Learn essential skills needed to begin or advance a career in child care and early childhood educational development.


The Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies
may help equip students with the skills needed to begin — or advance in — careers in child care and early childhood education. This program is not designed as a teacher certification program nor does it lead to state licensure.

This program provides you with multi-disciplined knowledge, insights, and strategies that you can apply to the job right away.

  • Learn how to organize and lead education and care programs to best meet the needs of the children in your community.
  • Prepare students with knowledge to assist in preschools, private kindergartens, private elementary schools, Head Start programs, child care facilities, and childhood education organizations.
  • Graduate with a solid understanding of the key areas of education theory, curriculum planning, and childhood development

Enjoy Flexibility – 20 courses with start dates every 2 weeks
Choose Where You Learn – 100% online courses
Affordable Monthly Payments – Opt to pay $295 per month

The coursework in the associate of applied science degree can also be applied as a stepping-stone to Aspen University’s bachelor’s degree in early childhood studies, providing all admission standards are met.

For more information about the program, see the Academic Catalog.

Admission Requirements

  • Application – A completed application.
  • High School Transcripts – An official high school transcript or its equivalent. Waived if student has completed at least 15 credits of college-level course work.
  • Official Transcripts – Official transcripts for all previous college credit earned.
  • Minimum GPA Requirement – A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required for all previous high school or college credit.
  • Military Documentation (Optional) – A copy of the most recent orders; or a copy of DD214 (This can be requested from the National Archives.)

Courses: