Accredited Early Childhood Education Programs and Schools in Ohio
Working with young children can be a wonderful experience. Not only do you get to have the joy of seeing the creative minds of the little ones, but you can also be a huge influence in their lives. You can work with children by following an early childhood education program. These types of programs prepare you for work as an early childhood educator by making sure you learn all the knowledge and skills necessary.
Ohio takes early childhood education seriously, which is why the state has several programs available for those interested. Regardless of the program you choose, you will have the opportunity to prepare for your future job.
Numerous universities have early childhood education programs available, but in this article, we will focus on 4 of them.
The Ohio State University
Ohio State University is an institution that strives to help people discover knowledge and create their ideal future. It was founded in 1870 and is located in Columbus, Ohio. During their time here, students will learn how to become the best version of themselves and how they can change the world.
People make connections at this university, and they have the opportunity to explore their passions and ideas while discovering what matters to them. OSU has 6 campuses across Ohio that offer plenty of activities for all students.
Early Childhood Education Program Information
Those who want to become early childhood educators can follow the Bachelor of Science in early childhood education program at the Ohio State University. This program is great, as it teaches students everything they need to know to become successful in their chosen field.
The program lasts for 4 years and throughout this time, you will participate in courses and training that will help you shape your own teaching practice. You will learn how to interact with children in a way that makes it easy for them to learn from you and develop. You will also be able to teach them how to handle more difficult situations.
Following graduation, students can apply for certification or licensure to teach in Ohio. This prepares students to teach children in pre-K to 3rd grade.
Students will have a variety of courses during the program, including:
- Reading Foundations
- Language Arts for Children Ages 3-9
- Understanding Phonics
- Teaching as a Profession
- Psychological Perspectives of Education
- Art for Teachers
- Critical Reading in Content Fields
- Children’s Literature
After completing 120 credit hours, students will be able to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education.
If you want to apply for this BS program, you will have to send SAT or ACT scores, a common application, high school transcripts, and verification for homeschooling. If you want, you can also bring a recommendation from a counselor or teacher.
There is another option for those who want to work with children. Ohio State University also offers an Associate of Arts program in early childhood development and education. During this program, you will learn how to work with children between birth age to 5 years old. The program will take place online, and it will help you learn how to work in both preschool, private and public settings.
To enter this program, you must have a high school diploma or GED. Also, there is a minimum program of 60 hours.
While the Associate of Arts degree is a great opportunity, you should bear in mind that it is not accessible for you if you already have a bachelor’s degree.
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati was founded back in 1819, and The U.S. News & World Report ranked it as the 4th university for internships and co-ops in the nation. It’s a public research university that strives for excellence, making sure its students learn and have fun at the same time. Besides theoretical courses, it also offers experiences in the real world.
The institution enrolls around 48,000 students, and it has 426 degree programs.
Early Childhood Education Program Information
At the University of Cincinnati, students have the chance to study under the early childhood education program for preschool-grade 5. This program prepares students to teach pre-kindergarten to grade five children, making sure they become the best teachers.
The undergraduate program features a series of great courses and will conclude with a degree and licensure to teach in the state of Ohio. But that is not all – the program also ensures students get hands-on experiences with kindergarten, preschool, and grade school children.
Students who want to obtain their license should expect evening or late afternoon classes too, as well as evening teacher hours. On top of that, all students will have to be available for field experiences and ECE classes full-time.
All individuals who enroll in this program must pass the Ohio Assessments for Educators exam to obtain their desired teaching license.
The program will take place over 4 years, and students will have various useful courses during this time. Some of these courses include:
- First Year Exp in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services
- Chemistry in Today’s Society
- Foundations in Early Childhood Education
- Educational Psychology
- Foundations of Math and Science
- Families, Communities, and Schools
- History
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion- A Framework for the Socially Just Educator
The minimum number of credits necessary for graduation is 120. So, at the end of the 4 years, students must complete 120 credit hours.
