Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Care & Education
UC’s online Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Care & Education (ECE) offers a program that prepares professionals to provide high-quality educational experiences for all children.
AAS Early Childhood Education Overview
Whether you are in a preschool, Head Start program, child-care center, family childcare environment, or just interested in getting started in the field, our 100% online program is designed with working professionals in mind who want to advance their career without sacrificing responsibilities at work and at home.
Our courses give you information and strategies that you can learn today and apply in the classroom tomorrow! This degree does not lead to Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 5 licensure. Replace with your introductory text.
Our Guiding Principles
- To provide accessible education to early childhood teachers.
- To support teachers, families, staff, administrators, and children they serve.
- To help programs meet state and federal mandates and quality initiatives.
- To help teachers meet educational goals.
- To strengthen workplace learning.
- To create technology-proficient teachers.
Early Childhood Education Program Highlights
High Quality Education
- Associate Degree Scholarship: All students in the Early Childhood Care & Education Associate program will receive the Associate Degree Scholarship in the amount of 24% off instructional fees only.
- TEACH Early Childhood® OHIO Scholarship: Current Ohio early childhood professionals may be eligible to receive financial assistance for the cost of tuition, books, and related education expenses. Visit OCCRRA to apply.
- CDA Coursework: Through UC’s online Early Childhood Education program, students have the opportunity to meet the education requirements for obtaining the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ while receiving advanced standing in the Associate degree program.
Flexibility
- 100% Online: All coursework is completed online – no campus visits are required!
- Flexible Scheduling: Offering part-time and full-time options, our online program is designed with busy, working professionals in mind.
- Three Start Dates per Year: With courses offered year-round, students are offered the convenience of beginning their degree in Fall, Spring, or Summer.
Support from Application to Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
Admission into the University of Cincinnati’s Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Care Education (ECE) online program is open to all students with a high school diploma or GED and the desire to succeed in college.
Our Admissions Office is happy to work with you to answer any question you may have and help determine your eligibility. Contact an Enrollment Services Advisor or email onlineenrollment@uc.edu.
All students admitted into the Early Childhood Care & Education Associate program are eligible to receive a scholarship in the amount of 24% off instructional fees only.
Prerequisites
- Students with no previous college experience: High School diploma or a GED.
Admission Materials
- Application Form
- Transcripts:
- Students with no previous college experience:
- Original high school transcripts and proof of graduation (diploma or graduation certificate) or GED.
- Students with previous college experience:
- Official transcript(s) from every college or university you have attended besides the University of Cincinnati regardless or the number of credits you received.
- Official high school transcripts and proof of graduation (diploma or graduation certificate) if you have earned fewer than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours.
- Students with no previous college experience:
All applicants will complete the online application for their requested program. Applicants must ensure that all required transcript(s) are successfully uploaded by the posted application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed. No SAT/ACT scores are required.
There is no application fee for Early Childhood Education applicants. Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Check the academic calendar for upcoming application deadlines.
After submitting your application form, all applicants are required to have official transcripts sent directly to University of Cincinnati in order to be eligible for admissions review.
- First-Year and Transfer Applicants with Fewer Than 24 Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from your high school and all prior colleges (if applicable) for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- Transfer Applicants with 24+ Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from all prior colleges for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- You are exempt from the High School transcript requirement, this item will be removed from your application checklist once your college documents are received.
Please review the section below for guidance on how to submit your transcripts.
Online transcript request systems are the preferred method to deliver official transcripts electronically. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly to determine their ordering process.
If a physical copy must be sent, DO NOT request it be delivered to you. It must be sent directly from your prior school to the following address:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
UC awards transfer credit for a variety of high school curricula, including Cambridge International A-Level, International Baccalaureate, Global Assessment Certificate, and more. If you will be bringing in other advanced credit, you may be able to use those scores to receive transfer credit.
Graduation Requirement
A student must complete the University of Cincinnati residency requirement to be eligible for a degree or certificate, even if all other requirements for that degree or certificate are satisfied. Minimum academic residency:
- 20 semester credit hours for associate degrees.
- 30 semester credit hours for baccalaureate degrees.
Considerations: students approved for an Academic Fresh Start must have a minimum of 30 credit hours remaining to complete the degree program before graduation.
Official transcripts should be sent to us by your school official via email or in the mail. These must be in English. If your transcripts need translated into English, we recommend sending them to an official translation service that will then send them to UC for a small fee.
International students are required to provide original, official transcripts and the course-by-course evaluation completed from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or SpanTran. They offer discounted prices for University of Cincinnati applicants and have a fast turnaround time of 5-10 days.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
March 15, 2026 July 15, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
- Accredited: The University of Cincinnati and all of its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Additionally, UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Rights (CECH) is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
- Nationally Ranked: UC Online’s AAS in Early Childhood Care & Education is consistently ranked as a Top 15 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education by TheBestSchools.org.
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