This degree is not accepting students. It has been replaced with the Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education Degree.
This degree prepares the next wave of early childhood educators—people who will dramatically shape and influence the lives of children. The program includes a firm grounding in curriculum development and teaching, as well as in a content concentration.
This program is nationally recognized by the National Association for the Education for Young Children (NAEYC).
This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
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No job is more challenging, rewarding, or important than teaching small children. As an early childhood educator, you'll help shape the character-and future-of every child in your classroom. If you want to work with preschool and primary school-aged children, this degree will enhance your teaching skills in this area, and will prepare you to succeed.
For more than a century, Northern Arizona University has produced leaders for America schools. Our graduates have a 98 percent pass rate on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment exam. The College of Education is technologically advanced, culturally responsive, and student-focused. Small class sizes guarantee that you will receive lots of individual attention. You'll also do plenty of classroom teaching.
Note: If you want to major in Early Childhood Education, you must apply and be accepted to the Teacher Education Program in addition to being admitted to the university.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements.
Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills, professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s):
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
Major GPA | 2.5 |
Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 155 |
Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
Foreign Language | Optional |
Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
University Honors Program | Optional |
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
The BSEd Early Childhood Education degree program, which leads to Arizona teacher certification, provides candidates with the necessary foundation to teach preschool and primary school-aged children (birth through 3rd grade). This nationally recognized program emphasizes sound pedagogical practices while stressing the skills, knowledge, and dispositions necessary to confidently enter the field of education. Candidates engage in a purposeful program of study grounded in theory and infused with practical experiences in schools. Candidates pursue foundational coursework in mathematics, educational foundations, political science, bilingual and multi-cultural education, educational psychology, special education, and curriculum and instruction. Throughout the program of study, students participate in rich practica experiences and the degree culminates with student teaching in birth through age four, and kindergarten through grade three placements.
Throughout the program of study, candidates demonstrate outcomes aligned to standards affiliated with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium. Nationally recognized by NAEYC, the program is designed to: promote child development and learning, build family and community relationships, use a variety of assessment strategies to support young children and families, use developmentally effective teaching and learning approaches, use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum, and identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession.
Candidates who complete this program will be prepared to join the next wave of early childhood educators—people who will dramatically shape and influence the lives of children in educational venues, as well as non-profits, state and national agencies, and other venues where specialized coursework in early childhood is required or preferred for the position.
Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC).
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child development knowledge base. They use their understanding of young children's characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on children's development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
More Information
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
To be eligible for admission to the program, candidates must meet the following requirements:
45 units of coursework which includes:
Take the following 69 units with a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 with no course lower than a "C":
In all of our teacher education programs, you are required to complete a student teaching or internship experience. In addition, a minimum number of units of practicum is required, which involves supervised field experience with a practicing teacher.
Before being accepted to student teaching, the following criteria must be met:
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Be aware that Arizona state teacher certification requirements leading to Institutional Recommendations may change at any time, and may impact program of study requirements.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.