The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Early Childhood Education degree program prepares students to become highly effective pre-kindergarten through grade 3 teachers for public and private schools. The program offers courses that focus on providing developmentally appropriate teaching practices to future educators.

The curriculum is designed to provide a practical hands-on application approach to understanding early childhood education. Students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours, of which 60 hours are lower division general education courses, and in the upper division, 24 hours of professional core educational courses, and 36 hours of major concentration educational courses. Both the professional core and major concentration areas are challenging as students are required to have fingerprinting and background checks and complete over 150 hours of field work in a VPK through third grade setting.

Students are also required to develop a professional portfolio and pass three Florida Teacher Certification Exams (GK, PED, & PK-3). The Capstone of the B.S. program is a student teaching internship. Students are assigned a mentor and are required to complete a full semester, full day, full week (M-F) internship at an accredited public or private primary (K-grade 3) school.

The B.S. courses are evidence-based and strive to meet and exceed the Florida Department of Education requirements. Students graduate with the ability to earn the Florida Department of Education Professional Educator Certificate (PreK/Primary) and an ESOL endorsement, and the Department of Children and Families Staff Credentials (VPK). Upon completion of the degree, students will be prepared to use their expertise in a variety of sectors including public and private schools, child development centers and preschools.

This program is approved by the Florida Department of Education.