Why would you be interested in accredited early childhood education degree programs in Alabama? Well, if you want a career in teaching young children, you want to study in an atmosphere that is progressive and yet retains the values of traditional education. Alabama is going through a revolution of sorts in education. The state has developed a strategy they refer to as Plan 2020. Its goal is to prepare all students to succeed in getting a high school diploma or in earning a college degree. Part of this strategy is to close the achievement gap and retain students in school until graduation. If that appeals to you, then you might catch some of Alabama’s educational enthusiasm. They are celebrating education, focusing on innovative programs and recognizing teachers who make a difference in the lives of their children. In other words, the educational atmosphere in Alabama is perfect for someone who wants to enter the teaching profession as an educator of young children, to get them excited about learning and to enable them to succeed. To see more accredited early childhood education programs in Alabama, visit Early Childhood Education Degree Programs in Alabama (A-I).
Jacksonville State University
College of Education and Professional Studies
This university was ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as 72nd of Regional Universities South. Courses are offered in traditional format or online according to the program. The goal of the school is to give students a broad foundational education in teaching plus the knowledge and skill sets for the certification they seek. The school also wants to develop students who can use creativity and reflective thinking in decision-making. The School of Education and Professional Studies offers 19 programs. In addition to education, there are applied technology and engineering; communications; family and consumer sciences and health, recreational and sports management.
Early Childhood and Elementary Dual Certification UG Program
This undergraduate program is offered in “block” format. There are courses in early childhood education; literacy development and “conceptual knowledge” in math, science and social studies. The unique programs feature specialized workshops, learning in a “community of learners” and personalized advising. There are classes in working with different types of learners; in teaching in the 21st century; managing a classroom and in reading diagnoses. The program also offers clinical experiential placements in teaching in urban, suburban or rural settings. Students in clinical classes are also placed in different types of early childhood and elementary education environments, working with children at birth-to- three; three-to-five; five-to-eight , PK and K-six levels. All education majors take courses in the Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative.
MSE Early Childhood
This degree program is for those who already have certification in Early Childhood Education. It includes coursework in early childhood issues, trends and teaching methods. There is opportunity to specialize with classed in children’s literature; and in early intervention, a course that deals with identification and addressing of early childhood education problems in reading and writing. The coursework can be taken online and all online work is applicable to the program. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to enter an alternative fifth-year program that qualifies them to sit for Certification in Early Childhood Education. The program contains 30 to 34 hours, depending upon whether students have foundational courses and upon electives chosen.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- National Council for Teacher Education
- Alabama Department of Education
Contact
Beeson School of Education
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road
Jacksonville, AL, 36265
256-782-8242
cfcalhoun@jsu.edu
http://www.jsu.edu/education/ci/
Samford University
Beeson School of Education
The University is ranked by U.S. News and World report as 147th of National Universities. They are also ranked 40th for Best Undergraduate Teaching Program. The Beeson School of Education was founded in 1915 and has about 657 students. The stated mission of the school is “to guide, develop and challenge students academically, professionally, personally and spiritually to prepare leaders who will positively influence and shape society.” Their program is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the four best in the nation.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
This degree program is taught in four intertwined semesters called blocks, each with “problem-based learning strategies,” technology and clinical experiences. The first semester is an introductory block including the issues of educational culture; clinical experience in educational culture, which is a 45-clock-hour course teaching in a school where the actual teacher acts as an aide, and introduction to technology. The second semester, or block, includes coursework on the development of young children; principles involved in early learning, the application of early learning techniques and the clinical component. The third block is an overview of child education including teaching the arts, which includes reading, remedial reading and language arts; the sciences, and reading, writing and assessment. The fourth semester is the pre-professional block and goes into special education needs of children.
