Early Childhood Education—Is a Degree and an Online Program Right for You?

While today there are many individuals working in preschools, childcare centers, and other early childhood education institutions without degrees or teaching certificates, the requirements are changing. Recent legislation mandates that half of Head Start teachers must have degrees by 2013, and other institutions are following this trend. Degreed teachers generally earn larger salaries and have more employment opportunities.

For working adults with busy schedules and family responsibilities, trying to get a degree from a traditional college or university can be difficult. You might want to consider an online degree program. Western Governors University, a nonprofit, all-online university, has just launched its B.A. in Early Childhood Education program. Part of WGU’s NCATE-accredited Teachers College, the new program uses an academic model that allows students to utilize experience and prior education to demonstrate competency in the required knowledge and skills.