Study Early Childhood Education in Alabama

Early childhood education is a broad field with many different applications. You can work with children as young as birth and as old as the third grade. Likewise, you can work in public schools or private schools, state or federally-funded education programs, preschools, daycare centers, and many other locations.

Furthermore, early childhood education programs are extremely common, given the high need for qualified workers and the interest by many to enter this line of work. These factors make early childhood education a good choice for your college major.

With dozens of programs around the state, Alabama offers you many opportunities to get the education and training you need to become an early childhood educator.

Early Childhood Education Programs in Alabama

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering early childhood education programs in Alabama:

  • University of West Alabama
  • University of Alabama
  • Capella University
  • Alabama State University
  • University of Alabama Birmingham
  • University of South Alabama
  • Walden University

To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is the oldest college in the state, having been founded in 1820. Back then, the school was a seminary and had about 50 students. At that time, no one could have known that the university would grow beyond that – well beyond that – and become Alabama’s largest university and one of the most recognizable universities in the nation.

As one of nearly 39,000 students, you will find that Alabama offers you all sorts of pathways for getting your education. You can pursue an undergraduate degree or graduate program or get a doctorate. You can study on campus or online or take a blend of courses in a hybrid format.

What’s more, the University of Alabama has a diverse and active campus life with hundreds of student organizations. From athletics to service organizations to top-notch academics, Alabama has it all!

Early Childhood Education Program Information

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Alabama focuses on developmentally-appropriate practices for teaching young children. You will learn about research-based techniques for assessing students, developing curricula, managing classrooms, and so forth. Additionally, you will learn how to work with varying populations of students with different backgrounds and capabilities.

This four-year program includes coursework, experiential learning activities, and field-based learning to give you a well-rounded education and broad toolkit for being an effective early childhood educator. Some of the classes you will take include:

  • Foundations of Early Childhood Education
  • Child Development in Infancy
  • Early and Middle Child Development
  • Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Development
  • Assessment of Young Children

Though this is a licensure track program, you don’t have to become an early childhood teacher upon graduation. Instead, some graduates work in early intervention programs, community-based programs, and in faith-based settings that don’t necessarily require state licensure.

You can apply to the University of Alabama online. The university uses several criteria for judging admission, including:

  • High school GPA
  • Your performance in core subjects
  • Standardized test scores
  • Academic honors
  • Leadership experience
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Volunteer and work experience

Alabama State University

After the Civil War came to a close, a group of former slaves called the Marion 9 established a school to educate former slaves. That school, which was founded in 1867, is what became Alabama State University. ASU is an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) that has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Today, ASU offers a wide range of academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

In addition to offering more than sixty degree programs, ASU also offers an intimate learning environment. The schools’ 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures you learn in small classes where you can get the individual attention you need from your professors to do your best in class.

But learning at ASU isn’t confined to the classroom. Instead, you will have many opportunities to work in the community, participate in experiential programs, and you can study abroad, too.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

Alabama State’s Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education is a traditional on-campus, four-year program that prepares you for licensure as an early childhood educator in Alabama. During your time in the program, you’ll learn the ins and outs of being an educator, including how to work side-by-side with parents and guardians to help children maximize their learning potential.

In addition to general education courses in math, science, the humanities, and language arts, you will also take professional educator courses like:

  • Measurement and Evaluation in Education
  • The Teaching of Reading
  • Creative Learning in Early Childhood Education
  • Family, Parent, and Community Involvement
  • Teaching Social Studies Early Childhood Development

In addition to these and other courses, you will participate in several field experiences. These include opportunities to observe veteran teachers and get real-world teaching experience at child development centers, nursery schools, public elementary schools, and private schools, to name a few.

As noted above, you will be eligible for a teaching license in Alabama upon graduation from this program. However, you can also continue your education at ASU in one of several graduate and professional-level programs in this field.

You can apply as a first-year student online. You must meet basic GPA requirements to be considered for admission. You can also use SAT or ACT scores to qualify for admission, though submitting these scores is optional.

University of Alabama Birmingham

The University of Alabama was founded in 1969. Though it’s much younger than many other universities in the state, it has grown rapidly to become one of the largest universities in Alabama. The school has more than 21,500 students currently enrolled – the fifth straight year that that enrollment benchmark has been met. While many students are from Alabama, UAB welcomes students from all corners of the nation and the globe.

