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Childhood Education Programs and Colleges in Michigan

People who work in early childhood education are committed to helping young children learn and develop. Due to how fun it can be and how much it matters to help young generations get a strong foundation for their future, it’s a very popular career choice. If you are skilled enough and love working with children, you can make a difference in how children approach learning for the rest of their lives.

Due to the popularity of this career, Michigan is filled with universities that have programs for individuals who want to get the formal knowledge and skills for the job. Finding a quality program is fundamental if you want to have a well-paid position.

There are numerous early childhood education programs in Michigan, but we are going to focus on four popular programs at the moment.

Calvin University

If you want to study early childhood education and you are also a Christian, you have the amazing opportunity to enroll in a program with Calvin University in Michigan. It is located in Grand Rapids, and it has been rated by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the best colleges in the USA.

Founded in 1876, Calvin University promises to turn you into the professional you want to become, while letting you enjoy your religious beliefs. When you have free time from your studies, you can go to the Chapel to learn, celebrate, and pray.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

People who want to work with young children can follow Calvin University’s early childhood education program. Students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills throughout the 4-year major.

The institution will train you to have the courage to work with the young generations and ensure you learn the abilities required to teach preschool, kindergarten, first-grade, or second-grade children.

At Calvin University, you have two options: you can go for the early childhood endorsement or the elementary education major.

For the early childhood education major, you will have to complete 31 credit hours per semester. Once you do that, you will be able to graduate after 4 years.

Students will enroll in various courses during this time, such as:

  • Child Language development
  • Teaching Exceptional Students
  • The Young Child in an Educational Setting
  • Family Engagement, Relationships, and Collaboration
  • Preschool Field Experience

The elementary education major is also made to help you teach different disciplines to young children. You will become a master at storytelling, whether it involves math, science, or a different subject.

This major can help you understand students’ needs, ensuring that you can help any child become successful. You will also learn how to make each child feel accepted and loved. You will be able to teach them that they have everything it takes to become anything they want to be in the future.

Furthermore, this major allows you to explore your passion and focus on what’s important. Calvin will allow you to get the full experience of working with children in different types of classrooms, whether they are in urban schools or private ones.

To apply, you can send your application online. As a first-year applicant, you must have an ACT score between 24 and 30 or an SAT score between 1130 and 1330. Your high school GPA must be no lower than 3.85.

You will have to send your unofficial high school transcript and official college/university transcripts (if applicable) with your Calvin University application.

University of Michigan – Dearborn

Going to the University of Michigan in Dearborn will be a unique experience. The institution was founded in 1959 and it has over 50 graduate programs available. Students can choose to study in person, online, or a hybrid format, depending on the case. Even master’s programs can take place online if distance learning is more convenient for the student.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

Students who want to deepen their knowledge and have a better chance of obtaining a well-paid job in early childhood education can choose the University of Michigan in Dearborn. It offers a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education program, preparing students for working with children.

This program aims for greatness, taking things seriously – it teaches you how to educate the future of the country. After graduating, you will be able to serve not only young children but also their families.

This early childhood education program is a 30-credit hour one, and the best thing about it is that you can choose from two different concentrations, respectively:

  • Early Childhood Special Education Inclusion
  • Early Childhood Administration and Leadership (Online)

By graduating from this program, you will get knowledge of strategies backed by proof. This will enable you to be an effective leader in the classroom or school. On top of that, you will always get knowledge of research and the greatest practices to help you in your early childhood education job. Moreover, you will gain the necessary skills to allow you to continue expanding your research and best practice knowledge.

Some of the courses you may have during your years studying at the university include:

  • Human Resources
  • Research in Education
  • Child Development
  • School Budgeting and Finance
  • Technology

There are some special requirements you must meet to successfully enroll in this program. First things first, you must have a bachelor’s degree from a qualifying institution. If English is not your native language, then you must prove English proficiency as well.

