Early Childhood Education

Do you enjoy working with children? Do you want to make a difference in young children's lives? Enter a rewarding career as an early childhood educator.

From studying the needs of children to learning communication skills, get prepared to work with children from birth through eight years of age in diverse learning environments.

Training under the supervision of qualified teachers, learn to foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional, and creative development of young children.

Careers in Early Childhood Education

• Start your career in child development or child care program
• Teach in a classroom as a preschool or infant/toddler teacher
• Work as a Family Child Care Homeowner/operator, home-based service provider or nanny
• Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic and nonacademic activities of preschool and childcare centers as an administrator

Transfer Opportunities and Pathways

An Early Childhood Education major can be found at many bachelor’s granting institutions. Some universities and colleges may even have similar, but more specified majors to explore, that could align better with your interests. Examples include Child/Human Development, Education, Liberal Studies with Teaching Credential, Special Education, Art Teacher Education, Teaching English as a Second Language, and many more.

• Search a list of Early Childhood Education related majors at the UCs and CSUs
• Compare average admit GPAs across similar majors at the UCs
• Learn what major prep courses you need to take in order to transfer to the UCs or CSUs
• Explore similar majors at private and out-of-state institutions

Download Early Childhood Education Pathway Sheet (PDF)