Education has changed significantly in the past 40 years. Some colleges, universities, and high schools offered correspondence courses students could take remotely in the last 20th century, but most attended classes in person. Consequently, those pursuing postsecondary studies often had to relocate and pay for accommodations and tuition.
Access to the internet became commonplace in the late 1990s, and broadband internet reached homes and businesses in the early 2000s. Faster download times prompted retailers to expand online, and some academic institutions followed. Today, many students take some or all of their postsecondary courses online. Let’s look at whether you can complete early childhood education studies online and the benefits of online programs.
You can earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education through online studies.
You can earn a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education through online studies. All required courses are available online, so you never have to set foot on campus to complete your degree. Students attending the University of Cincinnati’s online program must complete 120 credit hours. Of those 120 hours, 87 credit hours must cover child development coursework, and 24 hours of coursework comprise elective courses. The remaining nine credit hours must focus on the student’s concentration.
When you pursue an accredited online early childhood education degree, you’ll choose to concentrate on preschool studies, infant and toddler studies, or administrative studies. You must complete nine credit hours of courses in your chosen concentration. Those focusing on a preschool concentration must complete two preschool practicums. In contrast, those focusing on infant and toddler studies complete a practicum in an infant classroom and a practicum in a toddler classroom. If you opt for an administrative concentration, you’ll shadow an administrator but won’t complete a practicum as part of your studies.
Core courses include English composition, introductory child development, educational technology, educational psychology, developmental concerns, and health, safety, and nutrition. You’ll also learn about classroom organization, social issues in early care and education, and language development in young children. Graduates may work as Head Start teachers, preschool teachers, and early childhood program administrators.
What are the benefits of studying online?
Taking online courses has become increasingly popular over the last two decades. Over 37 percent of postsecondary students at degree-granting colleges and universities took one or more courses online in 2019. Students already pursuing remote studies didn’t experience the same type of disruption other students faced when the COVID-19 pandemic prompted postsecondary institutions to shut their doors and move classes online. While many postsecondary institutions have reopened in-person classes, students with health concerns can continue studying online to limit their potential exposure to COVID variants.
Online degree programs offer alternatives to students struggling with family obligations. Some students need flexible schedules while caring for their parents, siblings, or children. It’s possible to complete an online degree program through part-time studies, making it easier for students to pursue their education while coping with other responsibilities.
Moving to attend college is expensive. For most students, relocating means paying for accommodations. Financial issues are the leading reason students drop out of college, but online programs offer students a way to get their education while living at home and conserving costs. The flexible study schedule also makes it possible for online students to work part time while studying to offset their costs.
Online studies are ideal for students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other learning disorders. Since students view video lectures online, they can pause the video to take notes, rewind the video, and listen to some or all of the video again. This makes it possible for students to catch information they missed because of focus issues. Students can also clarify information they didn’t understand the first time.
You can pursue many degree programs online, including a degree in early childhood education. Online studies offer multiple programs, allowing for flexible scheduling, and are more affordable for most students.
