Skip to main content

Career Area: Education & Human Services
Program:
Campus(es): Online

Working with very young children is a complex job that requires competency and skill. Child Care Assistants help create a healthy, supportive, and safe learning environment where children can flourish. Research has shown that quality education and training of childcare providers is directly related to the increased social, cognitive, and emotional growth of children.

Minnesota State College Southeast's Child Care Assistant Certificate is 16-credits focused on physical, social, emotional, language, cognitive, and creative child development. Emphasis is placed on understanding the needs of the whole child and applying developmentally appropriate problem-prevention and positive guidance strategies. The Southeast certificate award provides the fundamental knowledge and opportunity to begin the application of learning in the field. This option fulfills the educational requirements for the National Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.

This 100% online Child Care Assistant Certificate Program from Minnesota State College Southeast offers a supportive distance learning environment for new and experienced early childhood educators. And because coursework can be completed online with local field experiences, the program is an ideal option for practitioners who are beginning their careers or already caring for children.

Southeast's courses require field experience in a licensed early childhood setting, working with children between the ages of 0-8. Students are directly evaluated during their field experiences throughout the program.

Upon graduation, you will be well prepared to enter the field of early childhood education and advance in early childhood education careers.

Apply now for admission to Minnesota State College Southeast


Cluster/Pathway
Career Field: Human Services
Cluster: Education & Training & Human Services
Pathway: Teaching & Training & Early Childhood Development & Services
Recommended high school classes and basic job/program skills

Download the Program Plan

Courses

No information on that Major was found.


Estimated Costs for this Major

Approximate Tuition/Fees:$3,449
Minimum Tool Cost:N/A
Books/Supplies:$700
Estimated Total:$4,149
 

 

Career Opportunities

  • Nanny
  • Family Child Care Provider
  • Paraprofessional
  • Child Advocate

Career Information

Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer Data Tool to learn about wages, job growth, and much more in this career field.

Outcomes

Early Childhood Education Program graduates will be able to:

  1. Utilize their understanding of developmentally appropriate practice respective to the characteristics and needs of young children.
  2. Understand and value the importance and complex characteristics of families and communities.
  3. Develop partnerships with families, community, and educational professionals as well as additional service providers
  4. Design and implement outcome-based learning experiences through application of the knowledge in relation to goals, benefits, and uses of assessment.
  5. Use systematic, critical, and creative processes to apply ethical and professional decision-making.
  6. Demonstrate proficiency in gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information for the professional portfolio.

Highlights

  • Online program offers supportive distance learning environment for new and experienced early childhood educators
  • Combination of child development, professional development, and career application courses
  • Huge national demand for highly trained early childhood educators

Instructors

Rachel Daley
Rachel Daley has earned her M.A. in Education from Concordia University. After obtaining an A.S. degree at MSC Southeast, Rachel proceeded to SMSU to obtain a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. In addition to teaching at MSC Southeast since 2010, her career experiences include family childcare, nanny, director of religious education, childcare trainer, preschool teacher, foster parent, and substitute.