Early Childhood Education Degree Online

Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of early learners? IWU’s Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education gives you the tools you need to serve the learning and developmental needs and goals of early childhood in several education and childcare settings. Plus, accelerate your learning and your licensure in early childhood education – earn your child development degree online in just over two years – fully online!

Why Pursue My Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Online at IWU?

From field experiences in real-world early learning and development settings to offering early education degrees fully online, IWU has aimed for the highest caliber of a university education experience for more than a century—and online education for more than a quarter century. As an online teacher preparation program, it emphasizes developmentally appropriate practice (DAP), inclusive early childhood education, and collaboration with families and communities.

Today, we are proud to offer the support you need to foster your positive impact on early development—through faculty who bring a practitioner-centered approach to your learning and curriculum aligned to industry standards and best practices. Our Christian faculty teach from the same biblical worldview valued on our campus, so that students can implement these principles in a fulfilling career. Additionally, your tuition rates are locked in the moment you start. You will experience no tuition hikes for the duration of your program.

What Will I Learn in an Early Childhood Education Degree Online Program?

This accredited online early childhood education degree equips you to have an impact on early learning. You’ll gain the conceptual and applied knowledge needed to develop research-based early learning education programs, as well as an effective assessment approach to learner performance. You’ll also cultivate vital communication, critical thinking, and leadership proficiencies, alongside classroom management skills, and prepare to pursue your ECE certification.

What You'll Study

Coursework for your early childhood education degree online covers how to:

Advocate for the developmental needs of young children through strong family and community engagement
Create challenging and supportive research-based learning environments
Evaluate and use multiple assessment tools and approaches
Demonstrate your competencies in communication, critical thinking, human interaction, teacher leadership and professionalism
Integrate Christian principles into your profession and learning while supporting inclusive early childhood education
Apply instructional methods in math and science for young children across diverse learning settings

Courses in this Program

These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence. For a full list of courses and prerequisites required to complete your degree, please visit the course catalog. Click on a course below to view the description.

ECED-101,ECED-105,ECED-125,ECED-130,ECED-135,ECED-305,ECED-301,ECED-302,ECED-303,ECED-304,ECED-322,ECED-325,ECED-332,ECED-331,ECED-401,ECED-405,ECED-411,ECED-422,ECED-430A,ECED-430B,ECED-135,ECED-303, ECED-325,ECED-331,ECED-332

Program Requirements

Admission Requirements

Proof of high school graduation or GED certification.
Submit a signed FERPA Release Form.
Proof of up-to-date TB test.
A signed Field Placement Requirement Notification form.
Applicants who do not hold a valid license in the field of education will be required to submit a criminal history background check conducted at the applicant's expense.
- Admission to and/or progression in designated programs will be based upon criteria set in the Criminal History Background Check Admissions Policy.
Original transcripts from all previous college or university study at a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Prior completion of at least 48 transferable credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university or an institution accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education is required before the candidate is eligible to start a bachelor core program.

NOTE: Applicants should be aware that Indiana State Legislation has mandated that expanded background checks are required for those working with students in Indiana schools.
- Applicants will also be required to adhere to any additional State Mandates required for educators.
- Though candidates will be required to submit an initial background check and other documentation that is acceptable to the university as part of their application materials, those successful submissions, will only serve to gain admittance to that academic program.
- All accepted candidates should understand, that at the candidate’s expense, additional background checks, proof of mandated trainings, and/or health related documentation will most likely be required before participating in clinical experiences.

NOTE: Applicants need to be prepared to have vaccination records on hand, if requested by an outside facility, to prevent delay of any required Field Experiences. Since this is an “outside” of IWU request, it will be up to the student to be prepared.

Graduation Requirements

Completion of 120 credit hours.
Completion of the required prerequisite and core courses with a minimum grade of "C" and a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher (Licensure).
Completion of 30 hours of general education requirements as specified (General Education Requirements).
Provide passing scores for all required state licensure content and pedagogy examinations.
Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

Additional Requirements

Program Requirements

The BS-Early Childhood Program is a lock-step program. Students who are unable to complete an ECED course or who receive an unsatisfactory grade for their specific program will be allowed to repeat that course with another group of students if arrangements are made with the Registration Change Counselor and the School of Integrated Learning and Development. Tuition and fees will be charged for repeating the course.
All BS Early Childhood Education candidates will be required to provide passing scores for Indiana's approved content area examination(s) based on the following schedule, or will be administratively withdrawn from the program:
- If scheduled for student teaching in September, testing is due the preceding April 1st.
- If scheduled for student teaching in January, testing is due the preceding September 1st.

Student Teaching and Clinical Experience Requirements

All candidates must complete fourteen weeks of full-time student teaching in a P-3 setting.
All core course work prior to the required 14-week student teaching must be completed with a minimum grade of no less than "C" in each core course to be eligible to student teach.
All placements for student teaching will be made by the Office of Clinical Experiences. Candidates are not to contact any school or attempt to secure their own student teaching assignment at any time.
Removal from a student teaching experience, and/or field experience, may result in the candidate being permanently withdrawn from the program. A grade of "No Credit" will be issued for the student teaching course and a failing grade will be issued for field experience courses.

Completion Requirements

Upon completion of the BS Early Childhood Education Licensure Program, candidates will be recommended for P-3 Educator Licensure in the state of Indiana. Candidates seeking licensure in states other than Indiana bear the responsibility to determine whether completion of the IWU BS Early Childhood Education program will meet the academic and assessment requirements of the state in which licensure is sought.

Accreditation

Additional Requirements

Program Requirements

The BS-Early Childhood Program is a lock-step program. Students who are unable to complete an ECED course or who receive an unsatisfactory grade for their specific program will be allowed to repeat that course with another group of students if arrangements are made with the Registration Change Counselor and the School of Integrated Learning and Development. Tuition and fees will be charged for repeating the course.
All BS Early Childhood Education candidates will be required to provide passing scores for Indiana's approved content area examination(s) based on the following schedule, or will be administratively withdrawn from the program:
- If scheduled for student teaching in September, testing is due the preceding April 1st.
- If scheduled for student teaching in January, testing is due the preceding September 1st.

Student Teaching and Clinical Experience Requirements

All candidates must complete fourteen weeks of full-time student teaching in a P-3 setting.
All core course work prior to the required 14-week student teaching must be completed with a minimum grade of no less than "C" in each core course to be eligible to student teach.
All placements for student teaching will be made by the Office of Clinical Experiences. Candidates are not to contact any school or attempt to secure their own student teaching assignment at any time.
Removal from a student teaching experience, and/or field experience, may result in the candidate being permanently withdrawn from the program. A grade of "No Credit" will be issued for the student teaching course and a failing grade will be issued for field experience courses.

Completion Requirements

Upon completion of the BS Early Childhood Education Licensure Program, candidates will be recommended for P-3 Educator Licensure in the state of Indiana. Candidates seeking licensure in states other than Indiana bear the responsibility to determine whether completion of the IWU BS Early Childhood Education program will meet the academic and assessment requirements of the state in which licensure is sought.

Early Childhood Education Bachelors Degree Online