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Best Early Childhood Education Programs in Mississippi

Working with young children can be a sensational experience. Usually, people who work in this field are responsible for preparing children for their future. As the early years of a child’s life are fundamental for his or her development, children need someone qualified to teach them and care for them. Fortunately, Mississippi has no shortage of opportunities for individuals who want to seek this career path.

In Mississippi, you can enroll yourself in different programs that will prepare you for the job of an early childhood educator. Although a bachelor’s degree is usually enough to guarantee a good position in this field, sometimes you need a Master’s degree or a Ph.D., depending on the institution.

There are various early childhood education programs in Mississippi, but for this article, we are going to focus on four universities, as you can see below.

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University was founded in 1878 and it’s located in Starkville, Mississippi. It has been ranked among the Top 100 research institutions in the nation. Moreover, it is one of the 2.7% of U.S. universities that have the Carnegie Foundation R1-Very High Research Activity designation.

The university’s goal is to help its students reach success regardless of their chosen career path.

Early Childhood Education Program Info

People who want to work in early childhood education can opt for the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. This program is available not only on-site but also online. This way, you do not necessarily have to stay in Mississippi at all times – you can attend the online courses no matter where you are.

This program gives students their licensure for pre-K-3rd grade or K-6th grade teaching. In total, the program has 123 credits, and it can prepare students for their future careers. Following graduation, they can start teaching young children in kindergarten through 6th grade.

This degree should be considered by anyone who wants to help children develop in their formative years. While you’ll be studying in this program, you will have various courses that prepare you for your chosen profession. Some of them include:

  • Creative arts
  • Infant development
  • Childhood exceptionalities
  • Early literacy
  • Classroom management

Students will follow this program for a total of four years. Then, when the student reaches his or her junior and senior years, they will also be required to get some field experience hours.

In total, 20 hours in K-3rd grade classrooms are required for the early block, 45 hours in 4th-8th grade classrooms are needed for the middle block, 120 hours in 2nd-8th grade classrooms are required for the senior block, and full-time in K-6th classrooms are necessary for teaching internships.

If you are a freshman, then you must submit the following documents to be admitted to the university:

  • Admission application
  • Official SAT or ACT scores
  • Proof of graduation from an approved secondary school
  • Six-semester high school transcript
  • Satisfactory completion of the right College Preparatory Curriculum in science, arts, technology, advanced electives, social science, mathematics, and English

Alcorn State University

Alcorn State University was established in 1871 in order to provide access to superior education to the descendants of previously enslaved Africans. This makes it the United States’ oldest historically black land-grant institution.

The university allows many students to pursue higher education. It also helps them overcome all obstacles, improve intellectually and develop their character. After following the university’s courses, students can start their dream careers and turn into productive leaders.

Early Childhood Education Program Info

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Alcorn State University allows you to improve your knowledge and develop your skills as an educator. It provides a Master of Science in Elementary Education with an endorsement in early childhood education.

In this program you will be able to venture into the world of early childhood education. The master’s program will teach you how to work with young children and offer them the best education, helping them develop properly.

The degree was made to meet all the criteria imposed by the State Department of Education. Moreover, the department can provide endorsements in Elementary Education and Reading and Early Childhood Education.

In total, the program requires 33 hours.

Some of the courses you will go through during this program include:

  • Theory & Historical Development In ECE
  • Parenting in a Pluralistic Society
  • Reading & Language Arts Exp. In ECE
  • Advanced Education Psychology
  • Foundations of American Education
  • Child Welfare
  • Methods of Education Research

Once you have completed all the courses, you will be able to create a classroom atmosphere that enhances the students’ psychological, physical, emotional, and social aspects.

You can opt for the thesis or non-thesis track, depending on your goal for the future. However, it’s required to complete a practicum of three credits either off-campus or at the Child Development Laboratory Center on-site.

Bear in mind that you can only apply for this program if you already have certification in K-3 or K-6 endorsement areas.

