Online Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs and Majors
Early childhood education is a teaching specialization that focuses on how best to provide educational services to the youngest learners, generally from birth until the age of eight. Training in early childhood education covers theories of learning and of physical, cognitive, and social development in the earliest years of life, and a broad array of teaching strategies, including play-based instruction, and individual and group learning in classroom settings and in other environments. Early childhood educators are also trained to foster speech and literacy, counting and other foundational math skills, social and behavioral development, and healthy nutrition and life habits, often with the participation of parents and other family members.
Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education programs provide high school graduates with a way to earn a four-year bachelor’s degree with a designated major designed to prepare students to work with children from preK through third grade. Graduates from these programs are typically qualified to work as preschool teachers, childcare center directors, and as early childhood educators in other settings. In many states, a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education can help educators qualify for the licensure or certification required to teach kindergarten through third grade in public schools.
What is a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Degree?
A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is an academic credential conferred by an accredited college or university with a major that focuses on teaching young children, typically students in preK, kindergarten, and first, second, and third grades. Training and instruction in an early childhood education major typically covers the theories, principles, and practices used to teach and foster healthy emotional and intellectual development in the youngest learners.
Many bachelor’s in early childhood education programs are designed to prepare students to apply for a state license or certification to teach preK through third grade in public schools. These programs are generally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and include an applied practicum or field placement in which students complete supervised teaching experiences. There are also non-licensure programs that prepare students for work as caretakers, helpers, and administrators in early childhood care centers. Most programs, even programs that do not focus on preparing students for licensure or certification, align their curriculum with NAEYC’s ten standards for early childhood education:
- Relationships
- Curriculum
- Teaching
- Assessment of Child Progress
- Health
- Staff Competencies, Preparation, and Support
- Families
- Community Relationships
- Physical Environment
- Leadership and Management
In addition to early childhood education major coursework and practical experiences, students in an accredited bachelor’s program must fulfill general education coursework in the arts, humanities, and social and natural sciences. General education courses may include early childhood education prerequisites in psychology, sociology, pedagogy and other subjects relevant to the major.
Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Programs
Online bachelor’s programs utilize distance learning technologies to deliver lectures, instruction, and coursework rather than requiring students to attend traditional campus-based classes. Some programs are 100% online and do not require any campus visits, while other online programs incorporate a limited number of required campus sessions. Students in online programs typically log on to a web-based learning management system (LMS) for live and/or prerecorded lectures and virtual class sessions. Other activities, including class discussion groups, assignments, and exams are typically accessible via a program’s LMS as well.
Online programs that require supervised teaching practicums generally allow students to find a suitable teaching site within their geographical region, as any student teaching requirements typically must be completed in person. However, potential applicants to an online bachelor’s in early childhood education program should contact a program representative prior to submitting an application in order to determine where and when site-based requirements can be completed.
How OnlineEducation.com Identifies and Classifies Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs
OnlineEducation.com researches degree programs in order to identify online bachelor’s programs that allow students to major in early childhood education. This includes online Bachelor of Science (BS) and online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in early childhood education programs, as well as programs with the following designations:
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Education with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education
- Bachelor of Science in Education with a Specialization in Early Childhood Education
Programs must be offered by an accredited, nonprofit college or university, provide professional training in the theories and practices of early childhood education, and deliver all or most of its coursework online. Programs that require more than two campus visits per year are not classified as online programs and are not listed on this site.
What Students Learn in Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Programs
While program curricula vary by school, most online bachelor’s in early childhood education programs provide a major that aligns with the NAEYC’s ten standards for early childhood education. Required courses generally include an introductory overview of the field and courses in childhood physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development; curriculum design; classroom management strategies; observation and assessment; family and community engagement; diversity and inclusion; and leadership and administration. Students also typically take courses in literacy education, language arts, and teaching math and science to young learners. In addition, programs that have a teaching licensure or certification track require student teaching and practicum hours.
While general early childhood education principles and practices comprise the bulk of most bachelor’s-level coursework, some programs have concentration tracks or elective courses that allow students to specialize in one or more areas of the profession. Special education, infant and toddler care, preschool education, early elementary school education, nature-based early learning, language development, leadership and administration, curriculum development, and childhood mental health are some common specializations found in early childhood education programs.
