Future early childhood teachers can obtain the pedagogical skills to help young minds develop in several CAEP accredited education degree programs in Kansas. Occupying 82,278 square miles of the Great Plains, Kansas is America’s geographic center with the 34th biggest population at 2.91 million. Education is a significant piece of Kansas’ $140.9 billion economy with 293 school districts statewide. In 2013, K-12 public schools in Kansas employed 41,243 certified teachers for instructing content to 489,043 students. Early childhood education majors can also work in the Kansas Preschool Program (KPP) and childcare centers like Bright Horizons. The BLS reports from May 2016 show that preschool and kindergarten teachers in the “Sunflower State” earn average salaries of $28,800 and $49,320 respectively. The following early childhood education programs (P-Z) prepare Kansans for teaching PreK-3. To see more accredited education degree programs in Kansas, visit Early Childhood Education Degree Programs in Kansas (A-O).
Pittsburg State University
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Endowed for $71.22 million, Pittsburg State University is a public, co-educational ASAIHL teaching institution originally founded in 1903 by Emporia State that’s now educating over 7,200 Gorillas at a 19:1 student-faculty ratio from 223 rural acres in Southeast Kansas’ Crawford County. Declared America’s 183rd “Best College Campus” on Niche, PSU is ranked the 94th best Midwestern school and 24th top public university by the U.S. News. Within the College of Arts & Sciences, the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences offers six bachelor’s, including one of the accredited education degree programs in Kansas, with 82 percent acceptance.
Early Childhood Unified Program
Spanning 10 semesters full-time, including two summer sessions, the Early Childhood Unified Program at Pittsburg State was launched in 2008 to confer an integrative B.S.Ed. degree for undergrads interested in teaching young children from birth through third grade in public schools. The 126-credit curriculum develops accurate developmental infant-toddler practices with courses like early literacy and disability assessment in primary children. Satisfying Kansas State Department of Education requirements, the program includes 100 field practicum hours and two student teaching assignments. Undergrads also develop hands-on experience at the NAEYC-accredited Little Gorillas Preschool on-campus. Other opportunities include conducting research in the Child Development Lab, joining the Honors College, teaching English abroad in China, and pledging Phi Upsilon Omicron.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1701 S. Broadway Street
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 235-4457
psuinfo@pittstate.edu
http://www.pittstate.edu/department/family/ecup/
Southwestern College
Professional Studies Division
Led by President Bradley J. Andrews, Southwestern College is a private, nonprofit higher learning institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1885 that’s opened its doors to over 1,900 undergrad Moundbuilders either face-to-face on its 82-acre rural campus in Winfield or online. Ranked the 115th best Midwestern college with the 126th top online bachelor’s degrees nationwide by the U.S. News, SC is deemed America’s 26th “Best Online College” with A- value on Niche. The Professional Studies Division offers 25 degrees from accounting to special education with six-week online courses for 92 percent job placement.
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education
Currently charging $455 per credit, the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education at Southwestern stands out among CAEP accredited education degree programs in Kansas by preparing students to teach children from birth through age eight online. Rooted in Methodist values, the 124-credit curriculum lays the foundation for licensed teaching with courses like motor development, expressive arts, reading process, special education, instructive technology, and English as a second language. Online courses could be reduced based on life experience, military service, or CLEP/DANTES testing. Each online SC applicant will need 6+ college-level credits with a 2.75 GPA or better for admission. Coursework also integrates student teaching at partnering programs, such as Head Start, PALS, and REACH.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
2040 South Rock Road
Wichita, KS 67207
(888) 684-5335
enrollment@sckans.edu
http://ps.sckans.edu/programs/undergraduate/education/early-childhood-education
University of Kansas
School of Education
Welcoming more than 28,100 Jayhawks from 105 countries, the University of Kansas is a public, land-grant doctoral-granting RU/VH institution within the Big 12 Conference that’s carrying a $1.86 billion endowment for 200+ programs of study on its main 1,100-acre urban campus in Lawrence and beyond. Crowned America’s 133rd “Best College for Education” on Niche, KU is ranked the 118th best national university, 56th top public school, and 78th best for vets college by the U.S. News. Known for the Beach Center on Disability, the School of Education is also acclaimed for the country’s 136th best online graduate teaching options.
Unified Early Childhood (B.S.E.)
Admitting 91 percent of applicants with an average GPA of 3.35, the Unified Early Childhood (B.S.E.) is one of the accredited education degree programs in Kansas for undergrads to achieve initial teaching licensure in regular and special education for PreK-3. Building on the KU Core, the 120-credit degree provides a powerful combination of courses like inclusive early intervention and actual classroom experience. Majors must complete fieldwork in rural, suburban, and urban schools for 800+ hours after student teaching. Past placements have included Blue Valley School District, Lawrence Public Schools, Olathe District Schools, and Northeast Kansas Head Start. Students could also add the TESOL Endorsement, join the Kansas NEA Chapter, and teach abroad in Bangalore.
Early Childhood Unified (M.S.E.)
