Study Early Childhood Education in Georgia
Early childhood education is an area that focuses on educating children from birth to 8 years old, a time when a child’s brain is in the very early stages of development. This discipline includes informal and formal programs that help children learn, grow and develop during their preschool years.
Being a very important specialty that requires a lot of practice and preparation, various colleges and universities in Georgia offer early childhood education degree programs.
Most of the time, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree to become an early childhood educator. You can also deepen your practice with a master’s degree or a Ph.D. in some cases. Fortunately, many Georgia universities are ready to offer students the knowledge they need.
Early Childhood Education Degree Programs in Georgia
Georgia features numerous colleges and universities with early childhood education programs. Following is a list of popular schools offering early childhood education programs in Georgia:
- Grand Canyon University
- University of Georgia
- Walden University
- Mercer University
- Lynn University
- Southern Regional Technical College
- Ogeechee Technical College
- Purdue Global
To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia was founded in 1785. Since then, it’s been dedicated to offering people opportunities to work toward their dream job. Sometimes referred to as UGA, it is located in Athens, Georgia, and it’s a very competitive educational institution. It enrolls 27,888 undergraduate students.
Within six months, 92% of students who graduate are either employed or in graduate school. As a result, this university prepares people to be successful.
Early Childhood Education Program Information
The University of Georgia has an early childhood education program that begins with a BSEd in Elementary Education and culminates with a Ph.D. in Educational Theory and Practice (Early Childhood Education).
Students have the opportunity to get a bachelor’s degree, follow up with a master’s degree, then work for their Doctor of Philosophy in the same specialty. The degree programs offered by the University of Georgia include:
- BSEd in Elementary Education – Students can prepare for a career that involves teaching and training children from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It gives you the foundation you need to become an informed and professional early childhood educator. Coursework includes elementary curricula, educational theory, and methods courses in literacy, language, science, mathematics, and social studies.
- Master of Education in Elementary Education – This master’s degree program deepens your skills in research, curriculum planning, and research so you can help young children in the best way possible. The U.S. News & World Report regularly ranks it as a top 5 program. Its coursework includes 12 classes focusing on historical and social foundations, curriculum and teaching, research, school subjects, and psychological foundations.
- MAT in Elementary Education – People who want to work with children can also opt for a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education. If you have a passion for teaching, this program can help you work towards a teaching career where you can help children from different linguistical and cultural backgrounds.
- EdS in Elementary Education – If you are an experienced teacher already and want to refine your professional development, curriculum, and mentorship skills, this program is great for you. The program has 30 semester coursework hours and covers social foundations, school subject areas, psychological foundations, teaching and curriculum in elementary environments, as well as research and evaluation.
- PhD. in Educational Theory and Practice (Early Childhood Education) – This is a program that focuses on young children studies. It also includes studies on the adults who take care of them and educate them, the care and educational settings that are put in place for them, and the pedagogy, policy, and curriculum problems present in early childhood education. It features 43 hours of coursework, comprehensive and preliminary examinations, a dissertation, and a dissertation prospectus. 22 hours will focus on aspects you are interested in within the field.
A bachelor’s degree program takes 4 years to complete, whereas a master’s degree will require 2 years. Ph.D. programs may take up to 6 years to complete.
To get in, you must first apply to the University of Georgia. Following your admission, you can apply for the B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education. The documents necessary for your application include a College of Education Major Application, a copy of your unofficial transcript, and a resume that includes your past work experience, educational background, involvement in the community, extracurricular activities, and similar things. Moreover, you need to write an essay that answers two prompts.
For the MEd, you must also have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, as well as an undergraduate course cumulative GPA of 2.8 or more. For the MAT, you’ll require a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or more on a 4.0 scale, as well as a bachelor’s degree.
If you apply for a Ph.D. program, you will also require a personal statement that tells the committee why you are pursuing doctoral education. You will also need a writing sample that proves your ability to write and engage with intellectual ideas.
Mercer University
Mercer University has been around for over 185 years, and it has a total student enrollment of 9,033. It is located in Macon, Georgia, and over the years, it has helped many individuals obtain well-paid jobs. Mercer’s traditions, including its annual events and school colors, made it the great university it is today.
The institution enrolls students from 54 countries, and it has more than 1880 staff and faculty members.
Early Childhood Education Program Information
At Mercer University, you can follow a B.S. Ed. in Early Learning and Development and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education. These programs prepare students to teach little children from birth to the 5th grade.
