无码专区

Submit
Open Calendar
A child using blocks and shapes

Breadcrumb

Click to print this page

Understanding the Child in Early Childhood Education Certificate

Learn about educating the whole child and how to best support young children鈥檚 learning with an Understanding the Child in Early Childhood Education certificate from the 无码专区. One of 无码专区鈥檚 pathways to early childhood education teacher preparation, this undergraduate certificate includes state-approved coursework that will set you on your way to building career-focused credentials. It also gives practicing teachers the opportunity to strengthen their skills and deepen their understanding of early learning. 

If you鈥檙e just starting a career in early childhood education, you can slowly build on your knowledge by earning this undergraduate certificate instead of, or in addition to, a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

Earn course credit and valuable credentials before committing to a 无码专区 degree   

Designed to provide flexibility for working teachers, 无码专区鈥檚 Understanding the Child in Early Childhood Education certificate is one of three 无码专区 early childhood education certificates you can earn before or while enrolled in a degree-seeking or alternative certification program. The credits you earn in Understanding the Child and in our other two certificate programs 鈥 Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom and Programs and Community Partnerships in Early Childhood Education 鈥 can be applied toward a BSE in Early Childhood Education at 无码专区.

A certificate

Aligned to NAEYC standards

CAEP accreditation

Longest CAEP-accredited program in MO

Three people with one behind a magnifying glass

95% job placement rate

An icon of a person with 3 stars

#1 in MO for nontraditional students

An icon of a graduate

Earn in as quickly as one year

A process icon

Apply your credits toward a BSE degree

 

What you will study

Understanding the Child focuses on children鈥檚 brain development and what influences and enhances a child鈥檚 ability to learn. You鈥檒l learn evidence-based strategies that you can use to support young children in your own classroom. Designed for both seasoned early childhood education teachers and those looking to enter the ECE field, this undergraduate certificate focuses on providing developmentally appropriate instruction for children up to age 8.

As part of the Understanding the Child Early Childhood Education certificate, you鈥檒l take courses such as:  

  • Development and Learning Through Play
  • Early Childhood Principles and Observation
  • Child and Adolescent Development

 

Excellence in Early Childhood Education

  • Top 15%: Best Value Bachelor鈥檚 Degree Colleges for Elementary Education (College Factual, 2022)
  • A Best Value College for Elementary Education (College Factual, 2022)
  • Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
  • A Most Focused Bachelor鈥檚 Degree College for Education (College Factual, 2022)
  • Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
  • Top 10%: Best Value in Education (College Factual, 2021)
  • Top 5%: Most Popular in Education (College Factual, 2021)
  • Top 10%: Most Focused in Education (College Factual, 2021)

 

Unique learning opportunities in early childhood education

Throughout 无码专区鈥檚 Understanding the Child in Early Childhood Education certificate program, you鈥檒l work with faculty, peers and educators in your school to explore new learning strategies and put your knowledge to work. Draw upon your own classroom experiences to make connections between your learning and your teaching practice:

  • Use your own classroom as a lab: Practicing teachers can work with their leadership to apply what they鈥檙e learning in this undergraduate certificate program. Use the intervention strategies you鈥檙e learning in class to impact student learning in your own classroom.
  • Learn within a cohort: Develop strong relationships, share best practices and reflect on your undergraduate studies with your peers as you progress.
  • Receive tailored career advising: Work with a faculty mentor who will help you advance in your career, prepare you for interviews and assist you when you鈥檙e ready to apply for admission to one of 无码专区 bachelor鈥檚 degree programs.

 

What can you do with an undergraduate certificate in Understanding the Child in Early Childhood Education from 无码专区?

无码专区鈥檚 Understanding the Child in Early Education certificate can open the door to a number of careers. Whether you鈥檙e ready to advance your career, start a new job or prepare for becoming a certified early childhood teacher or your next degree, this certificate will demonstrate your knowledge to future employers. 

The skills you鈥檒l acquire at 无码专区 prepare you for success in settings such as:

  • Child care centers
  • Preschools
  • Elementary schools (grades PK鈥3; requires teacher certification)
  • Youth facilities

Careers in early childhood education

Use the tool below to explore career paths, salary expectations, job openings, projected job growth and more in the early childhood education field.

 

 
 


 

Financial assistance options for your Understanding the Child in Early Childhood Education certificate

Learn more, spend less. At the 无码专区, we make earning an undergraduate certificate affordable. In addition to university scholarships, grants and loans, partnerships with community organizations may help offset student tuition costs for qualifying working teachers enrolled in our Understanding the Child Early Childhood Education certificate program.

Beyond 无码专区鈥檚 university-wide funding options, the College of Education offers numerous scholarships reserved for undergraduate students in our Early Childhood Education program, including:

  • Merle C. and Lillian J. Rider Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
  • Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Scholarship

Learn more about program-specific scholarships using the .

 

A teacher in an elementary classroom

Take your degree further.

Build upon your knowledge by applying your credits from the Understanding the Child in Early Childhood Education certificate program towards a bachelor鈥檚 degree at 无码专区:

People in a meeting

Make yourself more marketable.

If you wish to deepen your knowledge of young children and are already enrolled in a bachelor鈥檚 degree program, you might be interested in the following minors:

Students using tablets in a class

Explore programs related to education.

If you鈥檙e still exploring your options in undergraduate studies, check out these programs at 无码专区:

 

Request Info   Visit   Apply Today!

 

social-section