Early Childhood Education Degrees at Bryant & Stratton College

Bryant & Stratton College offers two Early Childhood Education programs: the Early Childhood Care and Development Diploma – 36 credit hours, approximately 12 months – and the AAS in Early Childhood Education – 60 credit hours, under two years. Both are available online and on campus. Diploma credits can apply toward the AAS, creating a stackable pathway for students who want to enter the workforce quickly and continue their education.

Yes. Both the Early Childhood Care and Development Diploma and the AAS in Early Childhood Education meet the 120-hour professional education requirement for the Council for Professional Recognition’s Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential – the most widely recognized credential in the field. Both programs also follow NAEYC standards, further aligning graduates with employer expectations in early learning settings.

Yes. Both programs are available fully online. Coursework is designed to be completed asynchronously, giving you the flexibility to study around your work schedule or caregiving responsibilities. Online students receive the same advising, academic support, and career resources as those attending on campus.  

With the Diploma, graduates typically pursue roles as childcare workers, classroom aides, and early learning assistants. With the AAS, common career paths include preschool teacher, early intervention specialist, infant/toddler program teacher, and lead childcare teacher. With additional experience and credentials, AAS graduates may advance to childcare center director roles. The specific setting varies – graduates work in private childcare centers, Head Start programs, preschools, public school pre-K classrooms, and childcare centers operated by hospitals and employers.

The Early Childhood Care and Development Diploma is a 36-credit, approximately 12-month program focused on the foundational knowledge of child growth, development, and care – designed to prepare you for entry-level positions as quickly as possible. The AAS in Early Childhood Education is a 60-credit, under-two-year program that adds curriculum planning, child assessment methods, family engagement strategies, and a student teaching component – preparing you for a wider range of roles at a higher level of professional responsibility.

Yes – particularly for credentialed professionals. Demand for qualified early childhood educators continues to outpace supply in many markets, driven by growing awareness of the importance of early learning, expansion of state pre-K programs, and persistent turnover in the field. According to the BLS, approximately 19,200 annual openings are projected for childcare center directors through 2033, and preschool teachers see approximately 68,000 annual openings. Employers consistently prioritize candidates with formal ECE credentials and training.