college majors

Early Childhood Development Major

What is Early Childhood Education?

Early childhood development is a major taken by students who wish to work with infants and young children. In order to work with children from birth through to second grade, a student must receive a degree in early childhood development and then become licensed in their state. Licensure in early childhood development allows the student to work in schools, childcare programs or institutional settings.

A major in early childhood development will be able to preliminarily evaluate young children to determine if they have special needs such as learning, behavioral, physical or emotional disabilities. Early identification of these problems is critical to the continued growth and development of the child.

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What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?

MyMajors.com cannot pinpoint your interests beyond recommending this general major. Various specializations related to this major may be offered by colleges and universities. These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest to you. A few of the specializations related to this field include, but are not limited to:

Special Education Service    

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What Kinds of Students Major in Early Childhood Education?

A student who majors in early childhood development must genuinely enjoy working with small children and desire to help them in their growth. Verbal and written communication skills are critical to this major because the student is not only working with the child but with their parents or guardians. This student can be characterized as compassionate, able to motive children and parents to complete tasks and able to work with all persons concerned with the child in a caring, yet professional way.

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What Courses Do Early Childhood Education Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

Child Guidance
Human Development
Speech and Language Development
Early Childhood Education
Literacy
General Psychology
Educational Psychology
Math
Parenting
Family Studies
Geography
Writing

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What Types of Positions do Early Childhood Education Majors Take After College?

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Child Care Worker
Parent Education Specialist
Public School Teacher
Curriculum Specialist
Parent Program Coordinator
Head Start Program

Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Related Links

If you are interested in learning more about what professionals in this field do and what kinds of activities they engage in, you might want to begin with the following web sites. Also check the departmental web sites of colleges and universities, which offer this major.

Links to Early Childhood
Center for Childcare Workforce
Children's Defense Fund
Early Childhood.Com
Early Childhood Today
Links to Early Childhood Organizations
Links to Early Childhood Development Sites
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association for Family Child Care
National Childcare Information Center

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University Departments to Consider

The following institutions are the featured institutions on MyMajors because they support MyMajors and you in your search for the best major available. They offer excellent curriculums in well-rounded programs for you to consider.

Arcadia University (PA)
Early Childhood Education
  St. Norbert College (WI)
Teacher Education
Evangel University (MO)
Early Childhood Education
   

Other fine institutions offering this major offer excellent programs to consider.

Western Oklahoma State College (OK)
Early Childhood Program

For information on options available to campuses wishing to see their majors listed on MyMajors, contact: admin@mymajors.com for details.

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Two-Year College Curriculums to Consider

Northampton Community College (MA)
Early Childhood Education

Suggest to your two-year college advisor that their institution's majors be included to show you their course requirements and unique resources. Two-year college representatives should contact admin@mymajors.com for details.

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Want More Information? Look at major descriptions prepared by university academic advisement staffs.

Early Childhood Development Major
cyber graduate
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