Caring For and Teaching Young Children

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education prepares you to provide high-quality, inclusive care and education to children up to the age of 8. This program is designed to complement and expand upon any previous early childhood educational training and practical experience. 

  • NAEYC Standards: This early childhood education degree is based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Preparation Standards for Initial Licensure.
  • Accelerated: The B.A. in ECE program offers a more efficient route to graduation for students who have already earned their A.A. degree in ECE.
  • Preparation for Advanced Study: The UMass Global BA ECE degree provides students with a robust foundation to pursue graduate study in a variety of fields.

At a Glance

Online
120 Credits
$500/Credit
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Next Start Date
Spring II (Mar 9, 2026)

Career Outlook for BA in Early Childhood Education

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Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring
Median Salary2
Job openings (in the last 12 months)
Top Companies Hiring

Data source: Lightcast™ 2026 www.lightcast.io

The pathway information provided through this website is based partly on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data licensed by the University of Massachusetts Global from Lightcast. While the University of Massachusetts Global believes this data to be reliable, some of the data is based on estimates made by Lightcast when actual data is unavailable. Those estimates and the corresponding data may need to be corrected.

  1. Change in employment projections 2022 - 2032
  2. Based on BLS Occupational Employment Statistics and updated quarterly
  3. The University of Massachusetts Global does not guarantee a job to graduates upon completion of any program

Courses You Might Take

ECED 300

The Professional Early Childhood Educator

3 Credits
ECED 330

Dual Language Learners and Their Families

3 Credits
ECED 302

Social and Emotional Competence in Early Childhood Education

3 Credits
ECED 303

Integrating Learning Standards in Early Childhood Settings: Language & Literacy

3 Credits
ECED 304

Integrating Learning Standards in Early Childhood Settings: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

3 Credits
ECED 401

The Early Childhood Educator as Decision Maker-Capstone

3 Credits

What is it like going to UMass Global?

Instructor-Led, Session-Based

This program is delivered in an instructor-led format, with eight-week sessions and multiple start dates per year for flexibility. In each class, you'll focus on one topic at a time and can take a session off if needed — no penalty. Courses include structured assignments with set deadlines. This format offers clear milestones and coach interaction, making it ideal for one-on-one coaching support.

Personalized Support Services

UMass Global meets you wherever you are in life, with dedicated support at every step. From enrollment coaching and financial aid to academic advising and career services, we're committed to your success. Access personalized guidance, flexible resources, and a supportive community, empowering you to achieve your educational goals, no matter your starting point.

Office meeting

Employer-Aligned Curriculum

At UMass Global, our employer-aligned curriculum ensures that coursework is directly relevant to today’s workplace. Designed with input from industry experts and faculty who are also working professionals, our programs focus on practical, career-advancing skills. Using a “backwards course design,” we tailor coursework to meet current job market needs. Our diverse faculty provides real-world insights and mentorship, ensuring that the skills you learn are immediately applicable to your career or future career changes.

Office meeting

Instructor-Led, Session-Based

This program is delivered in an instructor-led format, with eight-week sessions and multiple start dates per year for flexibility. In each class, you'll focus on one topic at a time and can take a session off if needed — no penalty. Courses include structured assignments with set deadlines. This format offers clear milestones and coach interaction, making it ideal for one-on-one coaching support.

Personalized Support Services

UMass Global meets you wherever you are in life, with dedicated support at every step. From enrollment coaching and financial aid to academic advising and career services, we're committed to your success. Access personalized guidance, flexible resources, and a supportive community, empowering you to achieve your educational goals, no matter your starting point.

Office meeting

Employer-Aligned Curriculum

At UMass Global, our employer-aligned curriculum ensures that coursework is directly relevant to today’s workplace. Designed with input from industry experts and faculty who are also working professionals, our programs focus on practical, career-advancing skills. Using a “backwards course design,” we tailor coursework to meet current job market needs. Our diverse faculty provides real-world insights and mentorship, ensuring that the skills you learn are immediately applicable to your career or future career changes.

Office meeting

Our Faculty

All Faculty

Admission Requirements

Applicants for this program must complete the formal application process and submit required documents. Documents required vary based on the number of transferable credits and include:

0 – 11 TRANSFERABLE CREDITS

  • High school diploma or GED equivalent
  • Official high school transcript indicating the date of graduation
  • Provide official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended

12 OR MORE TRANSFERABLE CREDITS

  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Provide official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended

Active military?

Admissibility and minimum transfer credit awarded will be determined based on the Community College of the Air Force, SMART, AARTS, or JST transcripts.

Start Strong with Support

Students with fewer than 12 credits or below a 2.0 GPA will take LBSU 100 (Student Success Strategies) during their first session to build a solid foundation for college success.

We support our
Military Veterans!

  •  Yellow Ribbon School
  •  Recognized Military Friendly School
  •  Founded to Serve Military Personnel

Check out our Military and Veterans pages and discover how we can support you in your educational journey.

Learn How

WASC Senior College and University Commission

University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation

University of Massachusetts Global is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation

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Become the Teacher Who Inspired You

Have questions about enrollment, degree programs or financial aid? A UMass Global enrollment coach can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

This program is an ideal fit for those with an A.A. in Early Childhood Education or those who have completed their required foundational ECE courses and are looking for an accelerated, fully-online program to complete their B.A. degree.

Yes, there are eight early foundational ECE courses, known as CAP8 in California, which must be completed before transferring to our program. While not offered at UMass Global, the courses can usually be taken at a local county education office or community college. The courses include:

  • ECED 100 Child Growth and Development
  • ECED 110 Child, Family, and Community 3
  • ECED 120 Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children
  • ECED 130 Introduction to Curriculum for Young Children
  • ECED 200 Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education
  • ECED 210 Practicum in Early Childhood Education I
  • ECED 220 Health, Safety, and Nutrition
  • ECED 230 Teaching in a Diverse Society

We want you to get the best value for your education. These introductory courses can be completed more cost effectively at local county education offices or through a community college program. If you haven’t yet completed the prerequisites through an A.A. program, we encourage you to take the courses through one of these routes.

Simply put, the purpose of ECE is to provide children with strategies that help them develop the emotional, social and cognitive skills needed to become lifelong learners. Curricula is set up to encourage young students to learn about themselves and the world through play and sensory experiences. Read more: What is Early Childhood Education?

During the early childhood education years, the brain makes millions of synapses every second that allow us to move, think, communicate and comprehend our environments. Children in ECE programs are less likely to repeat a grade, more prepared for school and more likely to earn more in the workforce.

Early Childhood Education

A good early childhood education program is dynamic, challenging, enriching, and carefully planned. A typical ECE curriculum might incorporate songs, books, art, games, toys, experiences, and nature exploration into the daily lesson plans for a class or group. Explore more elements of a high-quality program.

Testimonials

Ruby G

One word that comes to mind in thinking about my educational journey at UMass Global is 'self reflective'. No matter what course I took, self-reflection was always included as an aspect of each course. I was provided opportunities to consistently reflect on myself, my values, my beliefs, my education, my practices and the field of early childhood education as a whole.

Ruby G.
Education, Leadership in Early Childhood Education, MA
PBIS Support Specialist, Stanislaus County Office of Education

I did this for my son and the mothers of children with special needs. Someone who could truly understand them needed to sit on the other end at those IEP meetings; UMass Global made it possible.

Andrea M.
Education, Leadership in Early Childhood Education, MAE

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