Early childhood education fosters lifelong opportunities for children. As an early childhood educator, you’re instrumental in helping children of all backgrounds thrive in the classroom.
The University of Central Missouri’s graduate certificate program is designed to help you develop skills, broaden your knowledge and boost your confidence in making management-level decisions. This program provides fundamental knowledge of developing a play-based curriculum and a strong sense of ethical conduct. It identifies challenges specific to early education and demonstrates the impact of teaching methods in increasingly complex educational institutions.
UCM’s Early Childhood Education Leadership and Management graduate certificate gives you the training and resources you need to construct programs and champion policies that expand access to education and meet diversity needs often neglected in communities.
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CAEP-accredited since 1954
Meets NAEYC standards of excellence
100% online program
One-of-a-kind leadership certificate
Partnership with MO Dept of Education
UCM’s Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Education (ECE) graduate certificate concentrates on enriching leadership skills that promote young children’s learning, achievement and development. The curriculum is focused distinctly on how to create a professional learning community, develop shared goals and compose a communication plan that ignites action.
This certificate also aligns with the Core Competencies for Early Childhood and Youth Professionals in Missouri and Kansas. You’ll take courses such as:
Pathway to a master’s degree
All courses earned in the Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Education graduate certificate are applicable to our Master of Science in Early Childhood Education - Leadership program. After that, you only need 15 additional credits to finish your master’s degree at UCM.
UCM’s ECE graduate certificate in Leadership and Management allows you to develop confidence as an education leader. Our experiential learning format gives you opportunities to work in diverse environments learning from seasoned professionals.
Some of the program’s features include:
With the movement towards universal preschool, the need for qualified teachers — and leaders — continues to grow. We developed the Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Education graduate certificate in response to this need. This program prepares you to step into these roles.
In addition to ECE director, UCM’s graduate certificate can help you secure other roles in early childhood education, including:
Leadership and management careers in early education
Explore more options for career paths, as well as salary potential, in early childhood education using the interactive tool below.
The University of Central Missouri is committed to helping you advance your career without risking your financial future. Our tuition is lower than that of many colleges in Missouri — and the national average.
Missouri classroom educators looking to become leaders in the field of Early Childhood Education may also be eligible for funding through T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Missouri, and when the program is finalized, through Missouri Child Care Aware.
For those earning a degree and this certificate at the same time, financial aid from the University of Central Missouri is available in several forms:
More than 70 scholarships are also available, including alumni and academic achievement awards. Learn more about program-specific scholarships by using the .
When you earn your Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Education graduate certificate at UCM, you’ll have the opportunity to count those credits toward a master’s degree:
Consider adding a second graduate certificate to your UCM studies to increase your skill set and expand your career options:
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