Early Childhood Education Degree and Certificate Programs

Start Your Career in Early Childhood Education

Harper College offers several degree specializations and certificates to begin your career in early childhood education or add teaching credentials. Harper offers Early Childhood Education degrees with Teacher, Director and Infant/Toddler specializations, as well as numerous transfer options.

At Harper, you'll get hands-on experience through the Early Childhood Laboratory School, an onsite pre-school.

Harper instructors are highly credentialed and experienced educators who make classroom theory come alive through interactive experiences and teaching practices.

Earn a Career-Ready or Transfer Degree

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is designed to prepare you for immediate entry into this career field. This is one degree with different areas of specialization. Coursework in the A.A.S. will also prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university. Speak with your advisor about the best courses to take to meet your academic goals.

Associate in Applied Science—Early Childhood Education
choose ONE specialization):
- Director
- Teacher

Harper also offers institution-specific transfer information to help prepare you to transition to a four-year university. To learn more, visit our Transfer Information page or see your advisor.

Earn a Workforce Credential

Jumpstart your career by learning new skills through a certificate program. Many of Harper's certificates are stackable to a degree program through additional course work.

ECE College Credit Available with Current CDA Credential

Providers with a current (i.e. not expired) Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ could earn the following Early Childhood Education (ECE) credits at Harper College:

Preschool CDA: ECE 101 Introduction to ECE and ECE 149 ECE Special Topics

Infant/Toddler CDA: ECE 101 Introduction to ECE and ECE 149 ECE Special Topics

Family Childcare CDA: ECE 101 Introduction to ECE and ECE 140 Family Childcare Management

Follow these steps to pursue college credit for your CDA

Step 1. Apply to the College. For an application fee waiver code, email ecestudent@harpercollege.edu
Step 2. Send a copy of your current CDA certificate to the ECE department at ecestudent@harpercollege.edu. Include your full name and contact information with email address. The state of Illinois limits one CDA per student.
Step 3. During the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, all fees are being paid for with grant funds.
(6 credit hours x $30 per credit hour = $180). No payment is needed.
Step 4. The ECE Faculty will review your submission to determine if credits have been earned. If you have successfully earned course credits, they will be posted to your permanent record as ungraded credit but will not show on your end of semester grade report.

Explore Early Childhood Education Careers

Learn more about career outcomes for Harper's Early Childhood Education degree/certificate programs. Each career profile offers a complete picture on the local job market, including salaries, open positions, top local employers and more. To learn more, visit our Early Childhood Education Careers page.

Childcare Workers

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Childcare Workers career profile for most current data.

$30,345
Median Salary

-3.2%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

50
Job Postings

Description:

Attend to children at schools, businesses, private households, and childcare institutions. Perform a variety of tasks, such as dressing, feeding, bathing, and overseeing play.

Core tasks:

Maintain a safe play environment.
Observe and monitor children's play activities.
Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.

Quick facts:

Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare career profile for most current data.

$50,262
Median Salary

1.2%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

119
Job Postings

Description:

Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.

Core tasks:

Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities and policies and students' behavioral or learning problems.
Monitor students' progress and provide students and teachers with assistance in resolving any problems.
Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate primary and supplemental staff and recommend personnel actions for programs and services.
Teach classes or courses or provide direct care to children.

Quick facts:

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education career profile for most current data.

$37,349
Median Salary

5.1%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

868
Job Postings

Description:

Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.

Core tasks:

Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
Serve meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.

Quick facts:

Resources

Student Support

To schedule an appointment with an ECE support staff member or to obtain more information, click on the links provided.

For any additional questions, please email ECEStudent@harpercollege.edu.