Impactful Early Childhood Programs
IDEA offers two pathways for early childhood professionals to advance in their careers - a bachelor's degree and a graduate certificate. Both programs are designed for working professionals who are balancing work, family, and school.
Bachelor's Degree in Early Care and Education
The online early care & education for a mobile society (ECEMS) bachelor’s degree completion program prepares you to become a confident educator and early childhood expert in diverse, ever-evolving families. This program is ideal for individuals who enjoy working directly with children and families and care deeply about improving the lives of others. Through the degree, you will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
This 120-credit hour baccalaureate program includes 48-51 credit hours of required coursework and two practicum experiences that span 9 credit hours and can be completed while taking other courses. Learn more about the curriculum, including the practicum experiences.
"I was approaching my third year volunteering in West Africa when I decided to find a degree program that would allow me to continue my work supporting children overseas. IDEA has been perfect! Learning online has allowed me to focus on the children I foster and my family while providing information that supports my work in child development and helping me care for children better. The incredible faculty have been flexible about the environmental challenges I face with unstable electricity, network, and time differences."
Jennifer Theriac, graduate of the ECEMS program
Four accredited universities collaborate to bring you this program:
- Iowa State University
- University of Missouri
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Oklahoma State University
Learn how you can make an impact with an ECEMS degree
Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood and Family Policy
The online early childhood & family policy graduate certificate prepares you to escalate your career through support and advocacy for young children and their families in diverse, ever-evolving settings and contexts.
This innovative 12-credit graduate certificate program includes four 8-week courses that can be completed in just two semesters. The curriculum will guide you through how to use data and research to advocate for constructive policies and understand the nuances of policymaking and its implementation processes.
Six accredited universities collaborate to bring you this graduate certificate:
- Iowa State University
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Michigan State University
- University of Mississippi
- University of Missouri
- Texas Tech University
Join the movement to frame a new era for early childhood policy!
Learn how you can transform policy with this graduate certificate
Affordable Education
IDEA offers a single, affordable price per credit hour, eliminating out-of-state or distance delivery fees. This streamlined pricing system eliminates confusion, enabling you to confidently build a program that aligns with your schedule and goals.
Reputable Universities
Both academic programs are offered collaboratively by member universities, providing quality online education to students of diverse backgrounds. Taking classes from multiple universities enhances access to a variety of courses and experts across the country. Watch the video below to learn about IDEA works from the student's perspective.
Qualified Faculty
Our renowned faculty bring diverse real-world experiences and advanced knowledge in early childhood. They understand the unique needs of adult online learners and will work diligently with you to help ensure your success.
Choosing IDEA for your academic journey means partnering with faculty and staff from multiple universities who provide a student-centered, collaborative, educational experience.
Listen to instructor Chris Kiewra from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln explain why this program was designed the way it is and how it helps students advance in the field of early childhood education.
Make an Impact through our early childhood programs
To get started, first select which program you prefer - the bachelor's degree or the graduate certificate. From each program webpage, you'll find a list of universities who participate in that program and you can choose any one of them to be your home university.
Ready to get started? Learn how to apply now!