Students who wish to apply will be required to:
- Have a 3.0 minimum GPA
- Send an application for admission
- Have a minimum SAT score of 1080 or a minimum ACT score of 22
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton was founded in 1850 and the founders were four Society of Mary members. For this reason, it used to be known as St. Mary’s School for Boys, but it later took the name it has to this day.
The university is the number 1 Catholic university for physical STEM R&D and engineering R&D. It also has 11,770 graduate, undergraduate, and law students.
Early Childhood Education Program Information
If you have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education yet you want to get better at your profession or expand your knowledge, the University of Dayton can help you. The institution offers a Transdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program, which will let you go through different disciplines. The goal here is to help you get better at working with children.
There are several options under this program, which include a master’s degree, as well as two licenses for the state of Ohio.
The program will require a minimum of 30 credits per semester. There are various courses that will be part of a student’s program, including:
- Philosophical Studies in Education
- Becoming a Master Educator
- Perspectives on Educational Research
- School, Self, and Society
- The Profession of Teaching Laboratory
- Primary Mathematics Methods
- Introduction to Transdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
To apply for this graduate program, students will have to submit:
- Letters of recommendations
- Transcripts from institutions you have attended in the past
- A personal statement, writing sample and/or a resume
Entrance examinations, respectively GRE or GMAT, may also be necessary in some cases.
Cedarville University
Four men established Cedarville College back in 1887 because they wanted to create an institution where people could pursue Christian education. Today, it is one of the best universities in Ohio. It accepts people from all backgrounds and strives to teach them the word of God while helping them work for their future careers.
Early Childhood Education Program Information
Cedarville University wants to help people looking to work with young children. Therefore, it offers a Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education.
Through this program, you will learn everything necessary for teaching pre-K-fifth-grade children. The goal is to help you work with young minds in public or Christian schools. Once you graduate from this program, you will have a degree, as well as licenses to teach pre-kindergarten through grade five in Ohio.
The professors will not only teach you through Bible education coursework but will also help you take part in field experiences for a better chance of improving your skills.
Students will be taking part in this program for 4 years, with a minimum of 128.5 credit hours being necessary for graduation. Some of the courses included in the program are:
- The Bible and the Gospel
- Theology
- Exceptionalities and Behavior
- Reading in the Content Areas
- Teaching Primary Mathematics/Social Studies/Science
- Global Issues
- Principles of Earth Science/Biology/Mathematics
- Child Development
As a freshman, you will have to apply for admission to the university by submitting the following documents:
- SAT, ACT, or CLT test
- High school transcripts
- Proof that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
- College transcript
- Christian Leader recommendation
Early Childhood Education Work Opportunities in Ohio
Ohio is a great state for anyone interested in a career in early childhood education. There are jobs for those who are just getting started, but also for individuals who have already worked in the field and gained experience working with children.
Believe it or not, there are many professions you can choose following an early childhood education program. Some of your job options are primary school teacher, early years teacher, teaching assistant, family support worker, play therapist, education consultant, social worker, and special education needs teacher.
The state offers different types of early childhood education jobs to those who are interested. For example, you can work as an early childhood services coordinator for the Council on Rural Services, or as an infant and early childhood family support and parent education provider for the Children’s Resource Center.
Furthermore, you can work as a kindergarten teacher for the Butler County Educational Service Centre, an early childhood assistant teacher for the Laurel School, or a preschool teacher for the Olmsted Falls City School District.
ACCEL Schools may also need an early childhood executive director, while the Beech Acres Parenting Center hires family specialists.
If you know where to look, you will come across numerous job opportunities for people who have graduated with an early childhood education degree. Some jobs will be available in large cities, so if you don’t mind the agitation and noise of city life, you will be able to find some great offers. However, you can also help children from rural areas learn and develop, and Ohio has various offers for these locations too.
As you can see, you have plenty of early childhood education programs to choose from in Ohio. The state has several universities with such programs available, therefore it will be easy for you to study and train for your dream job.