In order to apply for this program, you will have to submit:

  • Admission application
  • Official transcripts and documentation of a teacher’s Standard Mississippi license
  • Standardized test score results
  • Two letters of recommendation

Mississippi Valley State University

Mississippi Valley State University was founded in the summer of 1950. The university’s goal is to prepare its students for a successful life following their graduation. Regardless of the chosen field, this institution provides students with various opportunities in terms of future careers.

Another thing worth mentioning is that MVSU encourages diversity. It has students from the U.S., Canada, and many other countries around the world.

Early Childhood Education Program Info

Mississippi Valley State University offers a great Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program for individuals who want to work in this field. The program was first launched in 2010 and it requires 120 credit hours. Students can have courses either off-campus at the Greenwood Center or on-campus at the Olympia Lowe Education Complex.

Students following the BS in Early Childhood Education will follow lots of informative and useful courses, some of which include:

  • Organization theory and practices
  • Developmental perspective of family
  • Principles of early childhood education
  • Language development in early childhood
  • Nutrition for the young child
  • Dynamics of play in early childhood education
  • Science and numbers

Students must also have a minimum of 100 hours of practice working with 3 and 4-year-olds in the Child Development Center.

Before someone enrolls in the Early Childhood Education program, they must be admitted to MVSU and complete all the General College courses. If you are planning to apply to this university, then you must keep a 2.5 or higher overall grade point average on a scale of 4.0. You shouldn’t have any grades lower than “C” in your general education courses.

To be admitted to this university as a freshman, you must complete a formal admission application, submit high school transcripts, and provide SAT or ACT scores, as well as CPC and CGPA scores.

Jackson State University

Jackson State University is located in Jackson, Mississippi, and it was founded in 1877. Initially, the American Baptist Home Mission Society founded it as Natchez Seminary. It was only in 1882 that the university was moved to Jackson. Then, its name changed to Jackson College after its curriculum was expanded in 1899.

The goal of this institution is to give students the knowledge and power to obtain their dream careers. They empower students by working on their self-development. As with any other university, some of the courses might be a bit challenging. Still, the atmosphere will be welcoming and will encourage people to study.

Early Childhood Education Program Info

There is an Early Childhood Education M.S.Ed. program offered by Jackson State University. This is perfect for those looking to work in early childhood education. This is a 30-36 curriculum that teaches students how to be the best teachers for the young generations, offering them all the knowledge and skills that they need in the classroom.

Throughout the master’s program, students will follow many courses, including:

  • Introduction to Teaching Internship
  • Assessing the Young Child
  • Organization and Administration of Early Childhood Programs
  • Parenting Roles in Early Childhood Education
  • Special Topics in Early Childhood/Elementary Education
  • Research and Independent Study in Education

Students can follow their courses online, and they are available 24/7. This is great for those who are out of town. The entire program will last two years, which is more than enough to help teachers develop all their skills. The program is a CAEP-accredited one, and it stands out among many similar ones in the state of Mississippi.

To be admitted to this program, an applicant must:

  • Submit a graduate application
  • Send three forms of recommendation
  • Submit official transcripts from all universities and colleges previously attended
  • Have a 2.5 minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA

Early Education Work Opportunities in Mississippi

An early childhood education degree in Mississippi offers you many work opportunities. People who get this degree do it because they love children and want to educate them for the future. Luckily, the jobs you can obtain with this degree include working with the young generations. Careers in social work, healthcare, or education are some of the paths you can take once you graduate with an early childhood education degree.

You can work as a kindergarten and elementary school teacher, preschool teacher, school director, nanny, child life specialist, family support specialist, childcare consultant, and more.

Many of these jobs are available in the state of Mississippi if you know where to look. For instance, you can work as an early childhood education manager or family services coordinator for Delta Health Alliance Inc. Furthermore, you could get a job as an assistant professor of child and family sciences at the University of Southern Mississippi. You can also be a childcare aide for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Police Department, and more.

On top of that, your options are not limited to urban areas only. If you want to care for children in rural areas, there are also various job opportunities in this sector.

An early childhood education career can be a wonderful opportunity for you to help young generations develop and turn into successful people. Your annual salary will differ depending on the job you seek in this category.

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