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Discover how to inspire young learners and build a meaningful teaching career rooted in care, creativity, and confidence. In Alfred University’s Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Childhood Education program, close mentorship and meaningful field experiences help you develop the skills needed to lead inclusive classrooms.
Official Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Childhood Education
Campus Locations
Main Campus - Alfred, NY
Corning Community College - Corning, NY
Credit Hours
124
Average Time to Degree
4 years
At Alfred, we provide a supportive environment that enables you to explore the teaching profession and create your own career path. We arrange student teaching assignments in local schools. Under the guidance of university professors and cooperating teachers, you learn to apply educational methodologies and develop lesson and unit plans.
Alfred University emphasizes a quality education combined with practical application. As a student in the bachelor’s in early childhood education program, you have two practicum placements that allow you to observe and model instructional strategies and practices at various grade levels.
All programs in Alfred’s Division of Education are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
See AAQEP Annual ReportAs an Early Childhood/Childhood Education major, you complete a blend of professional education coursework and engage in field-based opportunities in area schools. These in-person experiences expose you to a variety of educational environments.
Students who complete the program meet the academic requirements of the New York State Education Department for certification in Early Childhood (Birth-2nd grade) and Childhood Education (1st-6th grade).
Is it worth getting a degree in early childhood education? Yes. Earning a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education prepares you with the high-level skills you need for success in the classroom. They include:
The early childhood/childhood education major requires coursework in the arts and sciences and fulfills requirements in basic competencies and areas of knowledge in artistic expression, communication, information retrieval, humanities, language other than English, written analysis and expression, concepts in history and social sciences, and scientific and mathematical processes.
Courses in the bachelor’s degree in early childhood education program include:
You must also complete 30 hours in an academic area of concentration. The following are examples of academic concentrations:
You must also complete state-required workshops in Child Abuse Identification and Reporting, School Violence Prevention and Intervention (SAVE), and Training in Harassment, Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Discrimination in Schools: Prevention and Intervention (DASA).
The SAVE workshop is provided within the EDUC 231 course every semester, and the DASA workshop is offered online every semester. The Child Abuse Identification and Reporting class is not offered for undergraduates at Alfred, but it can be taken online through NYSED.
All BS in Early Childhood/Childhood Education applicants must submit an Alfred University application. Requirements include official school transcripts, an essay or personal statement, and at least one letter of recommendation from a school counselor or academic instructor.
International students must submit original or certified copies of all secondary and post-secondary transcripts or records of grades to date, along with proof of graduation. These must be prepared and authorized by the student's home institution and be accompanied by a certified English translation.
A grade point average of 3.0 or higher in Psychological Foundations of Education and Social Foundations of Education courses, as well as a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher, is required for admission to this program.
What jobs can you get with a bachelor's in early childhood education? Alfred University’s program is an approved teacher preparation program for New York State Early Childhood/Childhood Education teacher certification.
As an Alfred graduate, you are also prepared for examinations, including:
Education coursework begins in the first year of study, building to a practicum in a local classroom in the junior year, and student teaching in the fall of the senior year.
Student teaching is offered locally as well as in the New York City and Long Island areas, providing future teachers with both rural and urban school experiences.
Options to study here at Alfred's main campus with access our full resources & related programs or with our partner Corning Community College in Corning, NY which offers hybrid & flexible class options
The BS in Early Childhood/Childhood Education program allows you to explore the teaching profession and find the subject areas that most meet your passion and interests. Our supportive faculty is here to provide guidance on every step of your academic journey. Here are just some of the Early Childhood/Childhood Education faculty within the Division of Education.
Find All Education Faculty Find All Alfred Faculty & Staff
When majoring in Alfred University's Early Childhood/Childhood Education program, you may also consider minoring in Middle Childhood/Adolescence/Special Subjects Education and/or Art Education, double majoring in the following related programs, or moving into a graduate program.
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