Campus Majors
Early Childhood Education (BA)

Early Childhood Educator working with young children

Undergraduate Major Early Childhood Education (BA)

Play a Valuable Role in the Development of Young Children as an Early Childhood Education Major

Prepare to teach early learners in preschool through third grade in New Hampshire and many other states with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from SNHU. In this major, you'll study child development, family systems and curriculum and instruction methods that reflect the unique needs of children from preschool through age eight. At SNHU, you won't have to wait to see if teaching is right for you. Here, you'll begin working in real classrooms as early as your first semester, freshman year.

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See Yourself Succeed with a BA in Early Childhood Education

The early childhood education major provides a solid background in developmentally appropriate practice as defined by research.

Certification in early childhood education allows for a wide range of career opportunities in multiple settings.
Earn a dual certification in special education for grades K-12 at the same time.
Gain a specialization with a minor in another academic discipline.
Put education theory into practice right away - SNHU undergraduate students work in real classrooms beginning first semester, freshman year.

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of majoring in early childhood education at SNHU include:

Supportive community. Join the SNHU campus community of fewer than 3,000 students, with faculty and staff dedicated to your success.
Affordability. SNHU is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in New Hampshire, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships. This scholarship amount is only for students who do not need a visa to study in the U.S.
Accessible faculty. Learn from highly credentialed faculty who are experts in their fields and interact with you in the classroom, dining hall, fitness center and the stands.
Opportunity. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni and strong connections with employers for internship and career opportunities.
Campus experience. Enjoy more than 50 student clubs, champion Division II athletics and fun events on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH, named a "Best Place to Live" by Money magazine.

Internships & Outcomes

The undergraduate early childhood education degree prepares you to teach early learners in preschool through third grade in New Hampshire and many other states. You'll gain field experience and be prepared for a number of career opportunities in various classroom and other settings.

Although competitive, the outlook for early education jobs in the years ahead looks promising:

Many veteran teachers approaching retirement will drive demand for new early education teachers
Parents will continue to seek quality early childhood programs for their children.

This program is approved by the New Hampshire State Department of Education for Teacher Certification as leading to an initial teacher's license or endorsement in New Hampshire. SNHU cannot guarantee licensure, certification, endorsement, or salary benefits. View disclosure information.

In addition to meeting all degree requirements, students seeking certification must meet all testing requirements for their specific certification area as required by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Students will not be recommended for certification until all requirements are met.

Program Description

The Early Childhood Education Program leads to teaching certification for birth through grade 3. The program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of child development, family systems, curriculum, instruction, and assessment. This program prepares educators with a solid foundation in developmental theory, teaching methods, and a content area concentration in an academic discipline. Students examine traditional and innovative research-based approaches to teaching a diverse population of young children.

Curriculum

SNHU's BA in early childhood education curriculum provides a solid background in theory and practical experience. In addition to academic learning, students may choose from several field work opportunities. You'll learn from faculty with real-world teaching experience who serve on local, state and national education boards. SNHU's small, personal environment gives early childhood education students ample opportunity to form strong relationships with their professors and the local learning community.

Students take core early education theory and content-focused classes. Field work includes math and literacy nights in local districts, networking opportunities with teachers and superintendents, and student teaching experiences. Early childhood education students develop e-portfolios they can use to showcase their work to prospective employers.

Courses To Prepare You For Your Career

SNHU's bachelor's in early childhood education program includes:

General education
Degree-specific courses

General Education Program

Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:

Writing
Communication
Analysis
Problem solving

All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.

View Full Curriculum in the Catalog

BA in Early Childhood Education

Courses May Include

DEV 106 Child Development

This course surveys and focuses on child growth and development from birth through the life cycle. Theories pertinent to individual stages are provided and the sociological, cultural and psychological aspects of human growth and development are included. An overview of all developmental stages will be covered.

EDU 102 Foundations of Education

This course give students an overview of American education including history, philosophy and current issues. It will introduce students to strategies for creating a learning environment that support student learning.

EDU 102L Foundations of Education Lab

This course will introduce students to classroom structures that support differentiated instruction and other research-based approaches for effective teaching. Topics include lesson planning and reflection, state standards and grade level expectations, small group and whole group instruction, and assessment tools strategies.

