Early Childhood Education Certificate

Our Early Childhood Education Certificate can help you lay the foundation for a career as an educator working with young children in as little as three quarters.  Throughout your Certificate curriculum, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to create a positive and thriving learning environment for your students. 

Our expedited and foundational Certificate curriculum is designed to give you the skills you need to help you successfully start your career as an educator in a short amount of time.

View courses and cost per credit for our Early Childhood Education Certificate. Courses, course names, and cost per credit may vary by location. Download your state specific catalog for more information.

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Course listings are subject to change. Please see our course catalog and/or addendum for most current listings.

Early Childhood Education Certificate Course List

Major and Core Courses

Career Development

This course is designed to study the personal and professional characteristics necessary for obtaining and maintaining suitable employment. The student will assemble a complete job-seeking portfolio including his/her resume and references, letters of application and appreciation, documentation of work and educational history, and demonstration of skills through examples of student work. The course includes an in-depth study of self-marketing approaches, job interviewing techniques and professionalism as well as participation in a mock interview.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: E242
Credits: 2

Foundations of Child Development

This course will explore characteristics of children at different ages, children's developmental needs, and the foundation of early childhood education. Students will learn the fundamentals of developmentally appropriate practice as it relates to child development, individual needs, building self-esteem in children, and using interpersonal skills and communication within the classroom and center. Students will study the function of the family, and the cultural, social, class, and ethnic variations in the family as a social system.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: EC100
Credits: 4

Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction

This course promotes the development of young children in the academic, social, and emotional domains. It examines developmentally appropriate methods for writing and assessing behavioral objectives, lesson plans, and activity goals. Various curriculum models will be reviewed. Strategies to enhance parent and family involvement will be emphasized.

Prerequisite: Foundations of Child Development

Course ID: EC110
Credits: 4

Health, Safety, and Nutrition/CDA Application

This course examines the role of early childhood professionals working in the field via the policies and procedures governed by the state. Students will learn guidelines for establishing safe environments. They will also learn strategies for implementing health policies, controlling disease, establishing proper nutrition, and responding to children's special health concerns. Students will carry out a 2-hour field observation in the field of education.

Prerequisite: Foundations of Child Development

Course ID: EC121
Credits: 4

Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education

Students will explore effective strategies for observation and assessment in early childhood education. They will understand the observation, assessment, and planning cycle and its impact on promoting children's development.

Prerequisites: Foundations of Child Development; Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Instruction; Health, Safety, and Nutrition/CDA Application

Course ID: EC200
Credits: 4

Choose either Track I ** or Track II

Track I **

Knowledge: Externship I

Under externship supervision, the student will observe and implement developmentally appropriate practices while interacting with children and adults.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: EC180
Credits: 6

Application: Externship II

Students continue their externship experience in an early childhood setting. The focus is on developmentally appropriate practices and leadership.

Prerequisite: Knowledge: Externship I

Course ID: EC181
Credits: 6

Reflection: Externship III

Students will complete their externship experience in an early childhood setting. The focus is on developmentally appropriate practices and leadership.

Prerequisite: Application: Externship II

Course ID: EC182
Credits: 6

Track II

Teacher Reflection I: Early Childhood Education as a Profession

This course is an introduction to the field of early childhood development as a profession and examines historical influences on the field. The identification of early childhood educator's personal attributes, knowledge, skills, and professional codes of conduct are included.

Prerequisite: none

Course ID: EC183
Credits: 6

Teacher Reflection II: Morality and Ethics in Early Childhood Education

This course will provide an examination of morality and ethics in early childhood development. Topics include childhood ethics, ideals, and principles. Professional values and teaching styles will be explored.

Prerequisite: Teacher Reflection I: Early Childhood Education as a Profession

Course ID: EC184
Credits: 6

Teacher Reflection III: The Intentional Teacher

Students will learn about intentionality in teaching and selecting best practices for young children's learning and development. Both child-guided and adult-guided methods will be examined in the areas of language and literacy, mathematics and scientific inquiry, social skills and understandings, physical movement and visual arts.

Prerequisite: Teacher Reflection II: Morality and Ethics in Early Childhood Education

Course ID: EC185
Credits: 6

Foundation Courses

Reading and Writing Strategies

This course develops students' reading and writing skills in preparation for college-level coursework. Through review of grammar, punctuation, and the writing process, students will enhance their ability to compose sentences, paragraphs, and short essays. The study of active reading strategies will provide students with the tools necessary for comprehending collegiate level texts.

Prerequisite: Placement determined by Rasmussen College entrance placement exam score

Course ID: B080
Credits: 4

Practical Math

Mathematics is learned through communication. In this course, students will learn to communicate how problems are solved and how solving problems can be applied in real-world settings. Students will have opportunities to learn multiple problem solving strategies. This course also provides practice and skill problems.

Prerequisite: Placement determined by Rasmussen College entrance placement exam score

Course ID: B087
Credits: 4

Total Certificate Credits: 36*

* Credit totals do not include Foundation Courses. Students must either demonstrate mastery of the subject matter in Foundation Courses through a Rasmussen College entrance placement exam or by successful completion of Foundation Courses.

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Student Investment Disclosure

  • Outcome

    Our on-time completion and placement rates exceed the national averages of 22% and 74%, respectively. With our SUPPORT+ team members working one-on-one with you, including our student advisors and career services advisors, we help support your success. Contact a program manager to learn more about how you can become a Rasmussen College graduate.

    • On-time Completion Rate:

      The percent of graduates who complete the program in normal time (assumes students take 12 credits per quarter)

      45%
    • Rasmussen Placement Rate:

      Internal placement rate methodology can be found at Student Investment Disclosure main page

      80%

  • Loan and Financial Aid

    Our SUPPORT+ team will help you complete your financial aid application and review your financial aid award letter. Contact a financial services advisor to discuss your individual needs and goals.

    • Federal Student Loans:

      Median loan debt for completers from Federal Stafford Loan program (does not include Federal PLUS loans)

      $8,671
    • Private Loans:

      Median loan debt for completers from private educational loans

      NA*
    • Institutional Loans:

      Median amount that completers owe to Rasmussen College upon graduation

      NA*

  • Full-Time Tuition and Fees

    The tuition shown is the full tuition cost and does not reflect scholarships, grants, loans, or any credit transfers-all of which can lower your tuition cost. Contact a program manager to discuss your unique situation and tuition costs for your degree.

    • Tuition and Fees:

      Tuition & fees charged for completing the program in normal time
    • Books and Supplies:

      Total cost of books and supplies when completing the program in normal time

      $1,200
    • Room and Board:

      Total cost of room & board is not applicable at Rasmussen College

      $0

  • SOC Code

    Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) provides a representation of occupations for which graduates typically find employment

    Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) provides a representation of occupations for which graduates typically find employment

 
 

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