 CreditsEnd HereBACHELOR'S DEGREE chart-credential-laddering-msn chart-credential-laddering-nursing-programs chart-credential-laddering-nursingDNPMSNRN to BSNLPN to RN BridgeAccelerated BSNProfessional Nursing ADNPractical Nursing DiplomaPre-LicensurePost-Licensure icon-colored-outline-bank icon-colored-outline-certificate icon-colored-outline-circle-dollar-sign icon-colored-outline-folder-search icon-colored-outline-hand-heart icon-colored-outline-head-blocks icon-colored-outline-head-cog icon-colored-outline-head-heart icon-colored-outline-health-plus-leaves icon-colored-outline-hospital icon-colored-outline-lifelong-learning icon-colored-outline-light-bulb-analytics icon-colored-outline-location-pin icon-colored-outline-maginify-glass icon-colored-outline-magnifying-glass icon-colored-outline-monitor-healthcare icon-colored-outline-monitor-paper-search icon-colored-outline-nurse-rays icon-colored-outline-padlock-shield icon-colored-outline-person-presenter-screen icon-colored-outline-scales ras-logo-flame ras-logo-horizontal ras-logo-stacked icon-colored-advance icon-colored-arrows-cross-curve icon-colored-briefcase-star icon-colored-build icon-colored-bulb-analytics icon-colored-certificate icon-colored-continual-development icon-colored-duo-chatbox icon-colored-folder-mortarboard icon-colored-forward-ribbon icon-colored-gears-clock icon-colored-globe-pen icon-colored-growth icon-colored-hand-bubble icon-colored-hand-stars icon-colored-hands-gear icon-colored-head-blocks icon-colored-head-cog icon-colored-health-plus-leaves icon-colored-hospital-building icon-colored-laptop-checkmark icon-colored-laptop-webpage icon-colored-location-map icon-colored-location-pin icon-colored-monitor-paper-scan icon-colored-mortarboard-dollar icon-colored-national icon-colored-people-chat-bubbles icon-colored-person-cheer-star icon-colored-person-laptop-checkboxes icon-colored-person-screen-instructor icon-colored-person-whiteboard icon-colored-phone-chatbox icon-colored-police-light icon-colored-prep icon-colored-presenter icon-colored-regional icon-colored-save-time icon-colored-shirt-hat icon-colored-state icon-colored-student-centered icon-colored-support icon-colored-world-experience icon-triangle-arrow-up-plant icon-triangle-calendar-pencil icon-triangle-clock-rotating-arrows icon-triangle-display-gears icon-triangle-hand-right-speech-bubble icon-triangle-laptop-coding-brackets icon-triangle-mortarboard icon-triangle-paper-ribbon icon-triangle-person-cheer-star icon-triangle-person-juggle icon-triangle-triple-people-chat-bubble icon-modality-campus icon-modality-field icon-modality-online icon-modality-residential icon-arrow icon-bank icon-camera icon-filter icon-general-chart icon-general-connect icon-general-degree icon-general-discuss icon-general-email icon-general-find icon-general-hat icon-general-heart icon-general-laptop-building icon-general-laptop icon-general-leader icon-general-map icon-general-money icon-general-paperwork icon-general-people icon-general-phone icon-general-speak-out icon-head-heart icon-info-circle-green icon-info-circle icon-mail-forward icon-mglass icon-play-solid icon-quote-mark-left icon-quote-mark-right icon-scales icon-simple-chat icon-simple-desktop icon-simple-find icon-simple-hamburger icon-simple-phone icon-spinner icon-tag icon-testimonial-quotes icon-util-checkbox-white icon-util-checkbox icon-util-checked-white icon-util-checked icon-util-chevron-down icon-util-chevron-left icon-util-chevron-right icon-util-chevron-up icon-util-circle-arrow-down icon-util-circle-dot icon-util-language-switch icon-util-loading icon-util-open-window-button icon-util-open-window-link icon-util-pdf-button icon-util-pdf-link icon-util-refresh icon-util-x rebrand-arrows What degree is best for early childhood education?Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education
This 2-year degree qualifies you for many entry-level early childhood education jobs. It is the least costly degree to earn, and can often stand in for the first two years of a bachelor's degree program if you choose to pursue a full bachelor's degree.
How much does a child development associate degree cost?According to the National Center of Educational Statistics (NCES), it costs an average of $11,391 to obtain an associate degree in child development. However, this value depends on the type of school, student fees, accommodation fees, and educational materials.
Is a CDA the same as an associate's degree?Difference. CDA programs differ from AAS programs in the amount of coursework versus field experience required. The CDA is primarily intended for individuals who are already teaching young children that require some training to supplement their hands-on experience.
What can I do with a diploma in early childhood education?What Can You Do With an Early Childhood Education Degree?. Preschool Teacher.. Kindergarten & Elementary School Teacher.. Nanny.. Childcare Center Director.. Childcare Worker.. Special Education Teacher.. School Counselor or Psychologist.. |