The Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵapp Birth-Kindergarten Program is designed for students
who want to be a vital force in shaping children during their early years. The fully
online program gives students the skills they need to meet young children's social,
emotional, physical and intellectual needs in a variety of settings. Graduates work
as kindergarten teachers, daycare and pre-school instructors, Head Start teachers,
and childhood advocates. Ranked the program 7th on the Great Value Colleges' list of top 30 affordable online early childhood education degree programs, while
Best Value Online College Rankings ranked it 14th in the nation.
The program offers three pathways for completion: For undergraduates seeking a degree
WCU offers a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in either early childhood or
professional education (licensure), and for individuals with a four-year degree WCU
offers a pathway to initial licensure through our certificate program, or an add-on
licensure for those who already have a license to teach in the state of NC. All pathways
require some form of field experience requirement, but the requirements for this experience
varies by course and pathway. Taught by special education and early childhood education professionals, the program
provides all students with a rigorous curriculum, plentiful resources and valuable
experiences in working with young children and their families.
Undergraduate degree-seeking students interested in teaching in a public school setting
choose the professional education concentration, which leads to licensure, while those
interested in working with children in non-public school or classroom settings choose
the early childhood concentration. Both concentrations share core courses that reflect
the knowledge base that all early childhood professionals should hold. Internships
are a required experience for the professional education concentration students.
Certificate and add-on licensure students follow a specific six course plan of study
that includes field experiences in N.C. Pre-K and kindergarten classrooms. Certificate
and add-on licensure students are eligible for Birth-Kindergarten .N.C. licensure
upon completion of their program and often complete field experience requirements
in their current place of employment.
Where You'll Go
Graduates of WCU’s Birth-Kindergarten Program can expect to find immediate employment
in a wide variety of settings. Examples of career options for early childhood concentration
graduates include home-based early intervention specialist and child care resource
and referral specialist. Because professional education concentration graduates are
typically interested in careers as classroom teachers, they might teach in a public
school kindergarten or with Head Start or N.C. More at Four Programs. Certificate and add-on licensure students are seeking completion for licensure and
employment advancement in a N.C. Pre-K, public school Kindergarten, or with Head Start. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career field of early childhood
education is expected to increase 17 percent by 2022—great news for future birth-kindergarten
professionals!
For undergraduates seeking a degree WCU offers a Bachelor of Science with a concentration
in either early childhood or professional education (licensure), and for individuals
with a four-year degree WCU offers a pathway to initial licensure through our certificate
program, or an add-on licensure for those who already have a license to teach in the
state of NC.The program sets out to provide students with the skills to meet children's
social, emotional, physical and intellectual needs from birth to kindergarten in a
variety of settings. To learn more visit the sections below:
The Professional Education concentration in Birth-Kindergarten prepares students for
licensure and effective teaching in early childhood settings such as public kindergarten
and pre-kindergarten classrooms. This option combines focused coursework with hands-on
field and internship experiences to ensure graduates are ready for rewarding roles
in North Carolina schools.
The Early Childhood concentration prepares students for careers supporting young children
and their families outside of public school settings. This pathway combines academic
coursework with hands-on research and field experiences in a variety of early childhood
environments.
Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵapp’s alternative licensure programs are designed for degree-holders
ready to transition into teaching. Whether you are a recent college graduate, a career-changer,
or a retiree, these programs provide the training, support, and hands-on field experiences
needed to launch a career in education.
Related Programs
Explore our related programs until you find the one that’s right for you.
