What you will study
UCM鈥檚 Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom certificate gives you the knowledge
you need to effectively teach young children aged birth through 8 years. You鈥檒l gain
a better understanding of the types of curricula and assessments that engage young
students and help them grow and learn more effectively.
Some of the classes you may take include:
- Acquisition of Language and Literacy
- Classroom Management and Interactions
- Early Childhood Practicum
Through these and other classes, you鈥檒l deepen your understanding and teaching practices
for creating positive learning environments as well as apply teaching strategies in
your classroom to help all children build strong language and literacy skills.
All courses for the Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom undergraduate certificate
are taught in Lee鈥檚 Summit at our Missouri Innovation Campus, just 30 minutes from
Kansas City.
Excellence in Early Childhood Education
- Top 15%: Best Value Bachelor鈥檚 Degree Colleges for Elementary Education (College Factual,
2022)
- A Best Value College for Elementary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 15%: Most Focused Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- A Most Focused Bachelor鈥檚 Degree College for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Elementary Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 5.5%: Most Popular Bachelor鈥檚 Degree Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 6%: Most Popular Colleges for Education (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 10%: Best Colleges for Education for Non-Traditional Students (College Factual, 2021)
Unique learning opportunities in early childhood education teaching
As part of your UCM Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom certificate, you鈥檒l
have ample opportunities to put what you learn into practice for valuable experience
teaching young children and learning from other teachers in the field:
- Use your own classroom as a lab: Complete experiential learning as practicum experiences to apply learning in your
own classroom. Practice the teaching strategies, evaluations and assessments you've
learned with young children.
- Connect your own experiences: Connect your learning to instruction and teaching practices. Apply what you鈥檝e learned
to design curriculum and assessment programs in your own early childhood classroom.
- Build relationships within a cohort: Network with other teachers in the field in a cohort model. Learning as a group can
be particularly valuable if you鈥檙e looking to switch jobs or get a deeper perspective
on what early childhood teaching is like from others鈥� shared experiences.
What can you do with a Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom certificate from
UCM?
This undergraduate certificate shows employers that you can effectively engage young
children, develop positive classroom experiences and evaluate early learning. Whether
you鈥檙e already teaching in a classroom or aspire to earn your bachelor鈥檚 degree, this
ECE certificate is a valuable tool to help you advance your career 鈥� or prepare you
for a new one. The skills you learn prepare you to work in a variety of settings.
These include:
- Elementary school classrooms, grades K鈥�3 (*must be certified)
- Preschool classrooms
- Child care centers
- Youth facilities
Learn more about jobs in early childhood education
Use the tool below to learn about the job outlook and types of career paths in the
early childhood education teaching field.
Financial assistance options for your Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom certificate
At the 欧美视频, we believe higher education should be within
reach for all students. For those earning a certificate along with a UCM degree, in
addition to university scholarships, we offer loans, grants and other options to help
you affordably finance your college education. Beyond our general scholarship opportunities, UCM offers several scholarships specifically
for Early Childhood Education undergraduates, including:
- Merle C. and Maxine Rider Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
- Merle C. and Lillian J. Rider Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
- Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Scholarship
Learn more about program-specific scholarships by using the .
Meet Tina B.
Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom Certificate recipient - Pre-K teacher, Richardson
Early Learning Center, Kansas City Public Schools
鈥淏ecause of this program, I am becoming a better teacher to early learners. One of
my favorite experiences has been working with other teachers in small groups.鈥�
Meet Mayeal V.
Teaching in the Early Childhood Classroom Certificate recipient - Director for Guadalupe
Centers, Kansas City
鈥淚 am thankful that UCM and Head Start have provided me the ability to study and grow
in a field I鈥檓 passionate about. Thanks to their support and effort, I have managed
to grow professionally and hold positions where I can be the voice of the children,
their families and the community.鈥�
Meet Dr. Natalie Tye
Associate professor and Early Childhood Education program coordinator
鈥淲e have the most innovative teacher education program in the state. Our students
end up graduating looking like first- or second-year teachers.鈥�
Personal Career Advising
Resources for student success
As you progress through the undergraduate certificate program, UCM provides a variety
of resources to help you succeed. You鈥檒l be assigned a faculty mentor who will support
and guide you as you make important decisions for your future. Get advice on career
development and jobs for early childhood education teachers.
Get Involved on Campus
Participate in early childhood education student organizations
Learn more about the early childhood education profession by joining the UCM chapter
of the Early Childhood Young Professionals. Affiliated with the Missouri Association
for the Association of Young Children and NAEYC, this organization provides networking
and advocacy opportunities.
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