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

University of Central Missouri

Every child deserves to learn and reach their full potential. This philosophy has been at the heart of the University of Central Missouri’s teacher education programs since its founding as an experiential learning college for teachers. With welcoming campus environments in Warrensburg and Lee’s Summit, our teacher degrees, including undergraduate and graduate elementary education degrees, continue to be the cornerstone of the university.

Our graduates with a Bachelor of Science Elementary Education degree in Early Childhood Education experience a 95% job or graduate school placement rate, consistent job growth and rewarding career opportunities.

What is an Early Childhood Education degree?

Our Early Childhood Education program focuses on the principle of quality teacher education through clinical programming. This means as a teacher candidate you will spend ample time learning within real classrooms, while being guided by expert practitioners as you progress through your coursework. All early childhood courses are dedicated to offering relevant and meaningful experiences that prepare you for today’s classroom. You’ll find that our hands-on classes are engaging and intimate, enabling you to create long-lasting connections with expert-faculty, and master the art for teaching children today and in the future.

Early childhood education online opportunities

To meet the needs of today’s future educators, our Early Childhood Education program offers full-time and part-time degree plans, with online, face-to-face and hybrid options. Our focus on authentic, hands-on learning and real-life application means coursework is best experienced in person, but we do offer some flexible online options for early childhood courses as you pursue your teacher degree.

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.

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.