Elizabethtown College’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS) is partnering with Catherine Hershey Schools (CHS) to offer educators an accessible, high-quality pathway to advance their careers through the recently launched online Associate of Science (A.S.) in Early Childhood Education (Birth–Pre-K) program. Courses will begin in fall 2026.
Developed in partnership with CHS, this innovative 64-credit program deepens students’ understanding of holistic child development. With 15 dedicated courses in early childhood education, the program prepares students to implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences and foster safe, inclusive environments.
“The partnership with Catherine Hershey Schools represents an innovative and meaningful step forward in supporting early childhood educators already making a difference in classrooms every day,” Elizabethtown College Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies Marcy McCarty said. “By integrating CHS’s year-long training program and workplace-based learning experiences into a fully online associate degree, we are creating an accessible pathway for working professionals to earn credentials and advance their careers while continuing to serve children and families.”
Delivered in a fully online, asynchronous format, the accelerated pathway awards academic credit for CHS’s acclaimed Seeds to Lead professional development and onboarding program, helping participants accelerate degree completion.
“Catherine Hershey Schools and Elizabethtown College share a vision of expanding opportunities for early childhood educators and strengthening the profession for years to come,” CHS President Peter G. Gurt said. “By combining our expertise, we’re creating meaningful pathways for educators to grow professionally while advancing our mutual commitment to ensuring more children and families have access to exceptional early learning experiences.”
The program helps address a critical regional need for qualified early childhood educators. Statewide data show that workforce shortages are limiting access to early learning opportunities, with nearly 2,400 unfilled positions leading to the closure of hundreds of classrooms and reducing capacity for approximately 26,000 children.