Education Degree Programs at Florida State College at Jacksonville
Florida State College at Jacksonville appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Best Online Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs.
Students who want to work as teachers in elementary schools and daycare centers can earn their degrees from Florida State College at Jacksonville. The college offers a curriculum that includes online classes with real-world experiences. It will help students find schools to do their fieldwork in and can offer help to students living in Florida and other states. Both degree programs include a fieldwork component.
The first program offered is a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. Designed for those who want to work with young children, it prepares students to work with kids in daycare facilities through the third grade in elementary school. The program includes 60 credits of general education courses and 60 credits of professional and education classes. Students will need to submit their fingerprints and pass a criminal background check before they can do the 150 hours of required fieldwork. The college also asks students to create a portfolio and to submit the portfolio before they graduate.
An Associate of Science in Early Childhood Management is also available from Florida State College at Jacksonville. This program takes only two years to complete, while the bachelor’s program requires four years of full-time study to finish. Students will take 33 credits of professional classes, including Observing and Recording Child Behavior, Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Program Development in Early Childhood Education. Some of the available electives for these students include Infant and Toddler Care, Overview of Child Care Center Management, Introduction to Education and Child Care and Education Legal and Financial Issues. This program focuses more on the administration side of childcare rather than working with individual children.
Florida State College at Jacksonville is home to the Educator Preparation Institute (EPI), which offers help to students before they become teachers. The EPI also offers an alternative education program designed for students who want to become licensed teachers. As it is an accelerated program, students can meet licensing requirements and get their licenses in 24 months or less. The Florida Department of Education approved this program and the curriculum established by the college. Students can also turn to the EPI for support as they make the transition into the teaching profession.
About Florida State College at Jacksonville
Florida State College at Jacksonville is a member of the Florida College System and offers both two-year and four-year degree programs. Though it offers some of the same courses and programs that local community colleges do, its bachelor’s programs helped it earn state college status. Often called FSCJ, the college opened in the 1960s as Florida Junior College. It offered only associate degree programs at the time and competed against some of the other community colleges opening in the state. To honor the city of Jacksonville, the college adopted the name Florida Community College at Jacksonville in the 1980s. After becoming part of the Florida College System in 2009, it changed its name once again to FSCJ.
FSCJ now has one large campus in downtown Jacksonville that serves as its main or flagship campus. English, auto mechanic and other programs are available on that campus. The college also has both a north and a south campus as well as a campus in Kent. Some of the programs it offers are also available online, though many programs have some offline requirements too. Students in an education program will do residency and fieldwork in schools in their neighborhoods and take courses online. FSCJ is one of the state’s largest community colleges with an enrollment of nearly 50,000 students.
Florida State College at Jacksonville Accreditation Details
All the education programs offered by FSCJ have accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). This accreditation applies to all the other programs offered by the college and allows the school to do several things. It grants FSCJ the right to give degrees to students who graduate and to accept federal and state funds from students who file the FAFSA.
Florida State College at Jacksonville Application Requirements
The requirements that FSCJ has in place for education majors will differ between the full program and the accelerated one. Students applying to the accelerated EPI program must already have a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university that has regional accreditation. They also need to submit scores that show they passed both the General Knowledge Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) and the Subject Area FTC. The college asks that students submit the Florida Department of Education statement of eligibility and an official college transcript. They will also need to pass a background check and submit applications to both the college and the EPI.
Students applying to either of the traditional education programs can use an online checklist to make sure that they meet all the requirements for college admissions. They need to set up an account on the admissions website, which they will use to apply. This account also serves as an email address and lets students receive emails from the college. The college requires transcripts from all students applying and will accept both high school and college transcripts. Those accepted into the college must also complete an assessment, which evaluates their skills and determines whether they need to take prerequisites or if they can begin higher level classes.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Florida residents attending FSCJ pay $105 per credit hour. The college charges students of other states $401 per credit hour. Those who live in Georgia can apply for a special discount, which reduces their tuition to $219 per credit hour. This is the same rate that nonresidents will pay to take online classes. The college also asks that students pay for any supplies they need and for their books.
One way in which students can pay their FSCJ costs is with federal aid. To get aid from the state and/or federal government, students must submit the FAFSA. Not only can they get grants, but they can also get the loans they need. The college has some scholarships available to those who meet eligibility requirements. Students must have an acceptance letter before they can apply for any institutional scholarships. The education programs offered by Florida State College at Jacksonville tell students exactly how much it will cost to complete a degree and how much aid they need.
