Online Early Childhood Education Degree :: Accredited Universities

The program prepares individuals for careers in early care and education. The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education focuses on building the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to provide high quality, inclusive early care and education for children ages birth to eight in a variety of settings. Culture, equity and diversity are embedded throughout the program in addition to areas of study that include child development and learning, relationships, interactions and guidance, observation, assessment and meaningful content and curriculum.

Based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Professional Preparation Standards for Initial Licensure and the California Early Childhood Educator Competencies, the program is designed to complement previous early childhood educational training and fieldwork typically received in community colleges. Lower division coursework mirrors the Curriculum Alignment Project Eight (CAP 8) which provides a foundation for upper division content and experiences.

Unique Features:
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Fieldwork: Throughout the program students apply their learning through fieldwork experiences which must:

- Include the following age groups: Birth to three, three to five, and five to eight.

- Include one or more of the following settings: publicly funded early care and education setting (e.g., State Funded Preschool or Head Start), privately funded early care and education center (non-profit or for profit), family child care home or elementary school.

Practicums: Two practicums offer the opportunity for students to demonstrate their teaching competencies under guided supervision.

Capstone Course: The class requires students to integrate their knowledge and skills to develop and maintain healthy, safe, supportive and challenging learning environments for young children.

Program Learning Outcomes
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Research-based practice: Integrate brain research and evidence based practices that support development and learning across the curriculum.

Child Development: Integrate child development theories into classroom practices.

Reciprocal Relationships: Develop plans to promote child, family and community relationships that enhance children's development and learning.

Responsive Environments: Create learning environments that maximize child development, learning, health, and safety.

Comprehensive Assessments: Employ formal and informal assessment procedures to gather child and family information to provide meaningful programs and curricula.

Ethical Practice: Implement the NAEYC Code of Ethics and demonstrate professional behaviors.

Embracing Diversity: Create classroom environments and curriculum that acknowledge and celebrate children and families’ diversity.

Entry Requirements

Students must have completed 12 or more transferable baccalaureate level credits or the equivalent for admission to Brandman University.

Prospective students must submit the following:

Completed application package.

Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended. 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.

For those applying under an active military agreement with Brandman University, admissibility and minimum transfer credit awarded will be determined based on the Community College of the Air Force, SMART, AARTS or JST transcripts. If additional coursework from other institutions is submitted prior to admission this coursework will also be included in determining admissibility and transferability for course credit.

Other Fees

Please refer this link for additional fee relevant to the course

http://www.brandman.edu/files/attachments/Brandman-Tuition-Fees-2014-2015.pdf

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education with Early Childhood Education Emphasis program consists of 33 credit hours and is offered fully online. The masters in early childhood education is designed for busy adult students who are interested in obtaining their degree and require the flexibility of attending class on their schedule.

Professional practices in the field of early education focus on strategies and best practices rooted in theory and philosophy supported by research. Students who earn their masters in early childhood education will interpret, evaluate and apply research and theory related to all areas of early childhood education. Courses taken while obtaining the degree in early childhood education address the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards for advanced professional preparation.

To be considered for admission, program candidates needs to be employed or regularly volunteering in the area of education with either children or families.

Entry Requirements

A student must submit the following items before the admissions office can process the application:

- Online application

- Official transcript from the regionally accredited college or university that granted the student’s undergraduate degree

- Statement of goals: Write a brief statement (1-2 pages, double-spaced) covering your employment history and long-term academic and professional goals

- Résumé

Other Fees

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The program is designed for candidates who hold a Professional Level Four Certificate or equivalent in Early Childhood Education. It is an approved program by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and meets the certificate upgrade requirements mandated by the Professional Standards Commission.This master’s program is based upon the concept of developmentally appropriate practices and the value of diverse, intensive field experiences working with diverse student populations.

It is offered fully online and requires completion of a 36 hour program of study.

Entry Requirements

1. Complete requirements for a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

2. Possess or be eligible for a Professional Level Four Certificate or equivalent in Early Childhood Education. Candidates who have completed all eligibility requirements for the Professional Level Four Certificate have until the end of the first semester to obtain the certificate.

3. Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.

4. Present official report of scores on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE).

5. Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.

6. Submit a completed ‘Disclosure and Affirmation Form’ that addresses misconduct disclosure, criminal background check, the Code of Ethics for Educators, and tort liability insurance.

Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of ‘B’ or higher in their first nine (9) hours of course work after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the department to be converted to regular status.

Other Fees

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With content curriculum that focuses on birth through grade 3, upon completion of the bachelor‛s degree in early childhood education, graduates will be highly qualified to become a Kindergarten through third grade teacher. In addition, graduates will be qualified to work as preschool teachers and daycare providers. The bachelor‛s degree in early childhood education curriculum includes instructional strategies, teaching methodologies, assessment techniques, theories of early childhood growth and development, and the impact of family and cultural diversity on early childhood.

The BS in Early Childhood Education degree program has embedded practicum experiences throughout the coursework and requires a student teaching component with two placements; one in birth through age 5 and the other in Kindergarten through grade 3. Upon approval, this program will lead to teaching licensure in Arizona.

Specific topics the curriculum focuses on include:

- The unique learning needs of exceptional students

- The theories and principles of psychology that have influenced instructional practices including behavioral and cognitive approaches to learning, motivation, and instruction

- Models of child development that specifically address diversity, multicultural assimilations, and human change

- Effective strategies in language and literacy in ages birth through 8 years

- The processes of assessing, monitoring, and reporting the progress of young children

Entry Requirements

Applicants interested in earning their bachelor's degree online must meet the following requirement:

High School Transcripts - Applicants are required to submit official high school transcripts with a cumulative, unweighted grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or above.
Applicants holding their GED should refer to the University Policy Handbook for separate requirements.

Transferring from Another College, University or Program
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Applicants with 25 or more transferable credits from an accredited, GCU-approved college, university or program may be accepted to the university if they have an unweighted GPA of 2.25 or above. For more information about our transfer policies, visit GCU's online Transfer Center.

Second Bachelor's Degree
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Applicants who have already earned a bachelor's degree from GCU or another institution but are interested in pursuing a second bachelor's degree may be accepted to the university if they meet the minimum admission standard of an unweighted GPA of 2.0 or above.

Other Fees

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The Master of Education in Early Childhood Education degree was developed for career changers and prepares graduates to teach and work with young students. After successful completion of this early childhood education degree program, graduates may be qualified to teach Kindergarten through third and also have the skills necessary to work as preschool teachers or daycare providers.

This master‛s in early childhood education degree focuses on topics such as: early literacy development, foundations of early childhood, child guidance, management and environment, introduction to the exceptional learner, child growth and development, structured English immersion, and instructional teaching methodologies of language, math, science, social studies, and the Arts.

This program also includes two 8-week internship experiences: one in a birth to pre-school setting and another in a K-3 setting. Upon approval, this early childhood education degree program will lead to teaching licensure in Arizona.

Entry Requirements

Applicants to university graduate programs may be accepted for admission by meeting one of the criteria specified below:

Degree Bearing Transcripts
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An undergraduate degree from an accredited, GCU-approved college, university or program with a GPA of 2.8 or better on the degree-bearing transcript

OR

A graduate degree from an accredited, GCU-approved college, university or program

Test Scores
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If students cannot meet the GPA requirement, they may still be eligible for admission by meeting certain graduate test scores:
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): 500
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): 1,000 combined verbal/quantitative, prior to August 2011; 300 combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011

Other Fees

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