The B.S. Ed. in Early Learning and Development is designed to help students learn how to teach and train children from birth to kindergarten in different areas. These include preschool and pre-K programs, childcare centers, early childcare agencies, and kindergarten classrooms.
There are two options with this degree program: you can take the certification track or the non-certification one. The former gives you the teacher certification in Georgia state, whereas the latter doesn’t result in any certification.
Nevertheless, you can obtain your bachelor’s degree with both. And to prepare you for more student support and learning, you will also get an embedded Special Education Preschool endorsement. The program requires a total of 120 credit hours.
Program studies involve Observation and Assessment, Child Development, and Child Care Administration.
The Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education can help people obtain their initial teacher certification so they can teach children in grades P through 5. Students participating in this program will obtain knowledge in the classroom and learn from field experiences. This master’s program requires 37 credit hours.
New teachers will have to focus on pedagogical and theoretical problems in the classroom using assessment, technology integration, and research to help young children with what they need.
To apply for this program, you must complete an admission application, pay the application fee, send official college transcripts from institutions you attended in the past, and send your high-school or GED transcript. MAT applicants will also need a GACE Georgia Educators Ethics Assessment Completion Certificate.
Southern Regional Technical College
Located in Southwest Georgia, the Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) has a mission to help students prepare for their dream future. The institution is small, but it offers unique experiences and ensures you learn everything necessary for your career.
SRTC offers hands-on training opportunities, expert faculty staff, as well as state-of-the-art technology and equipment.
Early Childhood Education Program Information
The Southern Regional Technical College offers two Early Childhood Care and Education programs. One is for an AAS, and the other is for a Diploma.
The associate of applied science (AAS) degree program was designed to focus on childhood care, educational theory, and practical application, preparing students to work in early childhood education. This program ensures students will be able to work in elementary school paraprofessional positions, childcare centers, Georgia Pre-K programs, and Head Start positions.
Courses include:
- Humanities/Fine Arts
- Natural Sciences/Mathematics
- Social/Behavioral Sciences
- Language Arts/Communications
- Student Success
- Child Growth and Development
- Language and Literacy
- Computer literacy
- Creative Activities
It lasts for six semesters, with 75 credit hours in total.
The diploma program emphasizes the importance of educating and teaching young children, but it only lasts for four semesters. It also has 56 credit hours. This program includes classes like:
- Foundations of Mathematics
- Fundamentals of English
- Basic Psychology
- Interpersonal Relationships and Professional Development
- Student Success
- Child Growth and Development
- Computer Literacy
For both programs, you require a high-school diploma or equivalent to be admitted.
Ogeechee Technical College
The Ogeechee Technical College has been established back in 1986. It is located in Statesboro, and it is a pretty small institution. However, it has a high acceptance rate and enrolls more than 800 undergraduate students.
Although the most popular programs include Business and Medical Assistant, there is also an early education program for people who want to work in this field.
Early Childhood Education Program Information
Ogeechee has a very complex Early Childhood Care & Education associate degree program. The goal of this program is to offer people the chance to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to work with the young generations.
Students can work to obtain an AAS degree and get the professional, technical and academic knowledge to work in early childhood education. You can work as a family childcare home provider, a teacher or a teaching assistant, and many other positions.
You will have a total of 78 credit hours with this program. Courses include:
- Mathematics
- Science
- Child growth and development
- Creative activities
- Public speaking
- Literature and composition
- College algebra
- Introductory psychology
To apply, you must submit an application, a high-school or GED transcript, and official college transcripts.
Ogeechee Technical College also offers a Early Childhood Care and Education diploma program, which helps you deepen your knowledge in the field. Courses include:
- Child growth and development
- Fundamentals of English
- Foundations of Mathematics
- Guidance & Classroom Management
- Language and Literacy
- Creative activities
In total, there are 53 credit hours. You can apply by submitting an application, high-school or GED transcripts, and college transcripts.
Early Childhood Education Work Opportunities in Georgia
Getting a job in early childhood education means you would be able to work with young children and help them learn and develop. You can work as a Pre-K Assistant Teacher or Head Start Lead Teacher in many institutions in Georgia.
The good news is that you will have opportunities in both rural and urban areas in this state.
Working in early childhood education can not only offer you a nice salary but also the chance to teach young generations and help them become responsible, respectable, and skilled adults.