Three CAEP accredited education degree programs in Montana focus on early childhood teaching to help undergrads or post-grads receive the P-3 Endorsement. Positioned in the Rockies as the “Treasure State,” Montana is inhabited by 1.043 million people, 6.3 percent of whom are under age five. Located in Helena, the Montana Office of Public Instruction has created the Early Childhood Project to coordinate programs like Best Beginnings and Head Start for the youngest Montanans. Montana also has 496 school districts, including Billings Public Schools, enlightening 142,908 K-12 students total. The BLS reports that Montana employs 4,260 primary, 420 kindergarten, and 1,130 preschool teachers reaping an average yearly wage of $46,690. Make your way into the West’s urban and rural classrooms with these early childhood education degrees in Montana.
Montana State University Billings
College of Education
Led by Chancellor Dr. Ron Larsen, Montana State University Billings is a public, co-educational teaching institution endowed for $21.9 million that’s split into five colleges to educate 3,972 undergrad Yellowjackets and employ 651 staff upon its 112-acre campus in Yellowstone County. Ranked the 58th best Western bang for the buck in Washington Monthly, MSUB is named America’s 515th best college for education with the 126th top college food on Niche. The College of Education has an 89 percent placement rate and median salary of $32,500 from its CAEP accredited education degree programs in Montana.
Bachelor of Science in Education Broadfield Major in Elementary Education with Early Childhood Education Minor
Admitting undergrads with a median GPA of 3.44, MSUB’s Bachelor of Science in Education offers a Broadfield Major in Elementary Education that can be partnered with the Early Childhood Education Minor to gain Montana certification from Birth through 8th Grade. Within the 126-credit framework, students complete 56 major credits and 24 minor credits for courses from reading diagnosis to cognitive development and childhood health. Starting in the sophomore year, majors take clinical courses requiring 45 clock hours per semester credit. Seniors complete a semester-long student-teaching internship at schools like Orchard Elementary and Messiah Lutheran Preschool. Undergrads may also join the Yellowjacket Tutors, pursue the Behavior Analyst Certification online, and study abroad from Macedonia to South Korea.
Accreditation
• Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
COE Building, Room 291
1500 University Drive
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 657-2315
mfishbaugh@msubillings.edu
http://www.msubillings.edu/coe/degrees.htm
University of Montana Western
Education Department
Boasting record-breaking enrollment of 1,501 Bulldogs in 2016, the University of Montana Western is a public, co-educational MUS constituent founded in 1893 that’s now led by Chancellor Beth Weatherby and endowed for $4.3 million upon its 20-acre campus in Dillon near Beaverhead River. Distinguished as America’s 218th safest college on Niche, UMW is ranked the eighth best Western college, eighth top value, and third best public university by the U.S. News. The Education Department uses the innovative Experience One (XI) block scheduling to conduct CAEP accredited education degree programs in Montana.
Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 3, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Offering a hybrid format of online and campus-based block courses, the Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 3 Bachelor of Science (B.S.) at Western is structured to prepare undergrads for lead teaching or administrative roles in classrooms catering to youth from infancy to age eight. The 126-credit degree clears Class 2 teaching licensure requirements with interactive courses like positive guidance, childhood growth, curriculum implementation, cultural diversity, and creative arts expression. Credits would transfer from the A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education. Students develop a portfolio via LiveText by completing 150 hours of practicum before the culminating K-3 teaching internship. Nearby placements include Parkview Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, and Ravalli Head Start.
Accreditation
• Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
Main Hall, Room 351
710 S. Atlantic Street
Dillon, MT 59725
(406) 683-7042
vikki.howard@umwestern.edu
https://w.umwestern.edu/department/education/
University of Montana Missoula
Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences
Sitting below Mount Sentinel on a 220-acre, Renaissance Revival-style campus along the Clark Fork River, the University of Montana Missoula is a scenic public, four-year institution directed by President Sheila Stearns to educate 12,922 Grizzlies in the Big Sky Conference. Graded B for America’s 249th best college location on Niche, UMT was ranked the 146th best public university and 176th top research college by Forbes. Established in 1900, the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences was picked as America’s 135th best graduate education school by the U.S. News and recognized for a Praxis exam pass rate that’s 13 points above the statewide average.
M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education
Unlike the first two CAEP accredited education degree programs in Montana, Missoula’s M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is open to post-bachelor’s students who currently work as certified teachers or registered childcare providers. Offering an online format, the degree leads to the P-3 Endorsement by building the pedagogical skills that will promote improved outcomes for general and at-risk youth. The 36-credit curriculum integrates courses like childhood ethnography, technological applications, and educational research with actual practice in the Learning and Belonging (LAB) School. Teachers wear a GoPro HERO camera to tape their lessons and create a capstone portfolio. Other opportunities include earning the $1,000 Professional Development Incentive, adding a Literacy Endorsement, and joining the Graduate Student Association.
Accreditation
• Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Contact
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-4217
pjwcehs@mso.umt.edu
https://coehs.umt.edu/departments/currinst/default.php
The NCES reports that registration for America’s PreK-level education rose from 96,000 in 1980 to 1.18 million kids in 2008. Although it’s not legally required, Montanans are finding that early childhood teaching sets youngsters up for long-term success. One study referenced by Huffington Post showed that students who forego preschool are 60 percent more likely to not attend college! Teaching in early childhood generally requires the Class 2 Standard Educator license in Montana. As demand continues growing by 7 percent through 2024, job prospects are great after these CAEP accredited education degree programs in Montana.
Related Resource: 20 Best Online Master’s in Early Childhood Education
