Can I work while studying for my bachelors degree in early childhood education?

You can work while studying for your degree in early childhood education and the best places to work are jobs where you can get hands on experience with children. This may include working in positions such as a caregiver, tutor or nanny that will help familiarize you with the responsibilities, joys and frustrations of interacting with young children. You can also work at schools and day care centers, but you will likely be required to complete safety training and acquire a license from the state.

After graduating high school, you should easily be able to find a job as a babysitter, which could also offer you the opportunity to complete homework at the same time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for childcare workers was $9.28 per hour in 2010.

Some tutor and caregiver positions are very flexible and can be worked around class schedules, while a longer term position as a nanny, for example, may be much more demanding. Although it may be difficult, 1 of the benefits of being a nanny is that some families provide living accommodations. If you are pursuing an early childhood education bachelors degree online, working as a live-in caregiver or nanny may be a good option to consider.

Are there any brick-and-mortar colleges that offer an online early childhood education bachelors degree program?

There are traditional campuses that offer online bachelor degree programs in early childhood education. One school is University of Cincinnati (UC), a public research university that is accredited by Higher Learning Commission, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Ohio Department of Education.

The required courses you need for a University of Cincinnati degree can be completed online, but if you plan on attending any of the early childhood education online schools, you will still need access to children for fieldwork. U.S. News & World Report ranked University of Cincinnati in the top 200 U.S. universities and seventy-third among public universities in 2012.

Kansas State University is 1 of the online bachelors degree in early childhood education programs that requires transferred coursework. You can transfer to Kansas State’s distance program, which accepts up to 62 credit hours of additional course work from other institutions.

If you earn an associates degree in early childhood education or child development, you can work on your online early childhood education bachelors degree at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Their online early childhood education courses can be taken either part time or full time. You can expect to complete your degree in about 2 and a half years if you choose the latter.

Are there any scholarships for traditional or online bachelors degree students in early childhood education?

There are both national and local scholarships that can help you fund your bachelors degree in early childhood education. Bright Horizons offer scholarships to students ranging from $250 to $2,500. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university, and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

When you apply, you have to submit 1 professional and 1 educational recommendation, in addition to a 500 to 800 word personal essay and scholarship application form. The scholarships are for full-time students who have completed either 30 credits of their associates degree or 60 credits of their bachelors degree.

Local teaching scholarships tend to be smaller than national awards, although they can be easier to earn because they are relatively less competitive. The best resource from which to learn more about these scholarships are your school’s financial aid office and departmental academic advisor.

Scholarships specific to an early childhood education bachelors degree online are harder to find.

The government can also provide financial aid to students attending accredited schools, ranging from loans to grants and scholarships.

Can I study abroad during my on-campus or online bachelors degree program in early childhood education?

There are many opportunities to study abroad while pursuing an on-campus bachelors degree. University of Minnesota has study abroad programs available from Australia to Denmark that focus on early childhood education.

As a sophomore, junior or senior, you can study abroad in IFSA-Butler Australia programs, which can last from 1 semester to an entire year. In their program, you can take early childhood education courses, such as Development, Learning, and Teaching; Psychology and Education, Curriculum Studies: Language and Literature II, and Teaching to Special Needs to fulfill your University of Minnesota requirements.

While you may take a foundation course like child psychology abroad, you should plan on taking electives while studying internationally. You should focus more on the classes and places that interest you, rather than racing to finish core requisites away from home.

Before applying to any study abroad program, check with your adviser to get approval for courses and make sure that most of your credits are working toward your degree. All or part of your student teaching requirement can be completed abroad.

After finishing a 12-week student teaching placement, Pennsylvania State University offers short term overseas programs that allow early childhood education students to travel abroad for 5 to 7 weeks in countries such as China, Costa Rica, India and Spain. The program also gives students the option to live with host families.

Studying abroad options are slim if you want to pursue an online bachelors degree in early childhood education. One exception is the online bachelor degree programs in early childhood education offered by traditional campuses that already provide students study abroad options.

Can I work while studying for my associates degree in early childhood education?

You can definitely work while studying for your associates in early childhood education. Some of the best places to work while you pursue your degree might include childcare centers, preschools or after-school programs. If you can find a job that is related to your associate degree in early childhood education, you will have the opportunity to learn concepts first hand rather than from your actual courses.

The benefits of working in the early childhood education field while obtaining your associates are countless. You will gain experience and knowledge that you often cannot learn in textbooks. Many colleges for early childhood education often have childcare centers on campus, so students can earn money and gain hands on interaction with young children.

Although working while studying for your degree can be beneficial, you must learn to balance your time between work and school. If you do work while studying and you find yourself overwhelmed, you should consider working fewer hours. Also, you can consider volunteering at a childcare facility, so you can pick and choose your hours and gain experience at the same time.

If you are pursuing an online associates degree in early childhood education, you will have much more availability to work than at a traditional brick-and-mortar college. Online colleges can offer you the opportunity to complete coursework at your own pace. This option might be ideal for you if you have a full-time job, family or other obligations.

What are common assumptions about students who choose to get an associates degree in early childhood education?

You may encounter the assumption that only young women choose to pursue degrees in early childhood education. This is partly true as women do make up most of the people who choose to get an early childhood education associate degree. Most men choose not to pursue this option because of the negative stereotypes that men face in this field relating to child abuse and sexual misconduct.

Another stereotype is that people who get associate degrees are not intelligent enough to pursue a 4-year degree. This is an inaccurate portrayal of people who choose to pursue an associates degree in early childhood education. Students who study at this level are not always required to take more difficult courses in math or science, but that is only because the training in early childhood education does not require it.

During your education, you will undoubtedly hear negativity regarding the low salaries of childcare teachers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly rate for an early education teacher is around $10. You will have greater chances of making a higher income with an associates degree than without it, but certain childcare facilities do not necessarily require an education for teaching positions.

If you are completing an early childhood education associates degree online, you might face disapproval from future employers. Most early childhood education online programs are fully accredited, but some employers prefer to hire people with traditional classroom educations. Eventually, online learning will be accepted as a valid form of education.

What is the hardest part of the application to an on-campus or online early childhood education associates program?

Applications to any on-campus or online program will probably be time consuming. You first have to fill in general information, including your full name, date of birth and address. Second, you most likely will have to include information about your financial situation and on whether or not you plan to be a full or part-time student.

The most difficult part of the application process is completing the personal essay. Depending on the program, you will have to describe yourself and what you hope to achieve while at college. It might take you a few hours or longer to complete because you need to proofread the document several times.

The application requirements for early childhood education online programs will differ for each college, but they should not be much different from traditional colleges. One minor difference is that an online college may ask you to write why an online associate in early childhood education is right for you.

Are there any brick-and-mortar colleges that offer an online early childhood education associates degree program?

Liberty University in Lynchburg, Pennsylvania can offer you a traditional or online early childhood education associates degree with a Christian background. This program might appeal to you if you plan on teaching at a church childcare center or a private Christian preschool, but the education they provide you with will also allow you to work at any type of childcare facility. Liberty University and its online associates degree in early childhood education are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Ashford University is an excellent place to obtain your associates degree in early childhood education online. Ashford University was founded in 1918 and has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1950. At Ashford University, you can study childhood development and learning assessment and prepare for a career working in a childcare or preschool center.

Clarion University is a well established school that was founded in 1867 that is located in in western Pennsylvania. You can earn your associates in early childhood education with Clarion’s 60 credit program. As a successful graduate, you will be able to work in early intervention, child development and preschool programs.