According to Data USA, there were 29,623 early childhood education (ECE) degrees awarded in 2016. Since then, the number of ECE degree-holders has only increased as the need for ECE providers continues to grow. Jobs available for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary teachers are expected to grow up to 10 percent by 2026.
While a degree in early childhood education can obviously prepare you for a career teaching young children, it also prepares you for other professions that may not be as obvious.
Continue reading to learn more about four unexpected jobs for those with a degree in early childhood education.
Counselor
When you study early childhood education, you don’t just learn about child development and how to plan curriculums. Some colleges, like Pacific Oaks College, have ECE programs that offer a specialization in trauma studies.
A trauma studies-focus trains people to detect signs of physical and emotional trauma, physical and sexual abuse, and neglect. Additionally, this focus can also include courses on how major life events, like death or divorce, can impact a child.
Students may also learn about the risk factors for trauma, the effect of grief on children, and how these things influence a child’s emotional and social development.
Graduates of an ECE degree program with a specialization in trauma studies or something similar can potentially work toward becoming a child counselor or a foster care worker.
While some counselor careers may require further education or certification, a background in ECE with a focus on trauma is good preparation for those planning to work with children and families in crisis.
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Manager/Director
Choosing a master’s degree in ECE can also prepare you to take on leadership positions in educational environments and assume professional roles such as:
- Supervisor
- Program director
- Preschool director
- Assistant director
- Master teacher
- ECE mentor
- California Department of Education consultant
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) ECE Teacher
Additionally, choosing to specialize in something like organizational leadership and change can teach you skills like decision-making and people management. If you like seeing the big picture and being in charge, this is a perfect trajectory to embark on. Many who pursue this type of program are generally seeking to own a school or manage a nonprofit business.
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Educational Consultant
Working as an educational consultant is a unique way to use an ECE degree. An ECE background prepares you with knowledge about child development, creating a positive learning environment, and communicating with children and parents alike.
These teamwork, leadership, and communication skills mesh perfectly with a career in consultancy. An educational consultant works with public and private organizations like schools, child care facilities, and tutoring centers. Consultants visit these organizations, determine their needs, and provide resources and strategies to help them improve their processes.
In addition to ECE knowledge, experience in human resources and marketing also helps prepare you for this career path.
Home-Based Service Provider
A home-based service provider is often more commonly known as a nanny or caregiver.
In addition to tasks like meal preparation and driving kids to school, in-home child care providers are typically expected to plan educational activities, tutor kids, and help them with their homework.
Nannies and caregivers work with individual children or siblings in private homes. Some parents also want these home-based service providers to track and communicate their children’s progress.
While an early education degree isn’t mandatory to work as a nanny or caregiver, it definitely makes these jobs more attainable and lucrative.
Learn more about Pacific Oaks College
Get started by exploring early childhood education programs at Pacific Oaks. You can learn more about our programs by filling out the information below, visiting the program page, or applying through the application portal.