Master of Science in Education, Elementary Education
This degree program contains 42 credit hours. It is intended for those who hold undergraduate degrees in fields other than early childhood education. The program is offered on campus and at clinical sites such as grade schools and child care facilities. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and, at the culmination of the degree program, will be given an application for Alabama State Teacher Certification. Graduates are eligible to attain a Class A certification. Some of the coursework includes: Child Growth and Learning Within the Educational Culture; Early Childhood and Elementary Education Programs; Teaching the Arts and Sciences and Current Issues in Education. The program ends in student teaching.
Accreditation
- National Council on Accreditation of Teacher Education
- National Council on Family Relations
Contact
Beeson School of Education
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229
205-726-2694
tbluiet@samford.edu
https://www.samford.edu/education/early-special-and-elementary-education
University of Alabama
College of Education
This university ranked 153rd in national universities in the U.S. News and World Report Rankings. It stresses teaching, research and science from local, state, national and international perspectives. The premier processes through which students learn to make strong decisions are reflection and dialog. There are 368 students enrolled in the School of Education and the student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education
This 120 hour program is a dual bachelor’s degree leading to Alabama’s Class B Certificate. There are 29 credit hours in professional studies, after which the program is taught in four blocks. The first block is an overview of early childhood and elementary education. The second block contains teaching competencies in the arts and math, as well as and classroom management. Arts, in third case, refer to English and language arts classes, writing and reading competencies and communication skills, and social studies. Before beginning the block, you must have taken twelve hours in math. There is also a practicum in this block. The third block deals with the sciences and social sciences, and how to teach them. This block contains a practicum, as well, and you must take twelve hours of sciences and social sciences before beginning. This program also is taught with the “Finish in Four” assurances of times courses advising.
Accreditation
- The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Contact
College of Education
University of Alabama
739 University Boulevard
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
205-348-3248
https://education.ua.edu
University of Alabama at Birmingham
School of Education
This university was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as 166th of National Universities. The online graduate program in education ranked 55th. The School of Education stresses innovation in teaching, in research and in service. They also want to establish their brand, meaning that they want to be known as a premier educator of teachers. Among the unique things about the school are the Center for Urban Education, which connects students to the Birmingham City Schools to provide a good education to the “disenfranchised” youth of the area, and the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center which promotes, among other things, teacher professional development programs.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education
This degree program contains 125 to 129 credit hours. It consists of the university-mandated liberal arts courses; core courses in education; professional studies, plus an internship and teaching field courses. Classes include child development theories; reading; methods in teaching primary math; teaching pedagogy; managing a classroom and other knowledge and skills to enable you to become an effective classroom leader in P through 8 education. You must take a practicum for every class in pedagogy for which you enroll.
Master of Education, Early Childhood
This graduate program has 31 to 34 hours, depending upon electives chosen. At least a third of the courses must come from those designated as “teaching field.” Additional required courses are: Curriculum Development in Elementary and Early Childhood Education; Critical Pedagogy in P-6 Education; Studying the Child in School and Education as a Profession. In addition, you must choose two electives from areas like language development; child psychology; race and ethnicity factors in American education and classes on social issues that affect American education. There are practicums built into the program as well. To apply, you must hold a valid Alabama teaching certificate in elementary education.
Master of Science in Early Childhood, Elementary Education
This is a 31-to-34 credit hour program. At least a third of the program must consist of teaching field courses that include Teaching Reading P-12; Readings in Teaching and Learning and two elective courses from among classes like Primary Math: A Constructivist Approach; Teaching Social Studies N-12 and Reading Assessment and Evaluation. Graduates will be eligible for a Class A teaching certificate in Alabama. Unconditional admission to the program requires you have a valid Alabama teaching certificate in Elementary Education. In addition, you must meet the requisites for admission to the School of Education and to the Graduate School. You must have a GPA of at least 3.0 in all courses to be legible for the class A teaching certificate at the culmination of this program.
