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.
Excellence in Elementary Education
- Our Elementary Education program, including Early Childhood Education, is accredited
by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Missouri
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
- Approximately 95% of UCM Early Childhood Education graduates are employed by the time
they get their diploma.
- Top 10%: Best Value in Education (College Factual, 2021)
Unique learning opportunities in early childhood education
What is an Early Childhood Education degree without learning by doing? As an ECE major
at UCM, you’ll grow your skills through experiential learning opportunities within
a clinical format.
- Clinical experience: Our Elementary Education degree program in Early Childhood Education offers a competitive
clinical model to better prepare educators for the ECE classroom. This format is a
key reason aspiring teachers seek out our undergraduate program to earn their elementary
teaching degrees. You’ll receive extensive classroom teaching opportunities in multiple
grade levels and settings well before you graduate. Our early childhood courses, field-embedded
activity planning and first-hand experiences will empower you to cultivate teaching
skills in real classrooms — and help you stand out to future employers.
- Student activities and organizations: As an Elementary Education major, you may choose to join Early Childhood Young Professionals
(ECYP), our chapter of the Missouri Association for the Education of Young Children.
Our program faculty sponsor this organization and support student-led initiatives
throughout the year. You may also want to be involved in the Missouri State Teachers
Association, Student Council for the Exceptional Child and Kappa Delta Pi, an international
honor society for Education majors.
- Study abroad: If gaining new perspectives and visiting other countries sounds exciting to you,
consider going overseas during the program. The School of Teaching and Learning sponsors
two study abroad trips each year connected to your early childhood courses.
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.
A high demand for UCM Early Childhood Education graduates
Graduates of our Early Childhood Development program are highly sought after and often
hired before graduation. In fact, approximately 95% of Early Childhood Development
program graduates are employed by the time they walk across the stage and receive
their diploma. Additionally, nearly 80% of College of Education alumni, including
ECE majors, are teaching in Missouri schools, representing UCM in three out of four
of the state’s school districts.
Take a moment to explore options for early childhood education teaching jobs using
the interactive tool below. You can gain insights on teacher salaries, job outlooks
and more.
Financial assistance options for your Early Childhood Education degree
In addition to our competitive tuition rates, scholarships are a critical resource
for our hardworking ECE students and may be beneficial to you as you build a plan
to pursue your teacher degree and finance your college education. Here are several scholarships specifically for Early Childhood Education majors:
- Merle and Maxine Rider Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
- Merle and Lillian Rider Scholarship in Early Childhood Education
- Curriculum and Instruction Retired Faculty Outstanding Student Teacher Award
- Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Scholarship
Proud to Partner With UCM Early Childhood Education
John Finnane, Assistant Superintendent, Warrensburg School District
“Early childhood candidates from the University of Central Missouri have developed
a robust skill set, confidence that stands out and the ability to receive and apply
feedback to continue improving their craft. The result of a strong partnership between
school districts and the educational preparation program at UCM is the development
of highly skilled teacher candidates who become outstanding professional educators!”
Kappa Delta Pi, Honors in Education
Fostering excellence in education and promoting fellowship
Founded in 1911, Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) is an international honors society in education.
This global organization supports and advances those dedicated to teaching. In its
100 years, KDP has consistently grown and now exceeds 1.2 million initiated memberships.
Learn More About KDP
Meet Emma B.
Why Emma chose the UCM Early Childhood Education major
“I want to have a great impact on young learners and help build their love for learning
and a good foundation for growth. I chose UCM’s Early Childhood program because I
felt like this was the best place to learn all I needed to reach my previously mentioned
goals. I was absolutely right! All of the faculty members that are in this program
want the absolute best for their teacher candidates.”
Confidence in UCM ECE Graduates
Stephanie Jackson, Principal, Parkview Elementary, Sedalia School District
“Parkview Elementary has been fortunate to work closely with the UCM Early Childhood
Teacher Education program and hire multiple graduates over the years. I'm always confident
the students have received a strong foundation in early literacy and math skills.
The senior block is so valuable and prepares students with the tools to manage a classroom
and the experience to quickly transition into their own classroom after graduation!”
leftright