UAB’s student population isn’t the only thing that’s grown over the years. The school has continually added courses, degrees, and programs to satisfy its students’ academic needs and interests. Today, UAB has 12 academic divisions within which almost 150 degrees and programs are offered. While most students are undergraduates, many are pursuing master’s degrees, doctorates, and professional degrees.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from UAB prepares you to teach in classrooms with infants or toddlers, pre-K students, kindergarten, or in the primary grades. To build the skills needed to be a competent teacher, you’ll complete a four-year program that includes on-campus coursework as well as field experiences.

The coursework to complete this degree includes the following:

  • Primary Math Methods
  • Social Studies in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
  • Teaching Health Education and Physical Education in Elementary Schools
  • Learning Environments Through Positive Behavior Support
  • Survey of Special Education

Likewise, you will take courses in child development, teaching pedagogy, classroom management, and other critical education topics.

The field experience component is quite unique. UAB wants you to graduate with a well-rounded set of experiences, so you will gain experience working in schools in suburban, urban, and rural areas. Your student teaching experience, which occurs during the final semester of the program, adds to the pre-professional practice component of this program.

You can apply online to UAB as a first-year student. To qualify for admission, you must choose between a test score process or a non-test score process. You must also have completed essential coursework in high school, including:

  • Four years of English
  • Three years of social science
  • Three years of natural science
  • Three years of math
  • Four years of additional coursework in math, science, foreign language, computers, and other core areas.

University of South Alabama

Located in Mobile, the University of South Alabama is a regional, four-year university established in 1963 to provide the residents of southwest Alabama access to higher education. When the university was founded, it didn’t have a single building to its name. The school commenced classes in a new building a year later and hasn’t looked back. The first enrolled class had just 276 students. Today, South Alabama enrolls nearly 14,000 students.

As South Alabama has grown, so have its course and degree offerings. The school has ten colleges and schools that have dozens of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This includes a medical school, a College of Business, a College of Engineering, and, of course, a College of Education and Professional Studies that offers the early childhood education program discussed below.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

South Alabama’s Master of Education in Early Childhood Education gives you an opportunity to build on your undergraduate studies and hone your skills as an educator. Better still, you can do so online!

This 30-credit program can be completed in as little as one year. You can start your studies in the spring, summer, or fall – whatever fits your schedule the best. Once enrolled, you will take courses like:

  • Elementary School Curriculum
  • Trends and Practices in Teaching Reading
  • Instructional Planning in the Elementary School
  • Language Development in Elementary School
  • Educational Research and Evaluation

This program also requires you to complete a portfolio which serves as a summative capstone experience. The portfolio displays key components of your work throughout the program and highlights your knowledge and skills as a master’s-level teacher.

As a graduate of this program, you will be eligible for a Class A Alabama teaching certification in Professional Early Childhood Education (P-3). This certification builds off of the Class B certification, which you should already possess prior to enrolling in the program.

The graduate application for admission to South Alabama is available online. You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to apply. You must also have a minimum 2.5 GPA and submit a personal statement and official undergraduate transcripts. 

Early Childhood Education Work Opportunities in Alabama

As noted earlier, a degree in early childhood education can open doors to many different careers. On the one hand, each of the programs outlined in this guide leads to licensure as a teacher in Alabama. With a teaching license, you can be a classroom teacher for children from infancy to eight years of age in a public, private, or community setting.

If teaching is your desired occupation, you can find jobs throughout the state on career websites like Indeed and Simply Hired. These platforms constantly update the available jobs, which consistently include teaching positions in urban, rural, and suburban settings.

But if you prefer you use your training and education outside the classroom, you can do that, too! For example, the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education has a constant need for qualified educators to work on education grants, make home visits, and provide professional development opportunities for practicing teachers.

And if you have a master’s degree or higher, your career options are even greater. For example, with a master’s degree, you can work as an instructional facilitator and help classroom teachers improve the way they deliver lessons to students. With a doctorate and the proper certifications, you might also move into an administrative position, like being the principal at an elementary school.

To pursue any of these careers, though, you have to complete the necessary degree and get the right certifications.

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