Early Childhood Education in Washington State

Working with young children to help them gain the social and academic skills they need for success is an incredibly honorable job. It’s also a job with the potential for extremely high job satisfaction, which is no doubt why so many people choose to be trained in early childhood education.

Early childhood education programs are available across the nation at the associate’s, undergraduate, and graduate levels. This includes many different options at each level in the state of Washington.

Studying in Washington has other perks, too. Not only is the Evergreen State chock full of outdoor activities, but it also has a large network of public and private colleges where you can get a high-quality education while participating in an array of student organizations. It’s the perfect blend!

This list includes popular early childhood education programs to consider. While this isn’t a complete list of the programs Washington has to offer, it represents some of the most popular options.

Early Childhood Education Programs in Washington State

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

  • Washington State University
  • Western Washington University
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • North Seattle College
  • Eastern Washington University
  • Capella University
  • Walden University

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

Washington State University

Washington State University is a good choice if you want a big school experience for your college program. The university was founded in Pullman in 1890 and has more than 31,000 students. With a student body that size, it makes sense that WSU offers hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs. There are more than 60 doctoral and professional degree programs available as well.

Though WSU is a land-grant institution that originally focused on programs like agriculture, the degree offerings are far more diverse today. Whether you want to major in business, veterinary science, education, or something in between, there’s a good chance WSU has what you’re looking for. Likewise, WSU has hundreds of student organizations to help you meet other students and gain valuable out-of-class experiences.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

The Bachelor of Arts in Human Development from WSU is a four-year program that can be completed on campus or online. To supplement your studies, you can pursue a certificate as part of your undergraduate degree. WSU offers several certificate options, including Early Childhood Education.

The curriculum includes detailed studies in human development and early childhood education, including:

  • Guidance in Early Childhood Programs
  • Human Development Theories
  • Child Assessment and Evaluation
  • Child Maltreatment
  • Parent-Child Relationships

A six-credit Practicum in Early Childhood Programs is also required. This practicum places you in an educational setting where you observe and participate in educational activities with children.

More specifically, this practicum is at the preschool level and must be completed in the Pullman area. The practicum is supervised, so you can gain insight into the processes of early childhood education and get expert feedback on your performance.

Washington State has multiple online applications depending on the type of student you are (e.g., first-year, transfer, etc.). To apply as a first-year student, you must have a high school diploma or a GED. Your transcripts must show that you completed a high school curriculum that includes the following:

  • 4 units of English
  • Three units of math
  • Two units of science
  • Two units of world languages
  • Three units of social studies
  • One unit of visual or performing arts

Western Washington University

With around 15,000 students, Western Washington University is a nice blend of a big campus feel without quite as many students as some of the larger institutions in the state. Likewise, the vast majority of students are undergraduates, so as a first-year or transfer student, there is ample opportunity to meet people inside and outside of your program that are close to your age.

The location of the campus is ideal – on the western coast of Washington, about 90 miles north of Seattle and 55 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. You can easily explore the beach, go skiing, or take a trip to eastern Washington for a much different climate to experience. Of course, while on campus, you get just as much choice.

Western Washington offers more than 200 academic programs. With small class sizes and a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1, you’ll feel right at home as you get the individualized attention you need for success.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

Western Washington’s ‘Early Childhood Special Education P-3 and Early Childhood Education P-3 Dual Endorsement’ program culminates with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. You need 180 quarter credits to graduate, and when you do so, you will be able to pursue preschool through third-grade positions throughout Washington and beyond.

This program focuses specifically on being an inclusive educator. That is, your training isn’t just to address the special needs of students. Rather, you will gain the skills needed to be inclusive of all students regardless of their academic, behavioral, or social needs.

Some of the classes you will take include:

  • Environments for Early Learning 
  • Creating an Inclusive Classroom 
  • Mentoring Equity and Justice for Individuals with Complex Needs 
  • Education, Culture, and Equity 
  • Applied Behavior Analysis 

There are multiple practicum and internship experiences as well. This includes the final internship/student teaching experience in early childhood education with exceptional children. The internship is supervised and can be anywhere from two credits up to 24 credits.

You can apply to Western Washington University online. You must have a high school diploma or a GED to be eligible. Your high school studies must include the following:

  • 4 units of English
  • Three units of math
  • Two units of science
  • Two units of world languages
  • Three units of social studies
  • One unit of visual or performing arts

Furthermore, to gain admission to the early childhood education program, you must have completed at least 45 credits of college coursework with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. You must complete an English composition course with a B- or higher, and you must also meet the basic skills requirements by taking the SAT, ACT, or the West-B exam.

