Early Care and Education

Students who become successful child care teachers must have the ability to communicate, inspire trust and confidence, and motivate children, as well as understand their physical, educational, and emotional needs. You must be able to recognize and respond to individual and cultural differences in children. Flexibility and adaptability are important. You should also be organized, dependable, patient, and creative. You must be able to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with other teachers, support staff, parents, and members of the community. You must enjoy play. Respect for children and patience are crucial characteristics.

With a Bachelor’s degree and proper licensing, your employment opportunities include the following:

• preschool teacher
• child-care center director
• Head Start teacher
• Head Start family advocate
• developmental interventionist
• child life specialist
• child care director

With an Associate's degree and proper licensing, your employment opportunities include the following:

• child care assistant
• assistant teacher

Additional career options are listed on the Career Development Center's website.

Additional career options are listed on the Center for Exploratory Studies website.

Current and admitted students can locate advisor contact information for Early Care and Education via the UCBA advising website.

This degree is the gateway to both the Early Childhood Education: Birth to Age 5 Bachelor's degree at UC.

Successful completion of this program will prepare you to apply to the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services for your remaining years, or at other four-year colleges or universities. Your program advisor will guide your course work to maximize your transition opportunities.

A solid foundation to build upon is important to achieving success in these fields. UC's Blue Ash College has small classes and well-qualified, dedicated faculty that will help you get a good start on your education and provide a firm basis for future learning.

The University of Cincinnati's Blue Ash College is conveniently located in suburban Blue Ash and is accessible from I-75, I-71, I-275 and the Ronald Reagan (Cross-County) Highway.

In the education programs available at Blue Ash College, students have the opportunity to observe in the schools at an early point in their academic career. Early exposure can be an advantage in determining the age group that a student desires to teach before progressing through a majority of a chosen program.

Students must have completed at least 50 percent of their program requirements at UC's Blue Ash College. Students must earn a "C" or better in courses for the program. Students will complete at least 60 credit hours as listed in their specific program. 

Students transferring to UC Blue Ash College follow similar procedures as those who are enrolling through open admissions. Please contact our admissions office for all the information you’ll need to enroll in the college.

Students changing majors from other programs or colleges within UC will be considered based on the same criteria as outside transfers.

Students who did not graduate from a high school in the United States of America must take an ability-to-benefit test and achieve the minimum specified score to be eligible for admission to a degree or certificate program at Blue Ash College. The scores will be used for placement in English courses and general advising for all courses.