If you are planning to study to become a teacher and you would like to instruct students who are 8 and younger, it is time to learn about the Early Childhood Education (ECE) degree program.
Before you enroll in a formal degree program, you need to know what the program will prepare you for. This is the only way to really make an informed decision on your education that will offer a Return on Investment.
Here’s information on the focus of an ECE degree program and what you can do once you earn your degree:
Who is an ECE Degree Program Designed for?
Early childhood is technically defined as the time period that occurs before the age of 8 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Since children develop quickly from birth to the age of 8, educators need to be aware of how the brain develops during each phase of development.
The ECE degree program helps educators instruct young students so that they can develop through each stage of learning. If you want to become an educator who works in a school or center with young children, the ECE degree is a better option than other formal training programs like the ones majoring in Elementary Education.
What Will You Study When You Earn Your Early Childhood Education Degree?
There are various types of ECE degree programs that you can choose from. It’s most common for prospective students to enroll in either a 2-year Associate’s program or a 4-year Bachelor’s degree program. The courses that you are required to take will depend on the requirements in your state, the school that you are attending, and whether or not the program is accredited through a professional association. Here are the most common classes that you will attend to earn your ECE degree:
* Child development
* Child guidance
* Creative activities
* Early childhood administration
* Expository writing
* Child, family, and community
* Health, safety, and nutrition
* Exploration activities
* Oral communication
* Language and literacy
* Infant and toddler development
* Introduction to sociology
* Introduction to computers
* Curriculum planning
* Educational technology
Where Can You Work with an ECE Degree?
You don’t need to possess a college degree to land a career in early childhood teaching, but having your degree can help qualify you for higher paying positions. Most graduates of ECE programs will move on to work as a preschool teacher, a Montessori teacher, or a kindergarten teacher. Typically, private schools who pay higher salaries to early education teachers will select degree holders over those who only have minimal experience and no training.
How Much Can You Earn with your ECE?
How much you earn after you earn an ECE degree is dependent on the state you live in, the type of school you work for, your level of experience, the student base you work with, and your title. The highest paid ECE degree holding professional is $48,660 for preschool teachers.
Since early childhood programs and full-day kindergarten have been proven to aid in a student’s future success, it is very important that districts hire experienced and well-trained educators. Many schools are placing more value on degrees even though they are not always a requirement to be licensed through the state. If you want to start working with young students as a teacher to start a career or to climb up the ladder to elementary instruction, start training and enroll in an Early Childhood Education program.
See also: 5 Great TED Talks About Education
