Early Childhood Education in Maryland

Students in Maryland can pick from various popular education degree programs, all of which have a major focus on training future Pre-K3 teachers. Maryland, a state in the center of the United States, is home to around 6.01 million people. The Chesapeake Bay proximity makes it a popular resort for families with small children.

There are several employment opportunities for graduates with a degree in early childhood education. Based on Maryland CareerOneStop, the state anticipates a 38 percent growth in early childhood education opportunities by 2024, with 680 new positions opening year and 14,060 new positions available overall.

Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the metropolitan region comprising D.C., Virginia, and Maryland has the highest number of jobs. Metro area has the sixth highest preschool teacher employment rate in the United States.

Early Childhood Education Degree Programs in Maryland

Following popular Maryland schools offer early childhood education programs:

  • Bowie State University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Coppin State University
  • Walden University
  • Hood College
  • Capella University
  • Salisbury University

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

Bowie State University

Bowie State University, established in 1865 in Baltimore’s African Baptist Church, is the tenth-oldest public, historically Black teaching institution in the United States. On its 338 suburban acres in Prince George’s County, it educates approximately 5,560 Bulldogs with the help of a $22,990,000 endowment that is a part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Niche listed Bowie as the 44th top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in America, while Washington Monthly has ranked it among the greatest national institution for service to the public good. The placement rate for the College of Education’s nine recognized education degree programs in Maryland is 91%.

Bachelor of Science – Early Childhood and Special Education

The Early Childhood and Special Need Education program at Bowie State University, which is fully CAEP-accredited, educates prospective teachers to address the needs of normally developing and exceptional kids in the primary grades from a cognitive behavioral developmental perspective.

The 126-credit program includes subjects such as diagnostic intervention, literacy acquisition, and instructional technology and is taught with a 16:1 student-to-instructor ratio. In Maryland, dual-certification applicants undergo a one-year teaching internship.

On this campus, the Kappa Delta Pi fraternity, the Education Club, the Project ECEC cohort, and the Akoben Academy all encourage students to become members of their organizations and to host activities for their fellow students.

The curriculum’s courses will guide you through the stages of educating pupils to assess the credibility of the information they encounter. You will study the methods and diagnostic skills required to meet the diverse needs of elementary school students. You will also learn the skills required to facilitate the cognitive, emotional, and social development of young children.

Furthermore, you will also be required to spend a year interning in elementary and secondary schools to get teaching experience with young children and special needs students.

Program requirements

  • To be qualified for graduation, students must have completed 126 credit hours of curriculum, including 65 credit hours of core professional education.
  • These credits are granted to students who have worked in the field for at least 100 consecutive days.
  • You will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Special Education when you successfully complete this program.

The professors at Bowie State University are accessible not just to teach their years of knowledge and skill, but also to provide their students with a sympathetic ear. Teachers in the classroom care greatly about their students’ futures as professionals and as individuals.

Coppin State University

Coppin State University is a public, historically Black TMCF member governed by President Maria Thompson and home to nearly 3,050 Eagles on its 52-acre urban campus in Baltimore’s Mondawmin neighborhood.

The university’s motto is “Nurturing Potential, Transforming Lives,” and it is located near Robert W. Coleman Elementary. Niche rates Coppin State as the 49th best Historically Black College or University in the United States, but The Economist puts it 349th based on value and alumni earnings.

The School of Education at the University of Maryland, which has been in existence since 1962 and provides accredited degree programs in education, trains urban teachers for technologically sophisticated and culturally diverse classrooms for a net yearly cost of $9,407.

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program at Coppin State University, which has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1, is meant to improve diversity in the state’s teaching force by preparing students to educate children in prekindergarten through third grade.

The 45 credits in elementary education, 22 credits in the specialization, 33 credits in the core, and 27 credits in academic instruction comprise the four-year curriculum, which offers a strong basis for professional achievement.

At Professional Development School (PDS) sites such as Mount Vernon Place Early Learning Center and Thomas Jefferson Elementary, children are taught by field-savvy instructors. The Major in Early Childhood Human Development is also available for students who may not want to seek licensure in the subject.

The School of Education’s objective is to create qualified teachers for kindergarten through third-grade classes. Qualified professors give prospective teachers the training they need to construct lesson plans, organize their courses, and get acquainted with their school’s administrative procedures and available resources.

