An early childhood education associate degree may be able to open up a variety of career paths for you. With this degree, you can pursue work at a daycare or preschool. You might also choose to work with young minds outside of an academic setting, as a camp counselor, for example. Some people with an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education (ECE) go on to get their bachelor’s degree (BA).
There are many different roles you can fill with an associate’s degree in ECE. The most important factor is to find a career that you are passionate about. If you love working with children and want to help make a difference in their lives, then an early childhood education AA degree is a great option for you. Read on to learn more about what you can do with an early childhood education associate degree.
What Is an AA Degree in Early Childhood Education?
The Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education is a degree program that prepares you for careers working with young children. Students in the program take courses in child development, early childhood education, and other related topics. The AA in ECE is a widely recognized and respected degree that provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to work effectively with young children and their families.
Additionally, the degree equips you with skills you can use in a variety of roles after graduation, including:
- Child development knowledge: Learn about the stages of child development and how to support children as they grow and develop. Helping young students through this time can set them up for lifelong success.
- Early childhood education methods: Different approaches to early childhood education, and how to implement them in the classroom and other real-life situations, will prepare you well for a career in this field.
- Classroom management: Learn how to create a positive and effective learning environment for young children.
- Communication: You’ll learn how to communicate effectively with young students, colleagues, teachers, families, and community members.
- Organization: You’ll learn how to organize your time and resources in order to effectively manage a group of young children.
What Can I Do With an Early Childhood Education Degree?
An early childhood education associate of arts degree provides you with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the ECE field. With this degree, you’ll be prepared to work with young children in many different settings, such as childcare centers and preschools. You’ll also be prepared to work with families in their homes and out in the community, in home-based childcare facilities, family childcare centers, and Head Start programs.
With an AA degree in ECE from an accredited school like the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC), you can pursue a variety of roles. We take a look here at these four: teacher aide or assistant, educational assistant, childcare worker, and tutor. Learn more about each career opportunity in detail and see which one is the best fit for your career ambitions.
Four Career Paths After Earning an AA Degree in Early Childhood Education
Once you complete your associate degree in ECE, you may choose to work with young children and students in one of a variety of ways. Check out these four potential careers:
- Teacher aide or assistant: Teacher aides and assistants may work in elementary, middle, and high schools. They provide support to teachers by helping with lesson preparation, classroom set-up, grading, and managing student behavior. Teacher aides may also work one-on-one with students who need extra help or supervise students in small groups. Some teacher aides may have the opportunity to lead small group instruction or teach lessons if they have the necessary credentials.
- Educational assistant: According to the BLS, these dedicated individuals work hand-in-hand with licensed teachers, providing invaluable support and personalized attention to students of all ages and abilities. In a typical day, an educational assistant might find themselves reviewing lessons with small groups of students, reinforcing key concepts and offering personalized feedback to help each child grasp the material. They are the educators' eyes and ears, closely monitoring student progress and collaborating with teachers to tailor lesson plans to individual needs. For students with special needs, educational assistants play an especially vital role. They act as bridges, helping these students navigate the academic world and adapt lessons to their unique learning styles. In some cases, they provide one-on-one support to those with severe disabilities, assisting with everything from basic self-care to developing job skills for independent living after graduation.
- Childcare worker: Childcare workers work with children ranging in age from infants to toddlers. Duties may include changing diapers, feeding students, supervising playtime, instructing basic curriculum, and teaching basic concepts such as letters, numbers, and colors. Depending on the age of the children you work with, your responsibilities will vary. You may also expect to work closely with daycare teachers, early childhood education or daycare directors, and parents.
- Tutor: Based on data from the BLS, tutors, as one might expect, are individuals with expertise or specialized skills in a specific area. For instance, there are commonly language and ESL tutors; special education tutors; subject tutors; and test preparation tutors.
After I Get an AA Degree in Early Childhood Education, Which Degree Is Next?
For students who want to continue their education after completing an AA degree in early childhood education, there are a few different options. One option is to complete a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. This will prepare you to work in a variety of settings, including preschools and daycare centers. Students who complete a BA in ECE will gain additional skills, including child development, curriculum planning, and assessment.
Another option for students with an AA in ECE is to complete a state teaching certification program (which will likely also require a bachelor’s degree). Depending on your state’s requirements, this will get you on your way to working as a certified teacher in a public school setting. Teaching certifications and programs vary by state, and most programs require students to complete a certain number of hours of student teaching. Additional testing and background checks may be required. Contact your state’s board of education prior to enrolling in order to determine the teacher licensure requirements in your state.
Why Study Early Childhood Education?
An early childhood education program provides students with a comprehensive set of skills and knowledge essential for nurturing and educating young children. Resilient Educator breaks down why this tender age is so critical to study–and the benefits of having a solid education in it:
- Developmental milestones: Students learn about children's developmental stages from birth to age 5, covering physical, cognitive, and social-emotional milestones. This knowledge helps educators work effectively with different age groups and support children's growth.
- Early learning process: The program focuses on understanding how young children learn and the tools that foster a love for learning. Students gain insights into creating engaging educational experiences during the critical first five years of a child's life.
- Relationship-building skills: Students develop skills to build and manage relationships with parents, other educators, and community leaders. This includes learning how to support parents in home-based learning and collaborating with community members to access resources for students.
- Strategies & learning techniques: The curriculum emphasizes the basics of child learning, development, and instructional strategies in teaching methods. Students learn to use various materials and activities to teach concepts like colors, shapes, and numbers through hands-on experiences rather than traditional instruction.
- Advocacy skills: The program prepares students to advocate for early childhood education resources and initiatives at local, state, and national levels. Graduates learn to influence policy decisions, secure resources, and promote quality education for all children, regardless of their background. These skills equip graduates to create nurturing educational environments, support children's development, collaborate with families and communities, and contribute to the advancement of early childhood education as a whole.
Overview: What Can I Do With an Early Childhood Education Associate Degree?
If you’re interested in working with young children and their families, an AA degree in early childhood education is a great choice to help you meet your academic and career goals. With this degree, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to make a difference in the lives of young children.
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An online degree from the University of Arizona Global Campus does not lead to immediate teacher licensure in any state. If you want to become a classroom teacher, contact your state's education authorities before enrolling at the University of Arizona Global Campus to determine what state-specific requirements you must complete before obtaining your teacher's license.