Educational Specialist in Early Childhood Education
This is a post-master-level, class AA teaching certificate program. As in other programs, one-third of the program must be in teaching field courses. The Educational Specialist teaching field courses are: Education as a Profession; Problems and Issues in Education; Introduction to Teacher Leadership; Analysis and Evaluation of Teaching; Curriculum Projects; Practicum; Field Study and Readings in Teaching and Learning. There are also advanced-level electives and a required overview of Special Education along with required practicum. You must meet requisites for the graduate school and for the early childhood program to be admitted to this advanced program. If you are interested in online programs, check out 50 Most Affordable Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.
Doctor of Philosophy in Early Childhood Education
This flexible program allows students to tailor the program to their personal goals while attaining a strong fundamental knowledge and skill base in early childhood education. Doctoral candidates are plunged into an environment of experience, research and service. Areas of concentration include: Piagetian Theory; Early Childhood Literacy; Early Childhood Curriculum; early Childhood Teacher Leadership or Early Intervention Special Education. Graduates of this program will be qualifies to be successful teachers in universities. Courses are designed not only to give students the ability to conduct research, but also to analyze and utilize that research to design programs and curriculum. They also involve the use of technology in teaching and contain elements of service to the early childhood education community. There are 36 hours in the program. The majority of coursework is completed in the first part of the program and the last part is devoted solely to dissertation development.
Accreditation
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
- Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Contact
School of Education
University of Alabama, Birmingham
205-934-7003
emfinger@uab.edu
https://www.uab.edu/education/home/
University of South Alabama
College of Education
The College of Education is one of nine colleges in the university. It was founded in 1967, and stresses critical thinking, problem-solving and a spirit of entrepreneurship in its programs. Departments included in the college are: health, physical education and leisure studies; leadership and teacher education and professional studies. Students at the University of South Alabama College of Education interact and learn with peers and educators on campus, in the community and online.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies
This degree equips people to work with young children as educators, directors of child care facilities, and in Head Start and other early childhood programs. The 120 credit-hour program does not provide teacher certification. As a student in this program, you will learn how to provide learning opportunities and activities for young children that are appropriate for their developmental stages. Besides the core classes required of all students, there are electives that can help you tailor your program to your career needs. Many courses are offered online or on campus in the evenings so that adults can continue to work while they earn the degree. The programs require an internship that may be taken at a facility where you are already employed.
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
This 30-hour graduate degree is offered completely online. It is designed for people who already have Alabama Class B certification; upon graduation you will be eligible for Class A certification. To be admitted to the program you must have a passing score on the Early Childhood Content Knowledge Praxis II Exam or acceptable scores on the GMAT or GRE. There are 15 hours of Curriculum and Teaching classes like Elementary School Curriculum; Instructional Planning in the Elementary School; Trends and Practices in Teaching Reading and electives. There are required Educational Foundations classes and research classed as well. The program allows you to choose your required nine hours of electives from any course offered in the program that is at the 500 level or higher. In addition, every education program requires students to take an introduction to special education course. The program culminates in a comprehensive exam.
Instructional Specialist EdS M in Early Childhood Education
This is an advanced degree post-master’s program. It contains 30 credit hours and leads to your attainment of Alabama Class AA certification. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply to the program, and hold a valid Class A certification in Elementary Education. You must also have a minimum of two years of teaching experience. There are six hours of Curriculum and teaching courses, three hours of foundational courses, nine hours of research and evaluation and twelve hours in the teaching field classes. As in other degrees, all certification programs require an overview of special education class.
Accreditation
- National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Alabama State Department of Education
Contact
College of Education
University of South Alabama
307 N. University Blvd.
Mobile, AL. 36688
251-380-2761
gcarpenter@southalabama.edu
https://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/ceps/
Of course, this list is not intended as a comprehensive study of education programs in Alabama. It is simply a valuable tool for you to use when you select programs that interest you. When you develop your “short list” of accredited early childhood education degree programs in Alabama, you can go right to their websites for in-depth profiles of their programs.
