Early Childhood Education Career Opportunities
- Pre-School Teacher or Head Start Teacher
- K-2 Teacher
- Childcare Center Director or Worker
- Special Education Teacher
- Home-based Service Provider
- Childhood Development Researcher
- School Counselor or Education Consultant
- Sales Representative
- Family Support Specialist
- Early Intervention Specialist
Earn A Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education For A Life-Changing Career
Do you want a career where you can develop the hearts and minds of young children (ages birth to age 8) for future success? Earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education at Mid-America Christian University will put you on the path to achieving your dream. As more schools are requiring a degree for pre-school teachers, your bachelor’s in early childhood education will make you an attractive candidate for teaching positions, now and in the future. Employment of preschool teachers is projected to grow 18 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
When you earn an Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree at MACU, you’ll be prepared to guide children through a critical time of development when 90 percent of brain growth happens by age five. The program will help you become a role model, an advocate and a support system–the type of servant teacher all children need and deserve to achieve the full potential God has planned for them.
MACU, a faith-based university, is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). Our School of Teacher Education is accredited through Oklahoma’s Office of Educational Quality and Accountability using Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) standards.
Students who complete their teacher education degree and teach in Oklahoma public schools can earn up to $25,500 through Inspired to Teach, an Oklahoma future teacher scholarship and employment incentive program. Learn more at BeInspired2TeachOK.org.
*Note: Special Education is NOT available for certification through this route.
What is the Curriculum for a BA in Early Childhood Education?
Our program uses traditional theory as well as contemporary teaching methods–with theoretical principles and practical coursework–to give you a solid foundation to build your career as a life-changing teacher.
You will learn how to plan an engaging, age-appropriate curriculum, manage a classroom in a way that promotes discovery, evaluate the individual needs of every child in your classroom, and support and guide your students through physical, intellectual and emotional growth.
Along with core classes, you’ll take courses in nutrition and physical development, children’s literature, educational psychology, and more. Classes often include hands-on experiences under the guidance of professors. Before earning your Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree, you’ll also have the opportunity to complete 110 hours of on ground field experience in a variety of schools that will provide observation and interaction with a variety of diverse students prior to their student teaching.
MACU’s On-Campus Community Offers An Experience of A Lifetime
Life on MACU’s campus is an adventure meant to be discovered. On our small campus of less than 1,500 students, you’ll feel a dynamic sense of community–a place to make new friends, discover new passions and grow in your spiritual life. Our professors, all experts in their fields, love to teach and engage with our students. They, along with staff and other students, truly care about you and your success.
Step off campus and the diverse, growing city of OKC is yours to explore. Check out the many restaurants, museums, parks and activities–there’s something for every interest. When it comes to your career, you’ll be well-positioned for success. Oklahoma ranks third in the U.S. for the percentage of children aged 3-4 enrolled in pre-kindergarten programs. Many private schools as well as Oklahoma City Public Schools’ Early Childhood Department offer comprehensive services to families of young children in OKC–which means you’ll have plenty of opportunities for employment after graduation
MACU benefits for on-campus students include:
- Affordable, streamlined path to complete your degree on time
- Low faculty-to-student ratio with engaged professors who love to teach
- Small, intimate campus with a welcoming community
- 24/7 safety monitoring and protection
- Location in the heart of a growing, diverse city with a thriving job market
- Support services that help students thrive and succeed
- Recreational, academic, and faith-based activities and groups
- Competitive sports and esports teams
MACU Offers a Christ-Centered Education
At MACU, we are intentional about helping students develop spiritually and grow in their faith. You’ll receive an education grounded on biblical principles and have many opportunities to learn about and share your faith with others through weekly chapel, small groups, student-led discussions, and more. You’ll be well prepared to use your Christian worldview to make a difference in young lives in the classroom and beyond.
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Major Courses
EDUC 2101
MACU Teacher Education Orientation
This course is intended to introduce teacher candidates to the requirements for state certification set forth by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation (OCTP). Teacher candidates will also be introduced and learn the Global Vision Conceptual Framework and other MACU education requirements. Before being accepted into the School of Teacher Education, all students are required to pass this course. Prerequisite: Completed 21 hours of general education. Co-requisite: EDUC 2102. Offered every semester.
EDUC 2102
Educational Foundations
This course is intended to introduce teacher candidates to the field of education. Historical, philosophical, sociological, and curricular foundations of American education; current issues of multicultural education, governance, and support of American education; and legal issues will be explored. Corequisite: EDUC 2101. Offered every semester.
EDUC 4203
Instructional Strategies, Mgmt., and Assessment I
This course provides practice in the educational theories of effective instructional strategies, classroom management, and a variety of assessments, especially alternative and authentic assessments; and the involvement of parents/caregivers and the community in the learning process. Offered every spring semester.
EDUC 4213
Instructional Strategies, Mgmt., and Assessment II
This course further develops the knowledge base ad skills from EDUC 4203 Instructional Strategies, Management, and Assessment I. Prerequisite: EDUC 4203. Offered every fall semester.
