Minnesota State College Southeast's 100% online Early Childhood AAS Program prepares educators with the skills to build a better future for our children. Take the first steps toward becoming an early childhood educator by earning your Early Childhood Education Associate Degree from Minnesota State College Southeast. The online early childhood education associate degree program from Minnesota State College Southeast provides professional training for your future as an educator. When we better the lives of children, we are improving the future for everyone!
Career Area: Education & Human Services
Program: Early Childhood Education
Campus(es): Online
Major Details
Being an early childhood educator is more than a job - it's a calling. But it takes more than love of children for a person to be an effective educator. Working with very young children is a complex job that requires the competency and skill that an Early Childhood Education Associate of Applied Science Degree online from Minnesota State College Southeast can provide.
Early childhood teachers create a healthy, supportive and safe learning environment where children can flourish. Research has shown that quality education and training of early childhood professionals is directly related to the increased social, cognitive, and emotional growth of children.
An AAS degree in Early Childhood Education gives you the skills to create a positive educational environment for children.
With a two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Minnesota State College Southeast, you will be prepared to practice professional, ethical, and high-quality caregiving strategies within a variety of early childhood education settings.
This 100% online AAS Early Childhood Education program offers a supportive distance learning environment for new and experienced early childhood educators. And because coursework can be completed online with local field experiences, Southeast's early childhodd education program is an ideal option for practitioners who are beginning their careers or already caring for children.
Minnesota State College Southeast's early childhood 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.
The development of a professional portfolio is a component of Southeast's Early Childhood Education program for students to demonstrate competence, based on standards from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The completed portfolio will be presented at the completion of the degree.
Upon graduation, you will be well prepared to enter the field of education and advance in your early childhood education career. Having this degree from Minnesota State College Southeast will prepare you to continue onward in your own lifelong learning by pursuing further education.
Apply now for admission to Minnesota State College Southeast
Cluster/Pathway
Cluster: Education & Training & Human Services
Pathway: Teaching & Training & Early Childhood Development & Services
Recommended high school classes and basic job/program skills
Courses
2) 1100 or higher Liberal Arts and Sciences courses required unless specified.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Total Credits Required for this Major: 60
Cost
| Approximate Tuition/Fees: | $12,758 |
|---|---|
| Minimum Tool Cost: | N/A |
| Books/Supplies: | $800 |
| Estimated Total: | $13,558 |
Career Opportunities
Nanny
Family Child Care Provider
Child Care Center Teacher
Child Care Center Director
Nanny Placement Agency Owner
Paraprofessional
Substitute Teacher
Child Advocate
Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer Data Tool to learn about wages, job growth, and much more in this career field.
Outcomes
Program graduates will be able to:
Utilize their understanding of developmentally appropriate practice respective to the characteristics and needs of young children.
Understand and value the importance and complex characteristics of families and communities.
Develop partnerships with families, community, and educational professionals as well as additional service providers
Design and implement outcome-based learning experiences through application of the knowledge in relation to goals, benefits, and uses of assessment.
Use systematic, critical, and creative processes to apply ethical and professional decision-making.
Demonstrate proficiency in gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information for the professional portfolio.
Highlights
Possible transfer opportunities for students to continue for a bachelor’s degree
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.
Majors in the Early Childhood Education program
Early Childhood Education - AAS
Child Care Assistant CERT
Early Childhood and Early Elementary Support/Tutor AAS
Early Childhood Development DIP
Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway AS
