Early Childhood Education

Certified Training for Daycare Educators & Administrators

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at UCSC Extension prepares preschool teachers and operators to manage the unique challenges they face in our region. Whether preparing to become a teacher in or the director of a daycare center, our ECE program provides a full range of University of California certified coursework to meet the needs and requirements of two levels of expertise.

Certificates for Teachers and Managers

For aspiring teachers with little or no background in early childhood education—or for parents interested in early childhood development—our entry-level ECE program provides all the training and background needed to understand child growth and development, strategies for effective classroom teaching, developmentally based curriculum, and current research and trends.

Benefits of Studying at UCSC Extension

The ECE curriculum at UCSC Extension is specially tailored to meet the professional needs of daycare teachers and administrators in Silicon Valley. Our instructors are among the top teachers and administrators of Early Childhood Education in the greater Bay Area. As a result, our students network with career professionals and the educational leaders in early childhood education and daycare service in the South Bay, as they acquire University of California certified training.

Who Should Attend This Program

The basic Early Childhood Education certificate program is suited to aspiring teachers with little or no background in early childhood education, or for parents interested in their children’s development. For those working toward completion of Title V requirements for Child Development Permits, this program fulfills the qualifications for teaching in private day care centers. The certificate is also recommended for teachers who are completing their fifth-year credential requirements.