Seattle Pacific University 

Seattle Pacific University offers an interesting blend of a small school atmosphere in a big city. The university has just 3,100 students, so you can enjoy the benefits of small class sizes and a more intimate learning atmosphere. At the same time, the school’s location in Seattle allows you to easily enjoy the city’s amenities, including recreation, shopping, the arts, and more.

Seattle Pacific is a religiously-affiliated school. Originally, the school was associated with the Free Methodist Church. Today, though, Seattle Pacific is associated with nearly 50 different Christian denominations. As the school’s affiliations have expanded, so too have its degree programs.

You can choose from around 100 different programs, including 70 undergraduate degrees and more than two dozen graduate programs.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education at Seattle Pacific gives you two options for proceeding with your studies: a certification track and a non-certification track. The certification track is more appropriate if you want to be a classroom teacher. The non-certification track is for non-teaching positions or for work in private schools or educational agencies.

The certification track requires you to complete at least 103 credits within the major, including at least 42 credits of upper-division coursework. These courses include:

  • Children’s Literature
  • Curriculum in Early Childhood Education
  • Language Development and Early Literacy
  • Creative Play in Early Learning
  • Early Learning Children with Disabilities

This degree requires the completion of several educational lab courses and a student teaching placement. Once admitted to the program, you must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher. You must also achieve a grade of B or higher in all of your lab and internship coursework.

Once you complete the graduation requirements, you will be eligible to pursue certification as a teacher in Washington State. You might also meet certification requirements in other states, but you’ll need to consult with the certification boards in other states for specific details.

You can apply online to become a student at Seattle Pacific University. To do so, you must submit official high school transcripts and official transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended. Likewise, you must submit SAT-I or ACT scores. You can provide a teacher evaluation with your application if you wish.

North Seattle College

North Seattle College was founded in 1970 as an entry point for first-time and continuing students to prepare for a four-year education at another institution. Today, the college still fulfills those needs but also offers several four-year undergraduate degrees as well. In either case, you can study at North Seattle College without busting your budget – there are more than a dozen types of student financial aid available.

If a small school environment is your style, North Seattle College might be for you. The school has about 7,000 students, many of whom are non-traditional. In fact, the school’s median student age is 31. No matter your age, you can enjoy rigorous programs, expert faculty, and excellent support services while you’re a student at North.

Early Childhood Education Program Information

North Seattle’s Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education is a preparatory program for entry-level careers in education. You can also use this program as a springboard for continuing your education in a bachelor’s degree at another school.

You must complete 90 quarter credits to complete this degree. You can do so in six quarters if you study full-time or 12 quarters on a part-time basis. Either way, the courses you take are the same, including:

  • Health, Safety, and Nutrition
  • Language and Literacy Development
  • Curriculum Development
  • Guiding Behavior
  • Observing and Assessment

Your coursework can also include classes that lead to any number of certificates. You can stack certificates at North Seattle College, so as you work towards your degree, you might also pursue a certificate in Initial Early Childhood Education, Administration, or Infant Toddler Care, to name a few.

You can apply online year-round for admission in the fall, spring, or summer. Admissions requirements vary depending on your age, your college experience thus far, residency status, and other factors.

Early Childhood Education Work Opportunities in Washington State

During the last ten years, Washington grew by roughly 1 million residents. With a population that’s still growing, school systems across the state are in need of well-trained and highly qualified early childhood education workers.

With an associate’s degree in this field, you can work in a public or private school in Washington as a teacher’s assistant, a special education aide, or a tutor for young children. Likewise, you can be a preschool teacher, a childcare worker, and in some cases, work in an administrative role in a preschool setting.

With a bachelor’s degree, the work opportunities increase. If you complete a certification program, you can obtain state certification as an early childhood educator and become a certified teacher in one of Washington State’s dozens of public school districts. You can work with older children and special needs students with additional certifications or endorsements.

If you have a master’s degree or higher in early childhood education, many other opportunities might present themselves. You can work in public or private schools in an administrative role. You can also work for the Washington State Board of Education and help that agency devise curricula and educational standards for early childhood education.

These and many other jobs are available across the state in large cities, small towns, public schools, private schools, and everywhere in between. This level of choice gives you the power to find the right job for you in the right setting that maximizes your ability to inspire children to learn.

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