Rochester Christian University’s Early Childhood Studies program has been ranked No. 1 in the country by study.com. The ranking highlights both RU’s bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies and its bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement.

“We are thrilled to be ranked as the top program in the nation,” said Dr. Cynthia Clark, chair of the Department of Early Childhood Education and associate professor of early childhood education. “Our program is designed to be effective and flexible as we train teachers to work with young children and their families throughout Michigan and the Midwest.”

RU’s accelerated Early Childhood Studies program is designed primarily for those wishing to begin or continue working in the early childhood field. When transferring a minimum of 60 credit hours and enrolling full-time (12 credit hours a semester), students can complete their degree over the span of five semesters. RU offers students their choice of formats for the ECS program. The degree can be completed through convenient, totally online classes; totally in-person classes; or with a schedule of both online and in-person classes. This program does not lead to teacher certification.

The study.com ranking also highlighted RU’s bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with early childhood education endorsement, which awards graduates with an elementary teaching certificate. Graduates of RU’s School of Education have a high 88.5% success rate when taking the Michigan Teacher Certification Test.

Dr. Mel Blohm, director of the School of Education and associate professor of education, said, “We are committed to preparing teachers with Christian values who can effectively serve in the diverse and challenging schools and global communities of the 21st century.”

Study.com rankings are unique because they are based upon an institution’s academic and career resources, quality of education, and program accessibility. Study.com is a website for students researching schools and careers.

The list of rankings can be found at www.study.com/resources/early-childhood-education-schools