Study Early Childhood Education in Missouri

Missouri is serious about its early childhood education programs. In fact, the state recently created the Department of Childhood to oversee all aspects of early childhood education, from child care to intervention programs to after-school care for children.

As a prospective early childhood educator, the Department of Childhood offers you valuable resources. It also provides families the resources they need to be active participants in their child’s education – something that you will surely appreciate once you complete your degree and begin your career!

First things first, though. You need to select a college degree to prepare you for your future in early childhood education. Fortunately, Missouri has a large selection of programs, from associate’s degrees to doctorates.

This guide includes the popular options to kickstart the process of becoming an early childhood educator.

Accredited Early Childhood Education Programs in Missouri

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

  • Missouri State University
  • Missouri Baptist University
  • University of Missouri at Kansas City
  • University of Missouri
  • Northwest Missouri State University
  • Capella University
  • Walden University

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

Missouri State University

Though Missouri State University is headquartered in Springfield, its reach goes far beyond. The university has two satellite campuses in Missouri and one in China. There are also outreach and distance learning opportunities, including online courses and programs that enable you to get your education from the comfort of your home.

With a study body of more than 26,000, Missouri State is quite a large school. As a result, there is also a large variety of degrees and programs, including more than 100 bachelor’s degrees, 60 graduate programs, and more than a half dozen doctoral programs. Another benefit of studying at a school this size is the array of clubs and organizations available to students.

Whether you want to be on a club sports team, in a service organization, or join an honor society, Missouri State has you covered!

Early Childhood Education Program Information

Missouri State’s Bachelor of Science in Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Education prepares you to be a certified educator in preschool through third-grade classrooms. Your program of study at Missouri State is unique because it includes an emphasis on family development – the only program in the state to do so.

This 127-credit program takes four years of on-campus studies to complete. During that time, you will take a wide range of courses, including the following:

  • Curriculum For Early Childhood Education
  • Mathematics and Science for Young Children
  • Infants and Toddlers: Development and Program Planning
  • Educational Psychology
  • Family Engagement

Additionally, you will take courses in language acquisition, health and safety, nutrition, and program administration. There is a student teaching component to this program as well, which is worth 12 of the 127 credits needed to graduate.

Missouri State offers the ability to complete this degree and a master’s degree faster by applying credits from your undergraduate studies to your graduate program.

You can apply to Missouri State online at any time. As a first-year student, you only need a 3.0 high school GPA to qualify for automatic admission. Additional admission requirements are in place for the early education program.

Missouri Baptist University

Missouri Baptist University is a small Christian-affiliated school with just 4,500 students. The small school atmosphere means you will have classes with minimal classmates – around 30 students for lower-division undergraduate courses and about 20 students for upper-division work. The school also boasts a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, so no matter your major, you will enjoy a close working relationship with your professors.

Missouri Baptist strives to make your educational experience one that’s tailored to your specific needs. For example, you can take classes during the daytime or the evening in 16-week or 8-week formats, respectively. Additionally, the university offers ample opportunities to study in other nations, participate in missions trips, and otherwise build practical life skills to complement your academic learning. The result is that you will graduate as an informed, well-rounded person ready for your career.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

You can choose from a variety of early childhood programs at Missouri Baptist, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Education options. Moreover, you can pursue your major as a standalone birth through third-grade degree or as a combined early childhood education and elementary education degree that prepares you to work with children through the sixth grade. Special education options are also available.

The basic early childhood education degree requires about four years of study to complete. Doing so prepares you for a certified teaching job in Missouri, though articulation agreements with other states might enable you to get a job outside of Missouri if you desire.

You will take classes in educational topics that make you a well-rounded practitioner. These might include the following:

  • Psychology of Teaching and Learning
  • Technology and Instructional Media
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Classroom and Behavior Management
  • Language Acquisition of the Young Child

Other topics include integrated mathematics, teaching exceptional children, and teaching creative arts to children. You will also take a course on the trauma-informed classroom to prepare yourself for helping children work through difficult experiences.

You can apply to Missouri Baptist online. There is no application fee. To qualify for admission as a first-year student, you must:

  • Submit official high school transcripts
  • Submit official college transcripts for any courses taken at other colleges or universities
  • Provide your ACT or SAT scores
  • Include a recommendation form with your application
  • Submit proof of health insurance and immunization

Once accepted, you are required to participate in a campus visit with your admissions counselor.

