About Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education is one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country! At Green River College, you can earn a degree or a certificate and even choose to focus on different areas that interest you.
Graduates of the Early Childhood Education program are prepared to work with young children in a variety of settings, including classrooms, childcare centers, and home-based programs. Early childhood professionals support children’s development by designing engaging, age-appropriate learning experiences that foster physical, social-emotional, and cognitive growth. They also collaborate closely with families and community professionals to ensure every child receives a strong and supportive start in life.
Green River College offers a bachelor’s degree, two-year Associate in Applied Science (AAS, AAS-T) degrees, as well as several certificate programs. These programs prepare students for employment in diverse early learning environments and provide valuable professional development for parents, foster parents, family childcare providers, paraeducators, and others who work with young children.
Prepare to Succeed
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Build the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience needed to thrive in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Scroll down to explore a sample pathway, full degree details, and career outlook information.
Have Questions About Registration?
Contact Us
Leslie Kessler
Faculty & BAS Director
lkessler@greenriver.edu
Andee Church
Faculty & Early Achievers Grant Point of Contact
achurch@greenriver.edu
Roberta Kim
Faculty
rkim@greenriver.edu
Cost of Attending
Bachelor Degree Options
Early Childhood Mental Health and Well-being, BAS
The BAS in Early Childhood Mental Health and Well-being teaches how young children
grow and develop. It focuses on how strong relationships and caring environments help
babies, toddlers, and young kids build social, emotional, and learning skills.
Length of Program: 180 credits, 6 quaters, 2 years
Location: Main & Off-campus field experience
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Early Childhood Mental Health & Well-being Certificate
Provides specialized training for professionals working with young children in early
learning and related settings. Focused on children’s social-emotional development,
trauma-informed practice, and strategies for supporting dysregulation and challenging
behaviors, the program offers research-based knowledge and practical tools for working
with diverse and vulnerable populations.
Length of Program: 40 credits, 9 months, 3 quarters
Location: Main & Off-campus field experience
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Associate Degree Options
Early Childhood Education and Diversity Studies, AAS-T
This Associate in Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) is a dual purpose degree built
upon the technical courses required for job preparation. It includes college-level
general Education courses, enabling the student to transfer to a select number of
baccalaureate institutions.
Length of Program: 90 credits, 6 quarters, 2 years
Location: Main & Off-campus field experience
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Early Childhood Education, AAS
This degree program prepares students for a career in Early Childhood Education. The
completion of the degree or certificate program prepares graduates to seek employment
in child care centers, Head Start, family child care homes, cooperative and private
preschools, children’s homes, institutions and other programs serving children from
birth through 8 years of age.
Length of Program: 90 credits, 6 quarters, 2 years
Location: Main & Off-campus field experience
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Early Childhood Education Paraeducator, AAS-T
Our paraeducator program prepares students for careers working alongside teachers in preschool through Grade 8 classrooms. Graduates of the paraeducator program are well prepared to support the learning of the diverse student population in inclusive educational settings. It includes college-level general Education courses, enabling the student to transfer to a select number of baccalaureate institutions for elementary education.
Length of Program: 90 credits, 6 quarters, 2 yearsLocation: Main & Off-campus field experience
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Certificate Options
Early Childhood Education (Statewide) Initial Certificate
This is an initial certificate that serves as a point of entry or a continuation of
professional development from the Level One Core Competencies for Early Care and Education
Professionals. The initial certificate is the first “stackable certificate” providing
a foundation for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) State Credential and the ECE
Associate of Applied Arts Degree.
Length of Program: 12 credits, 3 months, 1 quarter
Location: Main
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Early Childhood Education (Statewide) Certificate of Specialization
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Short Certificate builds on the Initial Certificate
as the second “stackable certificate.” All Short Certificates provide the foundation
for the ECE Washington State Credential and the ECE Associate in Applied Arts Degree.
Completion of the Short Certificate places students on Level 6 of the Washington State
Career Lattice.
Length of Program: 20 credits, 6 months, 2 quarters
Location: Main
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Early Childhood Education - Early Relational Health Certificate
Provides specialized training for professionals seeking to create trauma-responsive
environments and strengthen their effectiveness when working with children who exhibit
challenging behaviors. Grounded in research and reflective practice, the certificate
emphasizes relationship-based approaches that support children’s social and emotional
development.
Length of Program: 42 credits, 9 months, 3 quarters
Location: Main & Off-campus field experience
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Early Childhood Education (Statewide) Certificate
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) State Credential is the benchmark for Level 2
Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals. The 47-credit “stackable
certificate” requires Math and English as a foundation of the next step - an ECE Associates
in Applied Science Degree. Students who achieve this benchmark are on Step 7 of the
Washington State Career Lattice.
Length of Program: 47 credits, 9 months, 3 quarters
Location: Main & Off-campus field experience
Modes of Instruction: In-person, hybrid, online
Career Outlook
A degree in Early Childhood Education can lead to a meaningful career working with young children, usually from birth to around age eight. People with this degree help children learn and grow during some of the most important years of their lives. Jobs in this field are expected to grow as more families and schools recognize the importance of early learning.
With this degree, you meet your education requirements to be an assistant teacher, lead teacher, family home childcare owner, or director of a childcare center. There are options for working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and special education populations. If you enjoy working with young children and want to make a difference in their lives, this could be a great career path for you.