Adhering to CAEP standards, the Early Childhood Unified (M.S.E.) presently costs $410 in-state or $958 out-of-state per credit for Kansas graduates to develop the pedagogical know-how and credentialing to advance into leadership roles. Emphasizing team-based processes, the 33-credit curriculum builds holistic, functional strategies for developing young children from birth to age eight in regular and special education settings. Master’s courses have a hybrid format for face-to-face meetings at the Lawrence or Edwards campus one evening per week and online supplements. Before the thesis or capstone project, student teachers must complete two 240-hour field experiences at NAEYC-accredited childcare settings. Admission requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA and passing PRAXIS scores.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Pearson Hall, Room 521
1122 W. Campus Road
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-4954
specialeduadm@ku.edu
University of Saint Mary
School of Education
Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Saint Mary is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic liberal arts institution tracing back to 1923 that’s now enrolling around 800 Spires in 26 bachelor’s programs from its hilly 200-acre headquarters in Leavenworth and satellite off Pflumm Road in Overland Park. Lauded as America’s 387th “Hardest College to Get Into” on Niche, USM has consistently been featured in The Princeton Review’s best Midwestern schools since 2005. The School of Education delivers CAEP accredited education degree programs in Kansas with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio and 70 percent retention.
Bachelor of Science in Child Development Education
Offering a maximum of 64 transfer credits, the Bachelor of Science in Child Development Education at USM is a flexible, affordable degree completion program charging just $395 per credit hour to students with an early childhood associate degree. The 128-credit curriculum focuses on producing caring, licensed instructors for children during their earliest school years in grades PreK-3. Courses can be taken full- or part-time in an accelerated, eight-week format with online and evening sessions in Overland Park. Topics addressed will include curriculum design, pedagogical techniques, family systems, emerging literacy, and child psychology before an advanced teaching practicum in the Kansas City Metro Area. Start dates are available each August, October, January, March, and May for convenience.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
4500 College Blvd.
Overland Park, KS 66211
(913) 345-8288
howardp@stmary.edu
http://www.stmary.edu/success/Degree-Completion/Child-Development-Education.aspx
Washburn University
College of Arts & Sciences
Nestled on 160 urban acres in the quaint capital of Topeka, Livability’s ninth most affordable city, Washburn University is a public, co-educational CNAHEC institution founded in 1865 that’s grown a $156.48 million endowment to educate over 6,600 Ichabods, including notable alumni like Bradbury Thompson and Nancy Moritz. Recognized for America’s 170th “Best College Dorms” on Niche, Washburn is ranked the 94th best Midwestern school and 24th top public university by the USNWR. The College of Arts & Sciences has an HEOA Title II pass rate of 99 percent for producing teachers in 18 bachelor’s and 11 graduate programs.
Bachelor of Education in Elementary with Early Childhood Unified
Washburn’s Bachelor of Education in Elementary has several CAEP accredited education degree programs in Kansas rolled into one with six licensing tracks, including Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3). This 120-credit plan blends courses like educational planning, family dynamics, preschool curriculum, and learning assessment with infant-toddler practicum. Undergrads benefit from the Comer School Development Program, which matches them with low-income, minority kids in the Topeka Public Schools USD. Before student teaching, students also practice their skills on the cutting-edge Promethean Interactive Whiteboard in Carnegie Hall. Other valuable opportunities include entering the Topeka Collegiate STEM Lesson Competition, studying abroad in Belize for 16 days, joining the Washburn Education Association, and earning the Gladys V. Houston Scholarship.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
Carnegie Hall, Room 202
1700 SW College Avenue
Topeka, KS 66621
(785) 670-1427
katy.etzel@washburn.edu
Wichita State University
College of Education
Generating $47 million in research expenditures yearly, Wichita State University is a public, doctoral-granting RU/H institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents since 1895 to enlighten around 14,500 Shockers from its 330-acre urban headquarters in Wichita and extensions from Maize to Derby. Placed as America’s 224th “Best Greek Life College” on Niche, WSU was ranked in the top 15 percent of universities for adult learners by Washington Monthly. Housing several accredited education degree programs in Kansas, the College of Education was also distinguished for the 183rd best online graduate teaching preparation by the USNWR.
Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Program
Retaining 72 percent of freshmen on average, Wichita State’s Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Program is a multi-faceted, CAEP-approved option for undergrads to receive general and special education licensing in Kansas for teaching children from birth through third grade. The 137-credit curriculum builds the developmental knowledge and evidence-based teaching practices needed to tailor creative content for youth with or without exceptionalities. Expect taking courses like infant assessment, early literacy, educational technology, and co-teaching collaboration with an 18:1 student-faculty ratio. Didactic learning is bolstered by 240 practicum hours before two student-teaching internships. Majors may also work in the Child Development Center, contribute to Project ALIVE, study abroad in Paraguay, or volunteer for Healthy Families America.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1845 Fairmount Street
Wichita, KS 67260
(316) 978-3456
COE-CI.Student@wichita.edu
http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=coedearlychildhood
Early childhood education may not be the highest-paid teaching specialty, but it’s certainly the most fun with lively, young children under age eight. Majoring in early childhood is the ideal fit for aspiring teachers wishing to leave a positive lasting mark on successfully shaping the first impressionable years of toddlers’ schooling. The BLS reports that jobs for Pre-K and elementary school teachers will grow by 7 and 6 percent respectively for around 2.1 million openings nationwide by 2024. Midwesterners can get the certification needed to compete for classroom positions by choosing one of these CAEP accredited education degree programs in Kansas.
