Online BA in Early Childhood Education

With your Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education you will gain knowledge, perspective and practical experiences in the field of early childhood education. This degree prepares you for your current workplace and future aspirations.

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The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education prepares you to provide high-quality, inclusive care and education to children up to the age of 8. This online early childhood education degree program includes fieldwork and two practicums that let you demonstrate your teaching competencies under guided supervision.

As a student, you will:

Learn skills to complement your previous early childhood educational training and fieldwork.
Demonstrate your mastery and reflect on the knowledge, skills and dispositions you have learned.
Study lower division coursework, which mirrors the Curriculum Alignment Project Eight (CAP 8), and provides a foundation for upper division content and experiences.

Next Session

Summer I (Apr 29, 2024)

Estimated Tuition

$500/Credit

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Ways to Learn

Online

Accreditation

University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

University of Massachusetts Global's School of Education is accredited by the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing.

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Data source: Lightcast™ 2022 www.lightcast.io

The pathway information provided through this website is based partly on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data licensed by the University of Massachusetts Global from Lightcast. While the University of Massachusetts Global believes this data to be reliable, some of the data is based on estimates made by Lightcast when actual data is unavailable. Those estimates and the corresponding data may need to be corrected.

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3. The University of Massachusetts Global does not guarantee a job to graduates upon completion of any program

One word that comes to mind in thinking about my educational journey at UMass Global is 'self reflective'. No matter what course I took, self-reflection was always included as an aspect of each course. I was provided opportunities to consistently reflect on myself, my values, my beliefs, my education, my practices and the field of early childhood education as a whole.

Ruby G.
MAE, Leadership in Early Childhood Education, PBIS Support Specialist, Stanislaus County Office of Education

My academic advisor was a great support system. He was my advisor throughout my program and he took the time to learn about me personally so we could make the best schedule to accommodate my life.

Steve L.
MA in Education, Teaching and Learning

The MAELA program was beyond invaluable. So much of what I was asked to do was relatable to my job. The people affiliated with the program know what works in education.

Meg V.
MA, Educational Leadership and Administration

Applicants for this program must complete the formal application process and submit required documents. Documents required vary based on the number of transferable credits and include:

0 - 11 TRANSFERABLE CREDITS

High school diploma or GED equivalent
Official high school transcript indicating the date of graduation

12 OR MORE TRANSFERABLE CREDITS

A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
Provide official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended

active military?

Admissibility and minimum transfer credit awarded will be determined based on the Community College of the Air Force, SMART, AARTS or JST transcripts.

Transcripts

Only credits from regionally accredited institutions may be accepted in transfer. Failure to report any previous academic work at another college or university may be considered a violation of academic integrity.

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT UNDERGRADUATE REQUIREMENTS? Request more information>

General Education Requirements

Bachelor degrees require students to complete a minimum of 120 semester units which include a combination of General Education requirements and program specific requirements. In the absence of sufficient transfer credit, students may need to take additional general electives to satisfy the 120 total units for the degree which a UMass Global Academic Advisor will help you evaluate.

Course List
Code	Course Name	Credits
Basic Skills		12
ENGU103	Writing Communication I: Writing and Rhetoric	3
ENGU 104	Written Communication II: Writing About Literature	3
MATU 103	Applied Mathematics	3
COMU 101	Public Speaking 1	3
	Quantitative reasoning	3
	Oral communication	3
Breadth Requirements		24
Humanities	Select from 3 different areas: Communications, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies	9
Natural Sciences	Select 6 credits	6
Social Sciences	Select from 3 different areas: Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Economics, History, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Political Science/Legal Studies, Psychology, Social Sciences, Social Work, Sociology	9
Liberal Education Foundations		6
LBSU 302	Information Fluency and Academic Integrity	3
LBSU 304	Liberal Arts Core Foundations	3
Total Credits		42

Core Requirements

Course List
Code	Course Name	Credits
ECED 100	Child Growth and Development	3
ECED 110	Child, Family, and Community	3
ECED 120	Principles and Practices of Teaching Young Children	3
ECED 130	Introduction to Curriculum for Young Children	3
ECED 200	Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education	3
ECED 210	Practicum in Early Childhood Education I	3
ECED 220	Health, Safety, and Nutrition	3
ECED 230	Teaching in a Diverse Society	3
Core Courses
ECED 300	The Professional Early Childhood Educator	3
ECED 301	Effective Support for Children with Exceptional Needs and Their Families	3
ECED 330	Dual Language Learners and Their Families	3
Content Courses
ECED 302	Social and Emotional Competence in Early Childhood Education	3
ECED 303	Integrated Learning Standards in Early Childhood Settings: Language & Literacy	3
ECED 304	Integrating Learning Standards in Early Childhood Settings: Mathematics and Science	3
ECED 398	The Intentional, Reflective Teacher	3
ECED 399	Integrated Practice-Practicum II	3
ECED 401	The Early Childhood Educator as Decision Maker-Capstone	3
Total Credits		51

education

Hawani Negussie Ed.D.

Chair and Associate Professor

Specialty

Early Childhood Education

education

Kimberly Greene, Ed.D.

Professor

Specialty

Education

Online Pedagogy

Educational Technology

Curriculum Design

Language Acquisition, Children’s Literature, Education and Society in the 21st Century

education

Anne Spillane, Ph.D.

Associate Dean of Special Education (Credential, Master’s), School Psychology, School Counseling and Master of Arts in Education/Associate Professor

Specialty

Special Education

Education

education

Shari Farris Ed.D.

Associate Professor

Specialty

Education

Online Learning

Curriculum Development

All education faculty

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K12 RESOURCES

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about early childhood education and strategies that can prepare you for the classroom.

Early Childhood Education

What is the purpose of early childhood education?

Simply put, the purpose of ECE is to provide children with strategies that help them develop the emotional, social and cognitive skills needed to become lifelong learners. Curricula is set up to encourage young students to learn about themselves and the world through play and sensory experiences. Read more.

What does a high-quality ECE program look like?

A good early childhood education program is dynamic, challenging, enriching and carefully planned. A typical ECE curriculum might incorporate songs, books, art, games, toys, experiences and nature exploration into the daily lesson plans for a class or group. Explore more important elements.

Why is early childhood education important?

During the early childhood education years, the brain makes millions of synapses every second that allow us to move, think, communicate and comprehend our environments. Children in ECE programs are less likely to repeat a grade, more prepared for school and more likely to earn more in the workforce. Explore more benefits.

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Earn your bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or certificate at UMass Global, a regionally accredited university.

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BA in Early Childhood Education