Elementary Education - Option Early Childhood Birth–Grade 3, BSE

What you will study

The University of Central Missouri’s Elementary Education degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is designed to prepare teachers to engage the minds of early and young learners, birth to grade 3. Our ECE program includes hands-on experiences in diverse classroom settings, preparing you to earn your teacher degree and be successful as you launch your career. As a teaching professional, you will be well-grounded in theory, display competence in content knowledge and instructional strategies and possess the disposition to ensure success for all learners.

Check out some of the teaching and early childhood courses you can take on your path to earning your Bachelor of Science in Education.

• Early Childhood Principles and Observation: Build a critical understanding of how to observe and record young children’s behavior and growth to make professional decisions in your teaching career. This undergraduate course offers a foundation in understanding the answer to the fundamental question, what is an early childhood education degree?
• Development and Learning Through Play: Discover how to implement a play-based curriculum in diverse settings and connect play to young children’s learning and development. 
• Curriculum Design and Assessment: Learn how to use formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate student learning and design units of instruction that meet individual needs of children.

 

 

Unique learning opportunities in early childhood education

What is an Early Childhood Education degree without learning by doing? As an ECE major at UCM, you’ll grow your skills through experiential learning opportunities within a clinical format.

• Clinical experience: Our Elementary Education degree program in Early Childhood Education offers a competitive clinical model to better prepare educators for the ECE classroom. This format is a key reason aspiring teachers seek out our undergraduate program to earn their elementary teaching degrees. You’ll receive extensive classroom teaching opportunities in multiple grade levels and settings well before you graduate. Our early childhood courses, field-embedded activity planning and first-hand experiences will empower you to cultivate teaching skills in real classrooms — and help you stand out to future employers. 
• Student activities and organizations: As an Elementary Education major, you may choose to join Early Childhood Young Professionals (ECYP), our chapter of the Missouri Association for the Education of Young Children. Our program faculty sponsor this organization and support student-led initiatives throughout the year. You may also want to be involved in the Missouri State Teachers Association, Student Council for the Exceptional Child and Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for Education majors.
• Study abroad: If gaining new perspectives and visiting other countries sounds exciting to you, consider going overseas during the program. The School of Teaching and Learning sponsors two study abroad trips each year connected to your early childhood courses.

 

What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UCM?

Earning your Elementary Education degree in Early Childhood Education is the first step to a rewarding career. It lays the foundation for your work with young children and families and equips you with the skills to positively contribute to their future success. By pursuing any of our elementary teaching degrees, including the Early Childhood Education bachelor’s, at the University of Central Missouri, you’ll learn how to evaluate children’s needs, provide proper instruction and foster healthy learning environments.

A high demand for UCM Early Childhood Education graduates 

Graduates of our Early Childhood Development program are highly sought after and often hired before graduation. In fact, approximately 95% of Early Childhood Development program graduates are employed by the time they walk across the stage and receive their diploma. Additionally, nearly 80% of College of Education alumni, including ECE majors, are teaching in Missouri schools, representing UCM in three out of four of the state’s school districts.

Take a moment to explore options for early childhood education teaching jobs using the interactive tool below. You can gain insights on teacher salaries, job outlooks and more.

 

 

Financial assistance options for your Early Childhood Education degree

In addition to our competitive tuition rates, scholarships are a critical resource for our hardworking ECE students and may be beneficial to you as you build a plan to pursue your teacher degree and finance your college education. Here are several scholarships specifically for Early Childhood Education majors:

• Merle and Maxine Rider Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
• Merle and Lillian Rider Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
• Curriculum and Instruction Retired Faculty Outstanding Student Teacher Award 
• Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Scholarship