University of Missouri at Kansas City

The University of Missouri at Kansas City is part of the University of Missouri System. It’s the second-largest school in the system (to the University of Missouri, discussed below) and the fourth-largest university in Missouri, with an enrollment of around 16,000 students. Its urban location means there are opportunities nearby to experience sporting events, concerts, museums, and other social and cultural amenities.

UMKC offers well over 100 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Undergraduate classes have an average of 26 students, while the university boasts a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. UMKC is also a diverse school, with nearly 40 percent of students identifying as minorities, mixed race, or international students.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

UMKC’s Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education is a 122-credit program requiring four years of full-time study to complete. Once complete, you will be eligible for certification as an early childhood educator in Missouri.

Successful completion of the program requires you to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA with grades of C or better in all content area courses and education-related classes. These classes include the following:

  • Children’s Literature
  • Education of the Exceptional Child and Youth
  • Child Guidance in Early Childhood Classrooms
  • Learning Environments: Birth to Grade 3
  • Early Childhood Creative Activities

There are three practicum experiences in this program as well. Each practicum focuses on a different aspect of early childhood education, like teaching, curriculum implementation, and putting theoretical knowledge into practice in a classroom setting. A student teaching experience is also required. It takes place during the final semester of the program.

UMKC’s online application is available for first-time students, transfer students, and others. Admission as a first-time student is based on varying criteria depending on the type of admission you seek. However, all admission statuses require you to complete 17 core high school requirements, submit ACT or SAT scores as necessary, and provide high school transcripts.

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 in Columbia. Affectionately known as Mizzou, the university has grown into the largest institution of higher learning in the state, with more than 31,000 students. Not only that, but Mizzou is among the most diverse schools in the state, with students representing every state, more than 100 nations, and dozens of different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

As a Mizzou student, you can choose from almost 100 bachelor’s degrees, about 100 master’s degree programs, and nearly 70 doctoral programs. You can start your educational career and finish it with a terminal degree, all at the same school! No matter your degree level, you will study with expert faculty. In fact, more than 92 percent of Mizzou’s professors have the highest degree in their field.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

The Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from Mizzou is an advanced degree that builds on your learning in an undergraduate program and your experiences working in an early childhood setting.

One of the best features of this program is that it’s online. You can complete all 30 hours required to graduate without stepping foot on campus. Better still, you get the flexibility of learning on your own time and around your work schedule, so your career doesn’t have to take a backseat to your academic goals.

This program includes coursework in early childhood education and educational foundations. This includes classes like:

  • Classroom Research-Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum
  • Language Acquisition and Development
  • Play, Inquiry, and Project-based Learning in Classrooms with Young Children
  • Culturally Responsive Pedagogy
  • Advanced Assessment in Early Childhood

It should be noted that this is a non-certification track. As such, there is no field experience requirement for this degree. Nevertheless, your coursework will deepen your understanding of essential components of teaching and learning in the early years. This includes a focus on developing more effective approaches for teaching children with special needs.

You must meet the following requirements to apply to this program:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university in education or a related field
  • Have two years of teaching experience
  • Possess a 3.0 GPA or higher for the last 60 credits of undergraduate work
  • English language proficiency scores (if English is not your native language)

Early Childhood Education Work Opportunities in Missouri

Like other states, Missouri has both urban and rural school districts that need qualified early childhood education teachers and support staff. The requirements of these jobs might vary significantly depending on the area.

For example, as an early childhood educator in a rural area, you might be responsible for working with children across the spectrum of ages from birth to third grade. But in an urban area, you might specialize in just one age group, like pre-K or second grade.

Another difference between urban and rural positions in Missouri is the number or type of endorsements you might be required to have. For example, a rural district might require that you have additional endorsements so you can work with a wider group of students (e.g., exceptional, special ed, and traditional students). But, again, in an urban setting with a larger student population, you might not need as many endorsements because of the likelihood of specializing in working with one group.

Not all early childhood education careers in Missouri are in a pre-K through third-grade setting, though. For example, you might use your education and training to work for an after-school program like the Boys and Girls Club. Alternatively, you might work for preparatory programs like Head Start.

These and many other work opportunities are available in all corners of Missouri in public schools, private schools, educational agencies, and consulting firms. But, no matter where you work, though, you have the ability to have a positive impact on the development of future generations.

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