Other than that, you must submit an online application, get several letters of recommendation, complete a statement of purpose, bring college/university transcripts, bring a copy of your resume or CV, and submit your language proficiency scores. Your GRE or GMAT scores may also be requested, so you should prepare them, as well.

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor University is a private, non-profit institution that has been around since 1873. It is faith-centered, encouraging students to let Jesus Christ be the motivating force behind their hard work and dedication.

This university doesn’t want to just give you a degree but also help you understand yourself better. It’s great for self-development, enabling you to help those in need.

It received lots of awards and recognition. For instance, it was named one of the Best Colleges & Universities in Michigan in 2023 by EDsmart, as well as one of the top Regional Universities by the U.S. News & World Report.

Early Childhood Education Program

If you want high-quality education that will make you one of the best early childhood educators in your area, Spring Arbor University has just what you need. It offers a Master’s in Early Childhood Education that you can attend online.

The program takes place for 24 months, after which you can graduate and look for work in your chosen field.

Different courses will be included in the student’s schedule, and these include:

  • Early Childhood Growth & Development
  • Developing Literacy & Reading Proficiency in Early Grades
  • Effective Behavior Management and Assessment in the Early Childhood Classroom

What’s great about this program is that it takes two important issues into account.

One of them is behavior issues. During the program, you will learn how to deal with children with behavior problems and how to help regulate this behavior and incorporate behavior modification into your classroom.

Furthermore, it involves early literacy, making sure children under your care can have the tools necessary for learning how to read.

If you want to study in this program, you must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in your area and a GPA of at least 3.0. Also, you must:

  • Submit official coursework transcripts
  • Submit official transcripts from any institution you previously went to
  • Submit an official application
  • Identify 2-3 academic and/or professional references

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan University was founded in 1892 and throughout the years, it has always encouraged diversity. It welcomes students from all sorts of backgrounds, being dedicated to offering them the education they desire.

This university has 300 undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as 227 laboratories on campus.

Early Childhood Program Information

The Early Childhood Education major will provide you with the skills you need to work with children from birth to 8 years old. This program can help you become a teacher or a director. It applies to preschool, childcare, or elementary settings. This will enable you to help children develop physically, socially, and emotionally.

The major has a 4-year length and requires a total of 41 credit hours. Your classes will cover areas such as:

  • Trends and applications
  • Infant and child development
  • Learning processes

However, there are two other majors you can choose from for early childhood education. You can go for the Teaching Early Childhood B-K & Special Education major, or the Teaching Early Childhood B-3 & Early Childhood Special Education major.

The B-K involves 5 years of study, and you can choose between the online or on-campus program. In total, you must complete 48 credit hours. As for the B-3 major, you will have to complete 4 years of study and 86 credit hours.

To apply to this university and enroll in an early childhood education program, you must:

  • Submit an online application
  • Submit high school transcripts
  • Submit your SAT or ACT test scores

Early Childhood Education Work Opportunities in Michigan

The best thing about early childhood education programs is that they give you numerous options in terms of jobs. You don’t necessarily have to be a teacher if you want to work with young children – there are many other opportunities that can offer you the same joy and fulfillment.

You might work as a nanny or as a childcare worker or school counselor among other things. For instance, Oakland University might hire consultants, and the State of Michigan may be looking for youth specialists or senior deputy directors. Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency (NEMCSA) may also need people to work as education & professional development specialists.

Meanwhile, others can work as elementary teachers for different institutions, such as the Michigan Association of School Boards. Lake Orion also hires early childhood instructors, while the Mid-Michigan Area Public Schools Consortium hires youth development facilitators.

What’s even better is that you can work in both urban and rural areas, depending on your possibilities and the job opportunities you find at that moment. You won’t be limited to large institutions in urban areas only – you can opt for work with children in less favorable areas if this is what you want.

Working in early childhood education can be very fun and rewarding, and it is one way to make sure kids get a good learning background that will help them when they are older.

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