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete a total of 120 credits to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. These study hours are divided as follows:

  • GERs, or General Education Requirements (45 credits) (45 points)
  • Standards required for the program (22 credits)
  • Essential Prerequisites (30 credits)
  • Teaching methods and student achievement (27 credits)

    Hood College

    Hood College is a private, non-profit liberal arts institution located 49 miles northwest of the nation’s capital on a 50-acre urban campus in Frederick. It is connected with the United Church of Christ and teaches about 2,300 Blazers with a $70 million endowment.

    US News & World Report ranks Hood University as the number 38 best Northern school, the number 13 best value, and the number 21 most veteran-friendly university in the United States. The School of Education accepted 81 percent of high school seniors with a mean grade point average of 3.45.

    Early Childhood Education, B.A.

    Hood’s Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education is one of the approved education degree programs in Maryland that prepares students to become certified teachers of children aged three and younger in line with the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s criteria.

    The 120-credit program is divided into three phases, with the first two emphasizing core courses such as child development and literacy processes, and the third emphasizing more advanced subjects such as research methodology and a capstone project. Phase III of the teaching internship requires the completion of two distinct primary classroom placements.

    Undergraduates prepare for their time at PDS sites like North Frederick Elementary by observing the Onica Prall Child Development Laboratory School on campus. Each semester of full-time study in the program costs $18,000, and an internship at the Elementary Reading Clinic is optional.

    There are also other options, such as joining the Student Education Association or teaching English in a variety of different countries, such as South Korea or Morocco.

    Program Requirements

    • Prerequisites, Stage I, Stage II, and Stage III comprise the early childhood education major’s phases.
    • Students are required to reach each checkpoint that is included in the assessment plan for each departmental unit before moving on to the next step.
    • Required for a degree in early childhood education are Phase II coursework and field activities.
    • Certification requires completion of Phase III, a score sufficient for passing the Praxis II examinations relevant to early childhood education in Maryland, and an Exit Folio grade of “Proficient” or above.

    Salisbury University

    Salisbury University, formerly known as the Maryland State Teachers College, currently has 7,900 undergraduate students and a suburban campus that spans 173 acres and is located in Wicomico County. It is  home to the Seagulls.

    Salisbury is a public, co-educational University System of Maryland (USM )institution supported by an endowment of $45.7 million and led by President Dr. Janet E. Dudley-Eshbach. According to U.S. News, Salisbury University is the 67th best college in the Northern region and the 20th best public university.

    Meanwhile, Kiplinger has named Salisbury to its list of the top 100 best deals on nine separate occasions. The Maryland-based Seidel School offers 19 education related degree programs in education that have been authorized by the Maryland State Department of Education.

    Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education

    The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program at Salisbury, which is PRAXIS II-eligible, accepts just 61 percent of those interested in assisting children from birth to age eight.

    The PreK-Grade 3 credential in Maryland requires 120 credits, covering education technology, child development, and early childhood collaboration. Students are also required do two blocks of fieldwork at Pinehurst Elementary and Wicomico Day School.

    School professors spend extensive time mentoring aspiring professionals and interns at regional Professional Development Schools (PDS). A variety of instructors fund international study excursions to destinations such as New Zealand, Australia, and Italy. One of the overseas destinations for which they have designed collaborative internship programs for students is New Zealand.

    Other priorities of the department include integrating modern education technologies, such as mobile devices, interactive whiteboards, and Web-based learning. As you prepare for a teaching profession in the twenty-first century, they advise you to take advantage of these modern opportunities.

    Program Requirements

    • Earn a 2.50 GPA in at least 49 hours of early childhood education courses (including transfer courses). Prior to seven years, courses may not credit toward a degree.
    • Pre-professional courses need a GPA of 2.75. The state of Maryland has dropped the Praxis Core requirement for teacher training. However, the Maryland State Department of Education needs Praxis Core or equivalent qualifying scores for teacher certification candidates with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
    • Show the professionalism expected by the program. Students learning, motivation, and development, as well as their careers, are influenced by teachers’ perspectives, beliefs, and ethics.
    • The online application must be submitted well in advance of the applicant’s professional education semester.

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