Early childhood education is an important milestone for child development. By exploring a child’s interests, teachers, in turn, guide them to ask questions, receive instruction, and develop essential social skills. Pacific Oaks College provides evidence-based learning Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs, offered online and on-campus, in Pasadena, California.
POC offers degrees of all levels, undergraduate, graduate, doctorate, and certifications, focusing on providing graduates with strong knowledge of child development, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, all of which contribute to creating a healthy environment for children to better receive educational instruction. Our ECE programs prepare individuals to work in various child care and development-focused environments, from public to privately owned child centers, to in-home child care jobs.
ECE Jobs and Work Environments
Early childhood education jobs can take place in various work environments; They can be private or public businesses and can be operated by various entities, such as:
- Government agencies
- Faith organizations or churches
- Community organizations
- Public schools
- Corporations
- For or not-for-profit organizations
- In-home or commercial buildings
Licensing requirements, regulations related to the limitations of the number of children under care at one time, and health and safety requirements, including CPR and first aid training, are fully dependent on the location and type of child care facility.
Child Care Centers
Child care centers care for young children from birth to 5 years old, including before and after-school programs. According to ChildCare.gov, early childhood education professionals can operate as facility directors, overseeing part-time and full-time staff who provide child care services. They organize fun and educational activities, providing structure and a safe place to play.
Directors design the educational programs, prepare budgets, and oversee the center’s day-to-day activities. A bachelor’s degree is required to become a child care director, often, a graduate degree is preferred. Pacific Oaks College’s Master’s in Early Childhood Education program fosters real-world experience with collaboration between administrators and leaders working with children in families in diverse environments, preparing them for high-level early childhood jobs, including a director of child care.
Our early childhood education graduates who wish to pursue a career as a child care center director are prepared to demonstrate leadership and expertise in child care as well as business management. For those looking for a specialized early childhood education program that will prepare them for a leadership role at a child care center, the Pacific Oaks’ M.A. in Early Childhood Education: Organizational Leadership and Management program is designed to prepare students for a role such as this.
Family Child Care Homes
Family child care homes are similar to child care centers and provide care for small groups of children from their own homes. They are often regulated by public agencies, with funding coming from parents, a subsidized child care system, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CACFP reimburses family child care homes so the workers can provide nutritious foods to eligible children, contributing to child wellness and development.
These family home child care workers monitor child safety, feed children, change diapers if needed, implement routines unique to each child’s needs and development, and create an educational curriculum. Providing care from home offers the children a sense of comfort and familiarity compared to commercial buildings. Family home child care workers use this environment to teach children practical tasks and behaviors typically performed at home, such as setting the table, cleaning up after meals, or sitting at the table to do homework after school. This approach helps establish a structured routine children can carry over into their homes.
ECE professionals may be required to have postsecondary education or early childhood education credentials. We offer a Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program that prepares graduates with knowledge of education fundamentals and how to develop prospering learning environments for children from kindergarten to 12th grade. This credentialing program engages students in supervised learning experiences that foster collaboration and problem-solving skills as well as how to efficiently work with young children, providing graduates with the tools to teach children various subjects such as math, reading, and writing for children of all ages. This is beneficial for family child care homes as they may teach several children within a wide range of ages and academic levels, providing an in-home learning environment.
Pre-Kindergarten School Programs
Pre-K or junior kindergarten programs prepare children from 3 to 5 years of age for kindergarten. The primary educational goals for this early childhood program are to teach language, motor skills, and social skills, preparing the children for the behavioral expectations and structural routines found in classrooms. Preschool teachers work with children individually or in groups to carry out a curriculum focusing on child development while exploring their interests. These ECE professionals work with the children, helping them adapt to the typical school day, adjusting their routines to being away from their parents for an extended time, working on problem-solving skills, and learning introductory curriculum in math, literacy, science, and creative arts. This is important given that every child’s upbringing is different and may not have the same social awareness or behavioral expectations as the standard held in Pre-K programs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, preschool teachers are commonly required to have a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education to work. The ECE work environment, such as public or private centers as well as the state, may change educational work requirements. The B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks equips graduates with skills and teaching methods that preschool teachers may need to create and implement optimal, nurturing learning environments. This ECE program teaches students to recognize the relationship between psychological theories and educational practices to guide classroom instruction. These skills allow graduates to recognize and encourage child development by tailoring learning to each child.
Pursue a Degree in Early Childhood Education
Whether you wish to work with a public school, government agency, or work from a home, starting your education with an ECE degree is the first step towards reaching your goals. Pacific Oaks College offers many different options for the Early Childhood Education field, including the bachelor’s and master’s degrees that may be required for child care professionals to obtain. We also offer different specializations that could be especially beneficial depending on the specific career you are interested in pursuing. A strong understanding of ECE can help child care workers and teachers, monitor child development and implement educational activities for children, sparking their interests and motivation to want to learn more while also learning social skills and practicing their language, math, or reading skills.
Learn more about how to take the next step to pursuing your ECE career.
