Early Childhood Education Graduate Certificate

(CECE)

The purpose of the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education is to give practitioners (i.e., teachers, others who work with infants and toddlers) coursework that will increase their knowledge in child development and early childhood education so that they are better prepared to implement best practices in early childhood education in their work with young children. This hybrid program will allow students to engage in face-to-face coursework or complete their coursework online. Students will gain practical experience by integrating course content with field-based experiences.

Students will be required to take 12 credit hours of coursework, including two (6 credits) required courses. The electives may be selected from any early childhood courses offered in the School of Education. Coursework taken in the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education program can be applied toward a graduate degree in curriculum and instruction, with a concentration in early childhood education.

The Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education is ideal for those who are 1) non-certified individuals to gain foundational information needed to enter a master’s degree program; 2) certified teachers wanting to add early childhood coursework intending to take the early childhood Praxis and add an early childhood endorsement to their certificate; and 3) childcare staff needing early childhood coursework, in order to meet criteria set forth by the Quality Start Child Care Rating System (QRS) Model.