About the program
The Early Childhood Education Certificate of Completion is focused on inclusive education for young children, birth through age 8, and their families. Engage in early childhood courses reflecting an inquiry-based, constructivist approach to teaching and learning, framed by the pursuit of equity.
Our online classes align with NAEYC and DEC standards.
Our graduates
Earning the 12-credit certificate will guide and support you in your work with children, prenatal through age six, and their families. Focus on the skills needed for your work as educators, parents, home visitors, administrators, and other early childhood professionals. Our graduates become better prepared in their roles as:
- Child care educators and teachers
- Family child care professionals
- Head Start and Early Head Start professionals
- Program directors and administrators
- Home visitors and home visitor supervisors
- Parents
Why PSU?
PSU’s individual support resources and real-world applications incorporate the needs of the whole person. This nurtures the strong convictions and confidence critical to academic success. PSU is also the public research university for the Portland metro area.
The Online Early Childhood Education certificate program draws on the practice of early childhood researchers and the educators at the PSU laboratory school, the Helen Gordon Child Development Center. We have an anti-bias and inquiry-based education focus.
Our program serves regional, national and international communities who are creative and engaged with colleagues outside Portland, Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest—with online learning, your work becomes part of a global collaboration. Our online classes have a strengths-based approach to learning with real-world applications. In coming together as a community of learners, you will share a deeper understanding of the topic with your classmates. We are passionate about early childhood education and are committed to supporting equity and inclusion in education.