The competency and qualifications of early childhood program managers may be the biggest determining factor in the quality of educational programs for children. It is crucial for these education professionals to have well developed skills in management and administrative principles in addition to instruction in the care, development, and education of young children.

The Early Childhood Education program at UMC emphasizes a developmental approach to teaching and learning, integrating the fields of child development, early childhood education, family relations, and small business management. Graduates are uniquely qualified to be effective teachers of young children (from birth through age 8 or 3rd grade) and to manage high-quality early childhood programs.