Does Purdue Global Have an Online Early Childhood Education Degree?
Does Purdue Global have an online early childhood education degree? Find out more our Purdue Global's degrees and early childhood education and careers here.
Purdue Global is an online university that offers nearly 200 degrees for students to choose from.
While Purdue Global does not offer an online early childhood education degree, the university does feature two other online early childhood degree programs.
In this article, we will explore these degrees, including their requirements and potential career paths for graduates who complete these programs.
We will also include some information and answers to frequently asked questions about early childhood education degrees.
Early Childhood Programs at Purdue Global
Purdue Global has two early childhood programs that students can complete: an Associate of Applied Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Administration
The online Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Administration at Purdue Global prepares graduates to work with children from birth to age eight, and it specifically focuses on developing the skills to work in leadership and administrative roles.
There is also an option to complete an accelerated bachelor's to master's program, which allows students to complete their bachelor's and master's degrees at the same time.
Program Requirements
As a bachelor's degree, the average completion time for this program is four years. The minimum hour requirement is 180 quarter credit hours. This includes both major-specific courses and core courses.
Core courses are general education courses that include things like composition, mathematics, humanities, science, etc. Major-specific courses are classes for the early childhood administration degree that include things like:
- Interpersonal Communications
- Organizational Communication
- Child Safety, Nutrition, and Health
- Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- Preparing for a Career in Early Childhood
The program also has a field component during the bachelor's capstone, which students will complete toward the end of their degree.
This allows students to gain experience in early childhood settings.
Careers
A bachelor's degree in early childhood administration can lead to many different roles in working with children in the early stages of life.
The degree will qualify graduates to work in administrative roles in institutions like preschools and childcare centers.
Graduates may also work as preschool teachers, teaching assistants, a childcare worker, and more.
Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development
The online Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development at Purdue Global is a degree designed to introduce students to the concepts of early childhood development and prepare them to work in learning environments with children up to the age of eight.
Credits from this degree may be transferred toward completing a BS in early childhood administration in the future.
Program Requirements
On average, this associate's degree takes two years to complete with a course effort of 15 to 18 hours per week. There is a requirement of 90 quarter credit hours.
Students will be required to complete very few general core classes, and the bulk of coursework will be focused on major-specific classes. These courses include things like:
- Early Childhood Curriculum Planning
- Young Children with Special Needs
- Creative Activities for Young Children
Careers
Graduates of this program will be able to pursue several professions working with young children. These include things like preschool teachers, preschool assistant teachers, and childcare specialists.
Early Childhood Education Degree Programs
Early childhood education is a field that can be studied at many levels including associate's and bachelor's degrees as well as master's and advanced degrees.
Over one thousand institutions across the country offer programs in early childhood education, many of which can be completed online.
These programs can lead to a variety of careers including:
How Long Does an Early Childhood Education Degree Take?
This depends upon the kind of program enrolled in and other circumstances.
Associate's degrees typically can be completed within two years, whereas bachelor's degrees usually take four years.
While these are the average completion times, degrees may sometimes take longer or can be completed more quickly depending on each student's circumstances.
How to Pay for an Early Childhood Education Degree
There are many resources for making a college education affordable including institution-specific aid, federal aid, scholarships, grants, and more.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, will let students know what federal aid they qualify for, such as federal grants, scholarships, or student loans.
Students should also work with their university to apply for as many scholarships, typically need-based, and grants, typically need-based, as possible.
Students may also be able to receive tuition assistance through their employers; many companies support their employees through the higher education journey.
Find the Right Early Childhood Degree Program for You
While Purdue Global does not have an early childhood education degree, it has two programs within the field of early childhood, and there are many other online programs in early childhood education to choose from.