Early Childhood Program

The ZA Endorsement
 

The Early Childhood Program at Cornerstone University offers a minor leading to the Early Childhood Endorsement (ZA Endorsement) on the Elementary Teaching Certificate in the State of Michigan.  This "specialist's endorsement" provides expertise in teaching children from birth through age 8.  This includes infant, toddler, and preschool programs, as well as Kindergarten through Grade 3 in elementary schools.  It is a highly valued endorsement for those who plan to teach in early elementary grades.

ASSOCIATES of ARTS DEGREE 
 

        A relatively new early childhood program at Cornerstone University is the Associates of Arts Degree. Students selecting this program track can be qualified for school paraprofessional positions, Head Start teachers, childcare and preschool teachers and in some cases, administrative positions within early childhood programs. Students, who decide at a later date to pursue their four year degree and become certified as an elementary teacher, can apply all the classes required of the associate’s degree and begin where they left off! Students are required to take the Cornerstone Core, General Education Core for education students as well as five early childhood courses and a 6 credit internship in a childcare or preschool program for a total of 64 credits.

      Child Development Associate Credential

  

      Another option for Early Childhood students is to earn their CDA,  Child Development Associate Credential. The CDA is a national certification and credentialing program. "A CDA is one who is ‘able to meet the specific needs of children and who, with parents and other adults, works to nurture children’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth in a child development framework.’"


For more information, contact the Teacher Education Office (616.222.1432) or Prof. Kerisa Myers, ext. 1363, Kerisa_A_Myers@cornerstone.edu