Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree

Prepare for a career dedicated to improving the lives of children from birth through kindergarten, whether through teaching, a parent group or a community agency.

Learn the latest techniques in caring for and teaching young children from birth through kindergarten, including those with special needs, learning disabilities, or developmental delays, in the online early childhood education bachelor’s degree.

This program combines online coursework with a field experience in an accredited school near you—no matter where you live in the U.S. Using a tablet and video recording technology, instructors at K-State will be able to observe and evaluate your teaching in real time via video and provide feedback to help you improve and excel.

$479.78 per credit hour*

120 credit hours

100% online

*This estimate includes online tuition and College of Education fees and is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ depending on your transfer hours, course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.

Career Prospect Highlights

Median Salary

Nationwide Median Salary

Jobs 2023

Jobs Nationwide

Job Growth

5-Year Nationwide Job Growth

Teaching License

After successful completion of this program, you will be eligible to apply for a Teaching Licensure for teaching Early Childhood Unified (B-K) in the State of Kansas. The license will transfer to other states, although completion of additional tests may be required.

Kansas is part of National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), which maintains reciprocal teacher certification agreements with all 50 states and US territories. For specific certification requirements for your state, please check the NASDTEC website.

Admission Requirements

Careers

Individuals with degrees in early childhood education work with young children and their parents to begin quality education at an early age. Job opportunities include:

kindergarten, Head Start, 4-year-old at-risk or early childhood disabilities teacher
administrative positions
coordinating parent programs
working with parents and community agencies
working with young children aged birth through kindergarten

Curriculum

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (42-43 credits)

Communications (8-9 credits)

COMM 105 - Public Speaking IA (2 credits) OR
COMM 106 - Public Speaking I (3 credits)
ENGL 100 - Expository Writing I (3 credits)
ENGL 200 - Expository Writing II (3 credits)

Social Sciences (9 credits)

PSYCH 110 - General Psychology (3 credits)
SOCIO 211 - Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
Social science elective**

Humanities (6 credits)

Fine arts elective (3 credits)
Literature elective (3 credits)

Natural and Physical Sciences (7 credits)

Biological sciences, physical sciences and earth science; one course must include a laboratory

Quantitative Studies (6 credits)

MATH 100 - College Algebra (3 credits) OR
College-level calculus course (3 credits)
STAT 225 - Introduction to Statistics (3 credits)

Additional Requirements (3 credits)

Diversity elective (3 credits)

Integrative Health and Human Sciences (3 credits)

HHS 101 - Introduction to Well-Being (0.5 credits)
HHS 201 - Community Well-Being (0.5 credits)
HHS 202 - Social Well-Being (0.5 credits)
HHS 203 - Financial Well-Being (0.5 credits)
HHS 204 - Physical Well-Being (0.5 credits)
HHS 301 - Career Well-Being (0.5 credits)

PROFESSIONAL STUDIES (77-78 credits)

Professional Courses (62 credits)
(#Teaching Field Courses: Grades of C or higher and an overall 2.75 GPA is required on all courses applied to degree. GPA is calculated from K-State and transfer courses. Teaching field courses include professional courses and licensure track courses.)

ECED 310 - Early Childhood (3 credits)
ECED 313 - Pre-Professional Experiences in Early Childhood Unified (1 credit)*
ECED 410 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
ECED 420 - Interaction Techniques with Young Children (3 credits)
ECED 428 - Exceptional Development in Early Childhood (3 credits)
ECED 530 - Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
ECED 531 - Developmental Curriculum in Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
ECED 566 - Emergent Literacy (3 credits)
ECED 597 - Home, School and Community Partnerships (3 credits)
ECED 728 - Assessment of Young Children (3 credits)
EDSP 777 - Social Emotional Learning and Behavior Management Strategies (3 credits)
HDFS 110 - Introduction to Human Development (3 credits)
HDFS 250 - Interpersonal and Family Relationships (3 credits)

Licensure Track (22 credits)***

ECED 543 - Reflective Practice: Infants and Toddlers (3 credits)
ECED 544 - Reflective Practice: Preschoolers and Kindergartners (3 credits)
ECED 553 - Early Childhood Practicum I: Infants and Toddlers (1 credit)*
ECED 554 - Early Childhood Practicum II: Preschoolers (1 credit)*
ECED 555 - Early Childhood Practicum III: Kindergartners (1 credit)*
ECED 556 - Early Childhood Practicum 4: Home Visiting (1 credit)*
ECED 598 - Student Teaching in Early Childhood Unified (9 credits)****
ECED 797 - Home Visiting Programs for Young Children and Families (3 credits)

Non-licensure Track (22 credits)

ECED 311 - Infant and toddler Development and Programs (3 credits)
ECED 312 - Infant Observation Lab (1 credit)*
ECED 450 - Environments for Young Children (3 credits)
ECED 451 - Administering Early Childhood Programs (3 credits)
ECED 546 - Early Childhood Program Lab II (2 credits)*
ECED 588 - Directed Lab Experiences in Early Care and Education (7 credits)****
ECED 740 - Play Facilitation (3 credits)

Professional Electives (15-16 credits)
(Grades of “C” or higher required)

Any HDFS/ECED/CSD/PFP course
ACCTG 231 - Accounting for Business Operations (3 credits)
ACCTG 241 - Accounting for Investing and Financing (3 credits)
AGEC 202 - Small Business Operations (3 credits)
EDCI 318 - Educational Technology for Teaching and Learning (1 credit)
MANGT 220 - Principles of Management (3 credits)
MKTG 400 - Introduction to Marketing (3 credits)

*Physical exam and KBI/DCF clearance required.
**A 3-credit social science other than psychology is required for licensure.
***Admission to teachers education is required.
****First aid/CPR certification required before enrollment in ECED 588 and 598. This requirement can be met by successful completion of Red Cross or American Heart Association courses.
# 2.75 GPA is not required for the non-licensure track.

Transfer Equivalency

Karolyn Barclay, '14, '17

While working toward her degree, Barclay overcame several personal obstacles that she never let hinder her degree progress. “I worked during the day and studied at night. I made many sacrifices to complete my education.”

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