Excellent teachers serve as a powerful influence on even the very youngest children. Early childhood education can help to launch a child’s cognitive and social development, and provide a vital foundation for future success.
For those who are passionate about teaching and guiding small children, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, offers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Early Childhood Education. This bachelor’s degree is a blended plan with Early Childhood Education and Preschool Special Needs, enabling Marshall students to gain licensure in both areas.
The bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education provides Marshall students with opportunities to work with children, ages zero to five. Upon graduation, Marshall students have many career options including teaching in Pre-K programs in public schools; birth – age 3 programs; Head Start/Early Head Start programs; and infant/toddler classrooms; or becoming an administrator in child care programs.
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Marshall is ranked in the top 20 institutions in the United States for its bachelor’s degree program in Early Childhood Education by the online resource CollegeChoice.net.
After completing Marshall’s blended program of both Early Childhood Education and preschool special needs, Marshall students are prepared to work in various programs that serve young children. The emphasis of this distinctive bachelor’s degree program is on a developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children that is aligned with the West Virginia Early Learning Standards.
The BA in Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Students in the Early Childhood Education program take such courses as: Early Childhood Well-Being; Language and Literacy; Family Relationships; Child Development; Preschool Curriculum and Methods; and Play and Creativity.
Students learn in small classes, and the program’s expert faculty get to know each student and form strong support relationships. This Marshall degree program prepares pre-service teachers to teach all children, regardless of ability, from birth to age five. Students gain experience with infant/toddlers, pre-kindergartners, preschoolers with special needs and administrators. Bachelor’s degree students typically complete the Early Childhood Education program in four years; the time to degree for part-time students depends on how many credit hours are taken per semester.
- Preschool Teacher
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Elementary School Teacher
- Childcare Center Director
- Childcare Worker
- Special Education Teacher
- School Counselor or Psychologist