If you’re searching for “Post University early childhood education,” you’re likely comparing degree options for a career working with infants, toddlers, and young children. Post University, based in Waterbury, Connecticut, offers two main pathways into this field: an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and a Bachelor of Science in Child Studies. Both are available online or on the university’s main campus, making them a popular choice for working adults and career-changers who need flexible scheduling.
What the Associate Degree Covers
Post’s Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education is built around the developmental stages of children from birth through age eight. Coursework blends class discussion, applied learning assignments, and real field experience, giving students hands-on exposure to early learning environments rather than purely theoretical instruction. Students explore how families, cultures, and communities shape a child’s development, and they practice building developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to support a child’s self-esteem, social-emotional growth, cognitive skills, and early language development.
This associate degree can function two ways: as a standalone credential for entering the early childhood workforce, or as a stepping stone into Post’s Bachelor of Science in Child Studies for students who want to continue their education.
What the Bachelor’s Degree Adds
The Bachelor of Science in Child Studies expands on the same age range — birth through age eight — with deeper coursework in applied theory, curriculum planning, teaching methods, and assessing children’s learning progress. It also addresses strategies for supporting children with special education needs, alongside building the kind of respectful, supportive classroom environments early educators are expected to create. Students who complete the associate degree first often transfer directly into this bachelor’s track.
NAEYC Accreditation Sets Post Apart
One of the more notable credentials behind Post’s early childhood programs is accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) — a distinction Post has held for both its associate and bachelor’s level early childhood programs. At the time this recognition was announced, Post was noted as the only university in Connecticut to hold NAEYC accreditation at the bachelor’s level, and one of just a handful nationally to hold it at both degree levels simultaneously. For prospective students, this accreditation is a useful signal of program quality, since NAEYC evaluates faculty expertise, curriculum rigor, and student outcomes as part of its review process.
Important Note on Teacher Licensure
A detail every prospective student should understand before enrolling: Post University’s ECE and Child Studies programs are not teacher certification programs for public school licensure. Each state sets its own requirements for early childhood teacher licensure, which may include exams, background checks, and supervised work experience beyond a degree. Post provides guidance and resources on researching licensure requirements, but it’s ultimately the student’s responsibility to confirm what their home state requires if public school certification is the end goal. Students planning to work in private child care centers, Head Start programs, or family child care settings typically have more flexibility here than those aiming for a public school classroom.
Who This Program Fits Best
Based on the program’s structure, Post’s early childhood offerings tend to suit:
- Adult learners already working in child care who want a credential to advance into lead teacher or director roles
- Career-changers drawn to early education who need online flexibility around a job or family schedule
- Students planning a two-step path — associate degree first, bachelor’s degree later — without switching schools
- Prospective early educators who value NAEYC-accredited coursework as part of their resume
Getting Started
Anyone seriously considering this path should request Post’s current University Catalog for exact course requirements, since program details can shift from year to year, and speak directly with an admissions advisor about financial aid, transfer credit eligibility, and how the program’s field experience component works for online students. For someone drawn to shaping how young children learn during their most formative years, Post’s combination of accreditation, flexible delivery, and a built-in associate-to-bachelor’s pathway makes it a program worth serious research before committing.