Two student teachers sit among a group of preschoolers in a classroom

Early Childhood Education

Why Study Early Childhood Education?

Major | Education | CEBAH

Our flexible Early Childhood Education program combines distance learning with occasional on-campus sessions. Choose from fall, spring, or summer start dates and enroll as a full or part-time student. Fulfill field experience requirements locally and receive personalized support for credit transfers, program planning, and remote access to resources. We have affordable, consistent tuition rates, a textbook rental program, priority registration, and we offer financial aid and the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Wisconsin scholarship for both full and part-time students. Our high-quality program, approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and National Education Association (NEA) Exemplary Teacher Education Program, emphasizes active exploration, interdisciplinary connections, and teaching skills with a focus on connecting children to nature. View the program guide for more information.

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Program Details

Applicants for the Bachelor's Degree Option

Learn to apply teaching strategies to meet the needs of children from birth through preschool.
Become prepared to seek employment in Head Start programs and as directors or non-licensed teachers at child care centers and preschools.

Applicants for the Bachelor's Degree with Teaching Certification Option

Teaching in four-year-old kindergarten and early elementary classrooms in public schools requires teacher licensure.
Graduates will be licensed to teach children from birth through age eight.

Applicants to both programs must have an associate’s degree in early childhood education or child development, or equivalent coursework, and must meet the admissions standards for transfer students (minimum combined grade point average of 2.5).

Candidates for the bachelor's degree with early childhood teacher certification must also have:

a minimum combined grade point average of 2.75;
grade C or better in all early childhood major classes;
grade C or better in ENGL 100 (Academic Reading and Writing) or equivalent course
A criminal background check*

*A criminal background check is not required as part of the application, but will be required for all accepted students prior to formal admission.

Program Curriculum for Bachelor's Degree

Required Courses

Early childhood major courses typically completed as part of an associate degree (25 credits):
TED 211 Educational Psychology
TED 225 Developmental Learning Experiences of Young Children
TED 330 Infant and Toddler Programs
TED 332 Preschool Curriculum
TED 345 Parent Education and Family Development
TED 400 Supervision and Management of Early Childhood Programs
TED 405 Early Childhood Special Needs
TED 410 Early Childhood Language Arts

Additional UWRF early childhood major courses (31 credits):
CSD 160 Introduction to Communicative Disorders
MUS 275 Music and Art for Early Learners
P ED 246 Health and Movement Activities for Children
TED 255 Children's Literature for Elementary Education
TED 325 Diversity in Early Childhood Settings
TED 326 Place-Based Environmental Science for Early Childhood Educators
TED 329 Exploring Nature Through Inquiry Learning
TED 335 Kindergarten Curriculum and Materials
TED 409 English Language Learners in Early Childhood
TED 411 Leadership and Advocacy for Young Children
TED 451 Integrating Alternative Methodologies of Early Childhood Education

Electives (19 credits)
Students are given flexibility to select courses to meet their unique goals. Many online options are available at UWRF, and transfer credits may be accepted for approved courses from other institutions.

UWRF University and General Education Requirements (45 credits)

Program Curriculum For Bachelor's Degree and Certification

Required Courses

Early childhood major courses typically completed as part of associate degree (25 credits):
TED 211 Educational Psychology
TED 225 Developmental Learning Experiences of Young Children
TED 330 Infant and Toddler Programs
TED 332 Preschool Curriculum
TED 345 Parent Education and Family Development
TED 400 Supervision and Management of Early Childhood Programs
TED 405 Early Childhood Special Needs
TED 410 Early Childhood Language Arts

Additional UWRF early childhood major courses (59 credits):
MUS 275 Music and Art for Early Learners
P ED 246 Health and Movement Activities for Children
TED 155 Intro to Tech Integration and the Reflective Multimedia
TED 255 Children's Literature for Elementary Education
TED 321 Early Childhood Integrated Reading and Language Arts I
TED 322 Early Childhood Integrated Reading and Language Arts II
TED 323 Content and Techniques of K-3 Mathematics I
TED 324 Content & Techniques of K-3 Mathematics II
TED 325 Diversity in Early Childhood Settings
TED 326 Place-Based Environmental Science for Early Childhood Educators
TED 335 Kindergarten Curriculum and Materials
TED 350 Pre-K – Early Elementary Learning Challenges
TED 409 English Language Learners in Early Childhood
TED 411 Leadership and Advocacy for Young Children
TED 424 Inquiry Learning: Society and Environment for Early Elementary
TED 451 Integrating Alternative Methodologies of Early Childhood Education
TED 480 Early Childhood Student Teaching

UWRF University and General Education Requirements (36 credits)

99%

Of Grads are Employed or Attending Grad School

67%

Of Students Received Financial Aid in 2022-2023

76%

Of Students Completed At Least One High-Impact Practice Before Graduation

I don't know if I would have been able to earn my degree if it were not for this program. The program was obviously designed to meet the needs of a nontraditional/distance learner and it works.

Jurita Foltyn

Early Childhood Education

cebah@uwrf.edu // 715-425-3774

Your Degree:

Undergraduate

Area of Study:

Education

Estimate Your Cost

A student teacher holds out a measuring tape for a preschooler while in a classroom

Skills and Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate proficiency in best practices and implement them in the preparation and development of classroom materials, schedules and lessons for students.
Design, implement and assess teaching tools.
Develop and use assessments to evaluate student performance and promote intellectual, personal and social growth of students.
Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
Understand students’ diverse needs and utilize tools to meet needs through instruction.

Types of Courses

Educational Psychology
Preschool Curriculum
Music and Art for Early Learners
Diversity in Early Childhood Settings
Exploring Nature Through Inquiry Learning
Leadership and Advocacy for Young Children
Pre-K – Early Elementary Learning Challenges
Children's Literature for Elementary Education
Developmental Learning Experiences of Young Children
Parent Education and Family Development

Two preschoolers look at a map of the USA while a student teacher watches

A student teacher helping a child open a jar during class time

Potential Careers

UWRF’s early childhood education program prepares you for a career in early childhood education. Our graduates land teaching positions each year in Wisconsin, Minnesota and beyond. Early childhood education majors are eligible for a teaching license in Wisconsin for children from birth through age eight.