Overview
Earn your Pre K-2 Undergraduate Certificate while you work.
In the URI Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Accelerated Online Undergraduate Certificate you can:
- Enroll in affordable and fully-online courses
- Keep your current employment status
- Increase skills and on-the-job learning competencies required in early childhood
- Work with, and learn from, professionals in Rhode Island
- Experience flexible internship placement
- Get support to apply for a Pre K-2 teacher certification
Courses
- 42 ECCE credits at URI during a 2-year program
- 1 online course per 7-week session
- 10 sessions in total
View/download full curriculum here.
Tuition per credit based on 2024/2025 academic year rates (subject to change): $610
Admissions
- Students in this program are typically working in schools or childcare
- Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Pre-professional knowledge and skill: a C or higher in the pre-professional courses.
Readmission
Applicants who have previously registered for courses at URI as a degree-seeking student are considered at readmission and must apply using the Readmission Application and provide additional materials. Learn more.
Fall 2025 Dates
Discover URI Online
Gain an understanding of the high quality of URI Online curriculum and the many benefits of learning online while balancing work, school and family.
Career Opportunities
Advance your career with URI Online.
Professionals with an early childhood care and education degree can pursue rewarding careers as preschool teachers, childcare center directors, or early intervention specialists. They may also work as child development specialists, family support specialists, or curriculum developers, contributing to the holistic development of young children in various settings. With their expertise, they play a vital role in shaping the foundation of children’s learning and well-being during their formative years.
Preschool
Teacher
Create engaging learning environments, develop age-appropriate curriculum, and nurture the social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children.
Childcare Center
Director
Oversee the daily operations of the facility, manage staff, ensure compliance with regulations, and create a safe and enriching environment for the children under their care.
Early Childhood Program Coordinator
Plan, implement, and evaluate comprehensive educational programs for young children, ensuring they meet developmental milestones and adhere to regulatory standards.
T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship
The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Program provides opportunities for early childhood educators to complete higher education course work in early childhood education while providing sponsoring childcare programs an opportunity to develop their workforce.
This program meets the educational requirements for licensure as an Early Childhood Educator in the states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Maryland. URI has not determined whether the curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for licensure in any other states or territories.
