Northcentral University, the first completely online school to offer accredited doctoral degrees, was founded in 1996 by Dr. Donald Hecht. Northcentral emphasizes its faculty-mentored approach, in which students receive personalized guidance from instructors who have been specifically trained in online teaching methods. Northcentral offers a master of education program with a specialization in early childhood education. In addition to core subjects, students progress through a series of nine courses covering a range of aspects of early childhood education from fundamentals to administration, language development and applied research.
Walden University was founded in 1970 by teachers Bernie and Rita Turner and licensed by the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board in 1979. Walden offers intensive research and writing support and emphasizes email and phone collaboration with faculty and fellow students and a commitment to positive social change. Walden offers a non-licensure bachelor of science in education with possible concentrations in infant/toddler, preschool education or a combination of the two. Students who complete the program can continue to the Teacher Preparation Program, which can lead to a teaching license in Minnesota.
California University of Pennsylvania's physical campus in California, Pennsylvania, was established in 1852 as the California Seminary. Its Global Online program offers access to the educational offerings that have earned the university high rankings from the Princeton Review since 2004. The university's educational philosophy is constructivist and based on best practices. The master's program in early childhood education is geared to certified teachers and offers two options: certification-only and master's with certification.
Grand Canyon University, founded in 1949, is a private Christian school with a physical campus in Arizona. The university seeks to produce "global citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, and responsible leaders" within the context of Christian heritage. Online offerings use a cohort learning model that allows collaboration with classmates from afar, and include a bachelor of science in early childhood education that leads to credentials, and both credential and non-credential master's degrees.