The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Early Childhood (EC) is designed for practitioners with an Early Childhood Associate of Arts (AA) degree or Associate of Science (AS) degree who wish to complete a bachelor’s program in early childhood online. Participants will acquire the knowledge and skills in early childhood development and early learning necessary to work in the professional field. As a professional degree, the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood program is intended for students who wish upon graduation to assume careers in early learning, childcare and policy. The degree provides instruction on childhood development and curricula. Practitioners learn about effective strategies and ways to create meaningful learning experiences for young children.
The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood consists of 33-39 NWCore credits, and a 32 credit area emphasis from the specific early childhood requirements. Students will come to the program with approximately 62 credits from their AA or AS degree and will complete elective credits to reach the required total of 124 credits for an undergraduate BA degree.
At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to:
1a: Know and understand young children’s characteristics and needs, from birth through age 8.
1b: Know and understand the multiple influences on early development and learning.
1c: Use developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environments for young children.
2a: Know about and understand diverse family and community characteristics.
2b: Support and engage families and communities through respectful, reciprocal relationships.
2c: Involve families and communities in young children’s development and learning.
3a: Understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment -including its use in development of appropriate goals, curriculum, and teaching strategies for young children.
3b: Know about and use observation, documentation, and other appropriate assessment tools and approaches, including the use of technology in documentation, assessment and data collection.
3c: Understand and practice responsible assessment to promote positive outcomes for each child, including the use of assistive technology for children with disabilities.
3d: Know about assessment partnerships with families and with professional colleagues to build effective learning environments.
4a: Understand positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children.
4b: Know and understand effective strategies and tools for early education, including appropriate uses of technology.
4c: Use a broad repertoire of developmentally appropriate teaching/learning approaches.
4d: Reflect on own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child.
5a: Understand content knowledge and resources in academic disciplines: language and literacy; the arts - music, creative movement, dance, drama, visual arts; mathematics; science, physical activity, physical education, health and safety; and social studies.
5b: Know and sue the central concepts, inquiry tools, and structures of content areas or academic disciplines.
5c: Use own knowledge, appropriate early learning standards, and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate developmentally meaningful and challenging curriculum for each child.
6a: Identify and involve oneself with the early childhood field.
6b: Know about and uphold ethical standards and other early childhood professional guidelines.
6c: Engage in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice; using technology effectively with young children, with peers, and as a professional resource.
6d: Integrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on early education.
6e: Engage in informed advocacy for young children and the early childhood profession.
7: Pursue God’s redeeming work in the world through their service to children.
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