Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure), BA (CAGS)

Within the context of a Christian worldview, the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure) degree provides a challenging, theory-based and application-oriented approach to educating children from birth to age 8. Courses and field experiences develop educators who are dedicated to addressing diverse learner needs with excellence through servant-leadership in their field and society.

The skills and dispositions of the professional educator will be developed through the study of curriculum development, learning assessment, psychological foundations, teaching methods, classroom management, and critical thinking. These principles are then put into practical application through field-based experiences in real early childhood classrooms. This combination of conceptual knowledge applied in real-world classroom experiences contributes to the student's development as an early childhood educator.

Upon successful program completion, graduates meet requirements for certification by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) to teach in schools around the world. Students pursuing this degree are not eligible for a Colorado state teaching license. However, this degree will meet educational requirements for teaching in many private early childhood programs, Head Start programs, charter schools, international schools, and other agencies. A full-time student teaching practicum is not required. However, students are required to complete approximately 160 clock hours of field-based experiences over the course of two semesters.

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure) program may apply to the program (MACI) program at CCU. Upon acceptance, three credits of graduate-level coursework included in the Bachelor of Arts professional core can be applied to the MACI "Non-Emphasis" degree.

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure) requires completion of the following 120 hours:
General Education (45 credits)
Prerequisite Professional Core (6 credits)
Early Childhood Professional Core (33 credits)
Electives (36 credits)

Students who have earned a "Center-Based Preschool Child Development Associate" certification may substitute this certificate for two of the following three courses in the ECE professional program:

1. From the Prerequisite Professional Core Requirement

ECE 205A Health, Safety and Nutrition for ECE (3)

100 level or higher ECE course (3)

2. From the Professional Core Requirements

ECE 201A Teaching as a Profession (3)

Students should make sure this certificate is submitted to Registration Services.