View our EdD Early Childhood specialization completion requirements
Minimum degree requirements:
60 quarter credits
- Core courses (50 cr.)
- Capstone (10 cr.)
Explore our Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership
Gain the leadership and business management skills you need to manage child care centers or administer programs for young children with Walden’s online Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership (Non-Licensure) certificate.
By focusing on research-based practices, you will explore how to plan and evaluate programs and environments in which children of diverse backgrounds and needs can learn and thrive. Through your study of management principles, you will be trained to recruit, lead, and evaluate qualified staff; budget and manage resources; and ensure safe, supportive, and legally compliant operations.
Curriculum and Completion Requirements
Course-Based Learning: This option is ideal for students who are newer to online education and prefer structure, working with others, and having set deadlines.
Completion Requirements
- 15 quarter credits
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN.
Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-483-7976.
Credits earned in this certificate program may be applied toward Walden’s MS in Early Childhood Studies.
Curriculum and Completion Requirements
Tempo Learning® degree completion1: This option is ideal for busy working professionals like you. Your progress is measured by the mastery or demonstration of skills, abilities, and knowledge in a particular area of study.
Each competency has been carefully designed by expert faculty with input from employers, with your education and future employment in mind.
Curriculum
The Tempo Learning® degree completion option is ideal for busy working professionals like you. Your progress is measured by the mastery or demonstration of skills, abilities, and knowledge in a particular area of expertise (AoE).
Each competency has been carefully designed by expert faculty with input from employers, with your education and future employment in mind.
Degree Completion Requirements
- 15 semester credits
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN.
Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-483-7976.
Credits earned in this certificate program may be applied toward Walden’s MS in Early Childhood Studies.
Admissions
Work one-on-one with an Enrollment Specialist who’ll guide you through every step—from choosing the right program to paying for your education.
Streamlined Admissions Process
Earning your Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership degree online is a big decision, which is why we’ve streamlined and simplified the admissions process. Start your journey with:
No application fee
Easy credit transfer
No essay
View Admission Criteria
Since our certificate programs are offered at different levels, admission requirements vary. Call 844-940-8908 to find out the admission requirements for your certificate program of interest.
Exceptions and other requirements may apply, depending on the program you choose. Consult your Walden Enrollment Specialist about admission requirements for specific degree programs. Call 844-940-8908 in the United States or see a list of international toll-free phone numbers.
Go at Your Own Pace
You have a unique learning style—and a unique schedule. That’s why Walden offers you more than one way to learn.
*Represents Tempo Learning® format, Believe & Achieve Scholarship, and the fastest pace of our top 25% transfer students in this program in the Tempo Learning® format. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Tuition Breakdown
Walden helps make the journey more accessible with diverse savings opportunities—offering several ways to bring down your tuition costs:
Tuition savings
Transfer credits
Grants and scholarships
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 15 quarter credit hours | $400 per quarter hour | $6,000 |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $185 | $370 |
$6,370* |
*The tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-483-7976.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $400 to $600.
Progress at Your Pace. Control Your Cost.
Walden’s Tempo Learning® programs follow a subscription-based pricing format. Students are billed a flat-rate for each 3-month subscription term. All pricing is represented in U.S. dollars and is subject to change.
| Program | Subscription Period Tuition | Subscription Period Program Fee | Subscription Period Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership | $2,450 | $180 | 3-month subscription period |
Effective 3/2/26
| Program | Subscription Period Tuition | Subscription Period Program Fee | Subscription Period Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership | $3,000 | $185 | 3-month subscription period |
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for this program. Our financial aid advisors can help you identify funding opportunities to help you pay for your education.
With Tempo Learning, you may be able to complete your Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership in as few as 7 months for as low as $8,000.*
*Represents Tempo Learning® format, Believe & Achieve Scholarship, and the fastest pace of our top 25% transfer students in this program in the Tempo Learning® format. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
Analyze practices that promote healthy child development in diverse populations.
Evaluate elements of effective early childhood programs.
Analyze ethical guidelines for professional growth and practice as a leader and advocate in the early childhood field.
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FAQ About Walden’s Online Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership
Is earning a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership a steppingstone to a master’s degree program?
Yes, it certainly can be. Credits earned in the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership program can be applied toward Walden’s MS in Early Childhood Studies program.
What will I learn in a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Administration, Management, and Leadership program?
In this online certificate program, you will obtain skills that can be put to use running child care centers or leading youth programs. You will also learn how to create an atmosphere where children from different backgrounds can all learn and succeed and effective practices for promoting learning throughout the stages of child development, from birth through age 8. The management principles portion of the program will teach you how to recruit, lead, and evaluate staff members; allocate resources; and more.