Common Courses in Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Programs
The table below provides an overview of coursework that is typical of a bachelor’s in early childhood education curriculum. The courses and their descriptions are drawn from actual undergraduate programs in early childhood education.
| Course Title | Course Description |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Early Childhood Education | An overview of the field and the professional practice of early childhood education in various settings, including preschools, elementary schools, and daycare and community centers. |
| Early Childhood Development | An examination of physical, cognitive, behavioral, and social development in infants, toddlers, and young elementary school students, with a focus on how these factors inform the practice of early childhood education. |
| Classroom technology | An introduction to educational uses of technology, including computer applications, by early childhood educators. |
| Infants and Toddlers | An overview of early childhood education programs for infants and toddlers, including learning facilitation, caregiving techniques, and developmentally appropriate assessment. |
| Play and Creative Activities and Lab | Focuses on hands-on creative activities, discovery learning, and artistic expression through visual arts, dance, movement, music, and dramatic play in early childhood education settings. |
| Intentional Teaching | Examines the concept of intentional teaching, a methodology that informs observation, planning, reflective practice, assessments, and outcome improvement strategies. |
| Family, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity | Promotes the understanding of historical and current issues within the structure and internal systems of diverse American families as these factors apply to early childhood education. |
| Inclusion of Students with Exceptional Needs | The laws, strategies, definitions, transitional services, and other subjects that pertain to the inclusion of students with exceptional needs in classroom settings, including children with emotional, physical, and learning disabilities, speech and language disorders, ADHD, and autism. |
| The Role of Phonics in Reading | The implementation of evidence-based practices for fostering literacy in young learnings through phonemic awareness, phonics, structural analysis in decoding, spelling, morphemic units in decoding, and phonological awareness. |
| Children’s Literature and Literacy | Strategies for cultivating a literacy environment and promoting a love of reading in early childhood education classrooms using children’s literature. |
| Guiding Young Children | The study of environments that nurture young children socially, promoting pro-social behavior and development in early childhood settings. |
Admissions to Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Programs
While admissions requirements for online bachelor’s in early childhood education programs vary, applicants are at minimum required to hold a high school diploma or the equivalent. Some programs, often referred to as bachelor’s completion programs, require applicants to hold an associate’s degree or have completed one- to two-years of undergraduate coursework credits. However, many programs accept applications from high school graduates who have yet to complete any college credits. In addition to baseline educational prerequisites, some programs ask students to submit standardized admissions test scores (ACT or SAT), along with transcripts and a completed application that may include an essay question and one or more letters of recommendation.
Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Format Options
Online bachelor’s programs are typically designed to provide more flexibility to students who intend to continue working while earning their degree. However, there are several crucial format differences in online programs that applicants should consider prior to committing to a program. These include instructional methods, enrollment options, and campus visits. Each of these factors are addressed in the sections below.
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Instruction: Online instruction is typically delivered using two distinct modes. Synchronous instruction indicates that some or all lectures and virtual classes happen in real-time and require students to be logged on to a program’s LMS at specific meeting times. Asynchronous instruction denotes all coursework that does not have a real-time component, including pre-recorded lectures and instruction sessions that students can access 24-7 via a program’s LMS.
While asynchronous instruction offers greater scheduling freedom, it also requires a greater level of self-discipline, as students must be self-motivated in order to complete assignments by set due dates in the absence of regularly scheduled lectures and discussion sessions. Synchronous instruction offers more structure and more closely resembles a traditional on-campus course; however, students must be able to attend live scheduled classes, which are often held in the evenings or on weekends.
Part-Time vs. Full-Time Enrollment: To earn a bachelor’s degree online or in a traditional campus-based program, students generally must complete the equivalent of eight full-time semesters of credited coursework, which equates to four years of schooling. Some online programs use alternative academic calendars that allow students to enroll in five-, six-, eight-, or ten-week courses with four, five, or six terms per year, allowing full-time students to graduate in less than four years. Full-time bachelor’s degree students should expect to devote 40 hours or more per week to their studies when enrolled in classes.
Many online bachelor’s programs have part-time enrollment options as well, which allow students to carry a smaller course load. Part-time enrollment is a good option for students who plan to work while pursuing their degree, especially those who can only commit 15 to 20 hours per week to school work while classes are in session. Part-time enrollment can extend the time to completion by one or more years, depending on the structure of the program and on the number of credits earned per term. For students who intend to continue working while earning their degree, an online program with part-time enrollment is typically preferable. Students who prioritize earning their degree in four years or less should look for programs that offer a full-time enrollment option.
Campus Visits: Most online bachelor’s in early childhood education programs offer all of their didactic coursework online and do not require any campus visits. However, some programs have one or more campus-based sessions that students are required to attend. Campus visits, commonly referred to as intensives, immersion sessions, or residencies, can enrich the online learning experience, providing opportunities for hands-on learning and face-to-face interactions with instructors and classmates. However, attending campus visits may not be convenient for all students, particularly students enrolled in a program that is not within driving distance to their place of residence. These considerations are best addressed prior to submitting an application to an online program.
It is important to note that campus visits are not the same as site-based supervised practicum or student teaching experiences, which are generally required by programs that prepare students for licensure or certification. These requirements must be completed in-person, typically at a site that is approved by a student’s program, and may require commuting long distances (i.e., 30 to 60 minutes or more by car) if a local site cannot be found. Programs that require more than two campus visits per years, apart from supervised practicum/student teaching requirements, are classified as hybrid programs and are not currently listed on OnlineEducation.com.