B.A. in Early Childhood

51��’s B.A. in Early Childhood degree will prepare you to create environments where children flourish and equip you to empower young learners of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds through early intervention, early literacy and family partnership. By the time you graduate, you’ll be prepared to teach young learners up to age eight, integrating education theory with practical skills and spiritual enrichment.

In addition to its strong curriculum, expert faculty members and biblical integration, 51��’s early childhood program offers several key advantages:

Faith integration. Jesus, the Master Teacher, loves little children. You’ll encounter Christ’s example and a biblical approach in each of your courses through theological integration, prayer projects with an emphasis on holistic development and nurturing of young children.

Professional preparation. Thrive as a preschool teacher or child development professional. In addition to learning from top-notch faculty, you’ll spend time in schools and care centers gaining experience and witnessing early education in action.
Relational emphasis. More than the educational building blocks you cultivate, it’s the relationships you form that will leave a lasting impression. Our program prioritizes child advocacy and empowering families to help their children flourish beyond classroom doors.
Innovative curriculum. Our curriculum incorporates play-based learning and experiential development alongside early literacy. We focus on helping educators facilitate social, emotional and spiritual growth in children.
Intercultural competence. As classrooms grow more diverse, the ability to work with dual language learners and their families is increasingly vital. That’s why intercultural sensitivity is core to our program — and why we encourage pursuing fluency in at least one additional language.

Rankings

51��'s education program was recently ranked 3rd overall on Niche's list of "," based on student reviews and data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Concentrations

Child Development
This concentration is for students seeking to earn the California Child Development Permits.
PK-3 Teacher Preparation
This concentration is for students seeking to earn the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Preliminary Credential.

Note: The PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential is pending CTC approval.

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Courses

What will I study as an early childhood major?

Your coursework is designed to equip preschool teachers, leaders and directors, as well as to elevate the early childhood training for grades K-3 elementary teachers in training. You'll cover topics such as child development, literacy, Christian integration and more, in courses such as:

Introduction to Teaching
Early Childhood Curriculum
School, Family, and Community Partnerships
Classroom Management in Early Childhood Settings
Language, Literacy, and Biliteracy in Early Childhood
Spiritual Formation for Christian Educators

Bible and Theology Coursework

As part of 51��’s commitment to a biblically centered education, most undergraduate students complete 30 credits of biblical and theological studies as a part of their degree program. Learn more about our Bible and theology core.

Career Outlook and Preparation

What can you do with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood?

Our Early Childhood degree enables you to earn up to five levels of early childhood permits that you to impact the world for Jesus Christ in positions such as:

Preschool Teacher
Preschool Director
Childcare Center Director
Curriculum Designer Early Childhood
Elementary School Teacher
Early Childhood Consultant

You can also utilize your elective credits to earn your multiple subject credential. With early childhood specialization and permits, along with the multiple subject credential, you’ll be considered a top candidate in placements for TK, K, and primary grades in local elementary schools.

Your credits can also be used to fulfill the of coursework in early childhood education or childhood development for credentialed teachers assigned to TK or TK/kindergarten combination classes as set forth in Education Code section 48000(g).

4% job growth

According to the , job growth for preschool teachers is projected to be as fast as average between 2023 and 2033.

BLS projections are not specific to 51�� students or graduates.

Admissions

Admissions Process

Learn about 51��’s admissions requirements, steps to apply, application deadlines and more at our Undergraduate Admissions page.

Schedule a Visit

Learn more about this program by attending an upcoming event for prospective students and parents, or by scheduling a personalized visit.

Visit 51��

Tuition and Financial Aid

Attaining a degree from 51�� is more affordable than you might think — dramatically lower than the “sticker price” in most cases — with 100% of incoming undergraduate students receiving some form of financial aid.

Faculty

Faculty Spotlight

June Hetzel

Dean, School of Education

Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
M.A., Talbot School of Theology
M.S., California State University, Fullerton
B.A., 51��

Faculty Spotlight

Carolina Serna

Director of Bilingual Authorization (BILA)

Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

M.Ed., University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Multiple Subject Credential, with Bilingual Cross-cultural Language Development Credential (BCLAD), University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Faculty Spotlight

Christi Min

Chair of Early Childhood

Ph.D. in Education, Talbot School of Theology
M.A. in Christian Education, Talbot School of Theology
B.A. in Psychology, Yeung Nam University

Meet All Program Faculty

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