The North Carolina Central University Bachelor of Science Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Education program will prepare you to work professionally with children ages birth through kindergarten, whether they are developing typically or at-risk for or diagnosed with a disability. You will gain an understanding of the foundations and theories related to child development and early childhood education, and will learn how to create learning environments that foster children's development, how to select materials and use appropriate teaching methods, how to incorporate technology into the curriculum, how to plan an anti-biased multi-cultural classroom environment, and how to involve families in their children's education.

The program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and the opportunity for state teacher licensure. To earn a teaching license, you must meet the requirements and competencies specified by the Department of Human Sciences, the School of Education, and the Department of Public Instruction. These include completeing a semester-long, supervised internship in a public school or an approved early childhood education program and passing the national teacher's examination. Certification qualifies you to work with young children and their families in a variety of settings, including public and private school, More at Four and Head Start programs, cooperative extension services, child care centers, home-based early intervention services, child care resource and referral agencies, high-quality early childhood education programs, and university-based education programs.

The online program offers the same courses as the on-campus program, but you will take the coursework in your major entirely online. Course delivery is asynchronous and enhanced by various interactive Internet-based learning applications, including streaming audio and video. Regular NCCU faculty teach your online courses, with some adjunct faculty approved by the School of Education.

The program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the NC Department of Public Instruction.

Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Birth to Kindergarten Teacher Education major program requires 77 semester credit hours beyond the 41-credit university core, including a semester-long, supervised internship in a public school or an approved early childhood education program.

If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, earning the major in birth to kindergarten teacher education will require a minimum of two semesters of full-time study.

For a full list of degree requirements, click here.

Admission

For a full list of admission requirements, click here. Acceptance of transfer credit to fulfill program or elective requirements will be made on the basis of the university policies described in the university catalog.

NCCU's application form is available here.

Tuition and fees

For information about tuition and fees, click here.

For further information

Go to the program Web site, email us, or contact the online degree advisor at 919-530-7147.