EDU 120 Developing Mathematical Thinking

This course will investigate the role that problem solving plays in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Students will learn strategies for assessing their own formal and informal problem solving strategies, as well as strategies for developing those same skills with students in the elementary grades. Mathematical content is investigated through a pedagogical perspective.

EDU 203 Professional Responsibility and Ethics in Teaching

The purpose of this course is to help students develop an understanding of teaching as a profession by drawing upon established and contemporary research, the wisdom of practice, and emerging educational policies and practice. In addition, this course will help students to prepare for the ethical problems they will routinely confront in their professional lives. Teachers require unique moral sensitivities and understandings. By the end of the course, students should have a command of the basic skills of ethical reasoning, a familiarity with the most important ethical concepts that apply to their work, and an ability to apply these skills and concepts.

EDU 208 Assessment, Accountability and Teaching in the Classroom

This basic course for classroom teachers explores various techniques necessary for designing and implementing authentic measures to assess successful student learning.

EDU 261 Emerging and Early Literacy: Grades K-4

The course will examine several major theoretical perspectives on literacy development from K through 4th grade. Students will explore and create literacy environments that encourage the development of reading, writing, listening and speaking in the early elementary classroom. Students will also learn a variety of effective strategies for the instruction and assessment of reading and writing in the early elementary classroom. Differentiating instruction to meet the needs of students from diverse backgrounds and with special needs will be integrated into the course content.

EDU 345 Teaching English Language Learners

In this course students will study the history, pedagogy and techniques for teaching English Language Learners. Methods and approaches used to teach in culturally diverse classrooms will be examined. This course will enable students to facilitate the modification of the content and the scaffolding of learning for English Language Learners.

EDU 359 Writing/Literature/Elementary

This course focuses on the relationship between literature written for children and young adolescents, and the development of competence in writing, speaking, and listening. The course provides a thorough overview of multiple genres of literature for children and young adolescents. The course examines principles of literacy learning in children and introduces theories, practices, and materials for teaching writing in elementary grades. Many ways to teach writing are included such as writing development, research on writing, curriculum development, methods of teaching writing, models for responding to and evaluating student writing, and classroom methods for teaching the writing process in elementary classrooms. Strategies for teaching writing, and literature to all children in a multi-cultural setting will be emphasized.

EDU 363 Literacy Facilitation for All Learners

This course focuses on the attributes of struggling readers and writers, on diagnosing difficulties and developing literacy intervention plans. Students do a case study by performing a literacy diagnosis of one struggling student, developing an intervention plan and beginning its implementation.

EDU 435 Learning with Technology

This course develops students' knowledge and skill with technology with the ultimate aim of using technology to enhance student learning and achievement. This course also introduces students to learning target (standards/outcomes) and a general model of curriculum development, implementation and assessment.

EDU 440 Differentiating Instruction

This course will examine processes for differentiating instruction to maximize learning by creating different learning experiences in response to students' varied needs. Special Education, English Learners, and cultural and linguistic diversity will be covered.

SPED 206 Interventions in Early Childhood

This course will study typical and atypical development of young children birth through age eight, with a focus on disabilities, developmental delays and exceptionalities, as well as the effects of disabling conditions on cognitive, physical, language, social and emotional development and functioning. Various assessment tools used within early childhood will be reviewed and discussed in relationship to developmental outcomes, interpretation, planning for intervention and curriculum and legal requirements and responsibilities for providing education to students with special needs.

EDU 487 Student Teaching I

This course is the first of two full-time student teaching experiences required for undergraduate students seeking teacher certification. Students spend four days each week in a NH public school under the mentorship of a certified teacher for one full semester. During this time, the student teacher receives close and continuous supervision and guidance from teaching personnel at the school and by a member of Southern New Hampshire University faculty. This course also includes seminars at the university. Acceptance to Student Teaching is required.

EDU 490 Student Teaching and Seminar

All teacher education majors seeking certification will participate in 16 weeks of full-time practice teaching at nearby schools. During the 16 weeks, the student teacher receives close and continuous supervision and guidance from teaching personnel at the school and by a member of the Southern New Hampshire University faculty. This course also includes seminars at the university.

Total Credits: 120 - 121

Program Outcomes

Campus Undergraduate Costs

Undergraduate Day Students Tuition Financial Aid

Our Manchester campus aims to keep tuition and related costs low for our students so that you can pursue your degree and your goals. More than 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships.

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...

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