Certificate in Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Education
Location: AU Seattle
Credits for Certificate: 37 quarter credits
Standard Mode of Instruction: Classroom
Standard time to completion: 6 months
Program Overview
This certificate program assists experienced early childhood educators earn academic credit for experiential learning from professional work in the field. It is designed to help students build a bridge toward completing a 4 year degree.
This six month certificate program involves 12 credits-two writing classes and two reflective practice courses - focused on developing skill in critical thinking, communication, and articulating learning from practice. These courses support students to prepare prior learning portfolios from which students can earn up to 45 prior learning credits over the two quarters for a possible overall certificate total of 57 lower division credits. Prior learning credits are awarded for demonstrated learning from past work experience as an early childhood educator. While all credits earned will be transcripted, a certificate is awarded if a student successfully completes all four of the current courses, plus a minimum of 25 prior learning credits.
The program is designed as a cohort of up to 24 students who move through the two quarters together with two instructors and 1 or 2 writing coaches. Classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays, approximately every other weekend.
This is a multilingual-friendly program, which will have at least one bi-lingual instructor per cohort. Live interpretation is provided for the second language designated for the cohort. In addition, some critical materials will be translated into the second language and some assignments allowed in the second language. Spanish language cohorts are currently being offered, with planning underway to begin Somali and Cantonese cohorts in the future. All students must speak and write some English in order to participate, and speakers of all languages are most welcome in any cohort.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the Certificate in Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Education are expected to have the following:
- A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the field.
- Evidence of ability to do lower division (100 and 200 level) college courses, which could include any of the following: high school diploma, GED, home school certificate or successful completion of CLEP tests, a college course, or continuing professional education credits.
Current Tuition and Fees
University Tuition and Fees
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