What is an associate degree in early childhood education

UC Online’s Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Care & Education (ECE) offers a program that prepares professionals to provide high-quality educational experiences for all children. The program emphasizes working with young children and their families from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Whether you are in a preschool, Head Start program, child-care center, family childcare environment, or just interested in getting started in the field, our 100% online program is designed with working professionals in mind who want to advance their career without sacrificing responsibilities at work and at home.  Our courses give you information and strategies that you can learn today and apply in the classroom tomorrow! This degree does not lead to Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 5 licensure.

Early Childhood Care & Education Program Highlights:

• Start-to-Graduation Support: Every student enrolled online is assigned a dedicated Academic Advisor and also a Student Success Coordinator providing one-on-one support. They are your on-campus partners who can help you manage your time and ensure you’re meeting degree requirements to get you to graduation.
• Associate Degree Scholarship: All students in the Early Childhood Care & Education Associate program will receive the Associate Degree Scholarship in the amount of 24% off instructional fees only.
• T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® OHIO Scholarship: Current Ohio early childhood professionals may be eligible to receive financial assistance for the cost of tuition, books, and related education expenses. Visit OCCRRA to apply.
• 100% Online: All coursework is completed online – no campus visits are required!
• Flexible Scheduling: Offering part-time and full-time options, our online program is designed with busy, working professionals in mind.
• Three Start Dates per Year: With courses offered year-round, students are offered the convenience of beginning their degree in Fall, Spring, or Summer.
• CDA Coursework: Through UC’s online Early Childhood Education program, students have the opportunity to meet the education requirements for obtaining the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ while receiving advanced standing in the Associate degree program.
• Accredited: The University of Cincinnati and all of its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Additionally, UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Rights (CECH) is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
• Nationally Ranked: UC Online’s AAS in Early Childhood Care & Education is consistently ranked as a Top 15 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education by TheBestSchools.org.

Our Guiding Principles:

• To provide accessible education to early childhood teachers.
• To support teachers, families, staff, administrators, and children they serve.
• To help programs meet state and federal mandates and quality initiatives.
• To help teachers meet educational goals.
• To strengthen workplace learning.
• To create technology-proficient teachers.

FAQs

• How much is the tuition?

  Tuition is calculated on a per-credit basis. Refer to the Tuition and Fees Chart for more details.

• Can I complete the program part-time?

  Programs can be completed full-time or part-time. Many programs are set up to be part-time, with most containing fewer than 10 credit hours in any given semester. We know you have a lot going on, so want to make sure that school can fit into your schedule. Note: There are some exceptions.

• Can I transfer credit hours from my previous associate or bachelor’s program?

  Yes. You will need to work with a program advisor to understand what credits will apply and meet the minimum requirement for credit hours completed at the University of Cincinnati.

View Additional FAQs

Additional resources to support you from start to finish.

What does associate in education mean?

What is college ECE?