College Coursework
Enrolling in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development courses helps Child Care business owners and their employees deepen their knowledge, stay current with best practices, and meet permit or licensing requirements, while building valuable connections with peers, mentors, and local professional networks. This ongoing learning can open doors to new resources, leadership opportunities, and partnerships that strengthen your child care business. Orange County offers many in-person, hybrid, and virtual options through its local community college districts and universities.
Community College Districts & Universities in Orange County:
- Coast Community College District (CCCD) – Coastline College, Golden West College, and Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College offers Title 22/Title 5 permit-aligned ECE programs; Coastline specializes in distance learning with many online ECE options. - North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD) – Fullerton College, Cypress College, North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE)
Fullerton college offers coursework from Associate Teacher to Site Supervisor level; NOCE provides a free, non-credit Early Childhood Education Certificate program. - Fullerton College Child Development & Educational Studies Department
Fullerton College provides structured coursework covering child development, early care and education, special education, as well as nature-based learning, Reggio-inspired classrooms, and anti-bias work. - Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) – Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College
Offers in-person, online, and hybrid Child Development courses. Santa Ana College offers an 8 month ECE Apprenticeship Program (ECEAP); Santiago Canyon College features an 18-month ECE Apprenticeship Program (ECEAP). - South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) – Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College
Both colleges offer Child Development programs that meet state permit requirements and transfer pathways to four-year universities. - California State University, Fullerton
Cal State Fullerton offers an interdisciplinary Child and Adolescent Studies major, covering prenatal to adolescence, families, and the factors that influence development. The major has an Early Childhood Development/Education concentration option. - Chapman University
Offers ECE-related courses through the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, including virtual options suitable for working professionals. - University of California, Irvine (UCI)
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) offers year-round Early Childhood and Child Development coursework through its School of Education undergraduate and graduate programs. Browse the full course catalog and schedule - UCI School of Education – Course Catalog & Listings:
*Offers fully online Child Development courses during summer sessions
Helpful Hint: Regularly review each school’s online course catalog and seasonal schedules; many campuses offer flexible virtual and hybrid courses that are perfect for teachers balancing work and study.
