Welcome to the Early Childhood Education programs at Rasmussen University!
Please take a moment to listen to this Welcome Message
from Dr. Mary Muhs, Academic Program Director for Early Childhood Education.
Email: mary.muhs@rasmussen.edu
Please reach out with questions at any time.
As a new student in the Early Childhood Education program, you may be new to higher education, returning to school after a break or you may already have a degree but are looking for specialized coursework in early childhood education. No matter where you are starting from, this idea of going back to school may be a bit scary or overwhelming. Most of the students in our degree programs are working full-time (in the early childhood education field or not) and have outside work commitments with family, recreation, additional employment or volunteer work. Basically, students are busy!
If you are new to the field of early childhood education…
Welcome to early childhood education or ECE! You may be here because you love children, have children of your own, or even have always dreamt of being a teacher from childhood. You may even have fallen into this field on accident, and now cannot see yourself doing anything else! You are in the right place!!!
Throughout your courses, you will encounter a lot of information and meet a lot of peers that have much more experience. Do not let that get you down! This is an opportunity to gather new ideas, strategies, information, and examples to draw from as you grow in your new role in ECE. Listen to others in Discussion Forums and ask questions when you have them. Those in your courses who have been around a while will be happy to share their experiences with you! Your instructors come from various backgrounds in ECE and would love to help coach you as you get started in this amazing career in ECE.
If you have been in this field of early childhood education for some time already…
Welcome to the next step in your career in ECE! Whether you have worked with children for a few months or many years, your experiences are valued and welcomed in your coursework! Actually, your experiences will enrich your learning and that of your peers in your course.
Going back to school at this time may seem as a waste of your time, as you have already been doing the work you will be learning about. However, in your coursework, you will learn more about the “why” of what you do daily. You will also gain new information, new strategies and cultivate a deeper background in your every work with children. We also encourage you to share your experiences and reach out to others in your courses new to the field of ECE. They can learn much from your experience! You will become an even better educator and a life-long learner!
If you are new to college coursework or it has been a while since you have been in school…
Welcome back to school! You might return to school to seek that new position, keep that favorite position or improve your educational level for program accreditation or state quality improvement initiatives. You might be going back to school because you want to or because your employer wants you to go back to school. You may be very nervous or feel overwhelmed already. It is all understandable as you are embarking on a new journey and any new journey will give you butterflies. You are in the right place, however, to succeed!
Know that your instructors and advisors are here to help you work through your challenges! The College has many tools to help you along the way, and those tools are available to you from wherever you are (literally and figuratively). In online courses, you can learn from your sofa and maximize your time and energy. It will take work, but if you take only one day at a time, use the resources available, ask questions and always seek excellence (not perfection) in your coursework, you will reach your goal! Review this New Student section and other sections of the Education Guide. Ask your instructor for help, seek a tutor or peer mentor before you need help and also call the Personal Support Center when your computer does not cooperate.
You can do this! You are not alone! Think like a child and open your mind to the possibilities and curiosity that college courses can offer to you!
Q: What can I do to set myself up for success?
A: Lots of things can give you a head start! Here's a list:
Q: I'm not working with children--I'm not in the field. Can I still be successful in this program?
A: Yes! Some of you may work in the field while others may have no formal experience working with young children. Both situations are solid starting points for new students. Although it may be easier to see the applicability of the theories you are learning about while working directly with children during the day, it is also possible to gain a good understanding of the course concepts without it. Some tips to help:
Time management is an important life skill and is essential for success in your courses and program. Here are some tips to get started and to help your success!
Here is a sample of what the first three weeks of your course may look like.
Visual display of a weekly schedule to improve time management.
Here is a sample Study Schedule you can customize to meet your needs.
Use this link to learn how to make an appointment with a tutor (you need to be able to log into the student portal): https://rasmussen.libanswers.com/faq/32816 Appointments for time management help can be found under Success Skills. Remember, you can make an appointment with a tutor for coursework assistance as well. See the Tutor Appointments tab for more information.
Q: What can a Peer Educator do for Me?
A Peer Educator can help you navigate the new student landscape. In other words, they can show you what you need to know to be a successful student. They've been where you are--they'll share tips and strategies that will save you time and effort.
Q: Is the peer educator a teacher?
No. A peer educator is a successful student. S/he has been through what you are going through now; that's why they're so helpful. They've also gone through additional training to help you maximize your success.
Q: Is there an additional cost for working with a peer educator?
No. Rasmussen University offers this to you without charge. Your success is important to us.
Q: How easy is it to make an appointment with a peer educator?
It's super easy! View this FAQ to learn how.
The Early Childhood Education programs are all fully online, meaning that all of a student's coursework is completed via online courses.
The Certificate, Diploma, Associate Degree and Bachelor level courses are all 5.5 weeks in length in an 11-week quarter.
So how does it work? Let’s say a student is enrolled in 2 courses for the first quarter. You will notice that each quarter is divided into term 1 (T1) and term 2 (T2), where T1 is the first 5.5 weeks of the quarter, and T2 is the last 5.5 weeks of the quarter. In this example, in the first 5.5 weeks of the quarter (T1), the student will take 1 course, and then in the last 5.5 weeks of the quarter, called T2, the student will take the second course.
Graphical depiction of how courses are scheduled in ECE
At Rasmussen University, our School of Education offers Early Childhood Education programs designed to help you meet your career goals:
Our early childhood education programs prepare you to make a positive and profound difference in the lives of young children and their families. Whether you choose to pursue our Bachelor’s degree, Associate’s degree, Diploma or Certificate, with industry-experienced instructors and specialized curriculum, you can feel confident you will receive the level of skill development you need to help you achieve your early childhood education career goals—whether you want to advance your current career or expand the education and care you provide to your young students and their families.
Our curriculum is developed based on the national best standards established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)*. Throughout your curriculum, you gain the knowledge and skills you need for success as an educator who can positively influence children’s lives by promoting the healthy development of their physical, social, emotional, intellectual and language development.
Your course instructors are your lifeline when you need help with course content and assignments!
Be sure to reach out to your Instructor often and in multiple ways: course messages, by phone, Course Chat, and even text if they are able! Instructors should respond to your outreach within 48 hours. Be politely persistent, specific with your questions, and help your Instructor help you!
Read your Instructor's Course Announcements and course messages for helpful clarifications and additional course content! Of course, read through each Module's course content, lessons, and readings to get the full picture of what you are learning that week!
Find your Instructor's contact information in the Syllabus located in the left navigation column under Books & Tools.