ECED 3103
Nutrition and Physical Development in Early Childhood
This course examines basic health, safety and nutrition concepts that meet the needs of the young child in group settings. Psychological issues related to the nutrition of children, recognition of communicable diseases in young children, child abuse prevention and recognition, age appropriate safety issues as well as state and federal regulations will be studied. Content also includes a study of the principles of creating developmentally appropriate physical development curriculum for young children.
ECED 3203
Early Childhood Development and Learning
This course addresses developmentally appropriate practices and the teacher’s role in supporting the education and development of young children ages birth through eight. An emphasis is placed on curriculum planning, including goals and objectives, environment, materials, and settings which meet standards set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Oklahoma Priority Academic Student Skills. Field experiences required.
ECED 3223
Literacy Methods for Early Childhood
This course focuses upon the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Oklahoma State Reading/ English Language Arts Standards as they relate to Early Childhood grade level indicators, with emphasis on reading and writing processes and applications. The focus will be on teaching children to consider themselves to be readers and writers from the time they can listen to a story or hold a pencil. Comprehension strategies such as predicting & confirming, retellings, language experience activities, and literature circles and literature response activities will be tied in with age appropriate experiences for the authoring process, literature appreciation, and authentic oral and silent reading practices. Appropriate use of authentic assessment techniques, language/literacy immersion, multicultural literature, techniques for teaching to the multiple intelligences and the use of research and technology in the teaching of reading will help teacher candidates learn to teach to the individual. A supervised (ten) 10-hour field experience in an early childhood setting will include activities developing reading related materials (such as an interactive bulletin board), planning and teaching lessons with the guidance of the professor and the cooperating teacher, and field experience reports reflecting upon classroom observations and activities as they relate to concepts studied in class. Offered every fall semester.
ECED 3243
Math and Science Methods for Young Children
This course is designed to prepare early childhood professionals to promote mathematical and scientific concepts in children from birth – grade 3. Topics include one to one correspondence, sorting, building shapes, measuring, estimating, classifying, patterns, terms, graphing, observing, predicting, problem solving and discovery through inquiry based hands on exploration. Five (5) hours of field observations in a specified early learning environment are required. Offered every fall semester.
ECED 4103
Family and Community Relationships in Early Childhood Education
This course is an overview of the roles and relationships of the family and community related to early childhood education as well as the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth of the child in a diverse society. The content includes benefits of and strategies for developing positive, collaborative relationships with families in an early childhood setting ages birth through eight.
ECED 4203
Guidance, Observation and Assessment of Young Children
This course examines observation/assessment techniques and the incorporation of information gathered in an effort to implement a high quality early childhood classroom. Observations and assessments are key elements in planning and differentiating instruction that fosters growth and development in young children. This course is designed to introduce and support students’ development of skills related to the observation and interpretation of children’s daily activities and behaviors. Child guidance and classroom management issues will be addressed as they pertain to general education, special education and children from diverse backgrounds.
EDEL 3403
Children’s Literature
This course is designed to help the student acquire a wide acquaintance with children’s literature, both old and new, and to learn ways and means to develop, stimulate and guide children’s reading of literature presented. In addition, it will assist future teachers in guiding children toward a more comprehensive creative and insightful utilization of literary materials. Prerequisite: EDUC 2101, EDUC 2102, and acceptance into the teacher education program.
EDEL 3503
Methods of Elementary Music and Art Integration
This course is designed to teach methods of general music and visual art in grades K-8. The emphasis will be to integrate music and art into the core subjects to enhance students’ academic performance, social skills, content learning, and to become an integral part of the students’ lives. The six essential components needed for an elementary classroom music program will be addressed (listening, moving/dancing, singing, reading, making and playing instruments, and creating). Classroom management of time, materials, and students will be included. Art/music appreciation and creativity will be taught and encouraged. The Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) will be basic to the class content. Five (5) hours of field experience is required in art/music classes K-8. Prerequisite: EDUC 2101, EDUC 2102, EDUC 4203 and EDUC 4213 and accepted into the Teacher Education Program. Offered every fall semester.
EDEL 4304
Diagnostic and Prescriptive Reading with Reading Practicum
Teacher candidates enrolled in this course will explore a wide range of issues and factors related to language and literacy assessment and instruction. They will also examine the best practices for and develop proficiency in supporting children’s language and literacy development from first through eighth grades. In the practicum, teacher candidates will assess a student; interpret assessment findings; identify their strengths and needs as language and literacy learners; and choose instructional strategies for tutoring purposes in order to develop their students’ ability to become strategic readers and writers. Oklahoma Academic Standards (C3) fifteen (15) hours of field experience is required. Prerequisites: EDUC 2101, EDUC 2102, ECED 3223, EDEL 3203, and acceptance into Teacher Education Program. Offered each fall semester.
EDUC 3103
Educational Psychology
This course includes basic and current learning theories, psychological principles applied to learning, and classroom management and assessment. Twenty-five (25) hours of field experience is required. Prerequisite: PSYC 1103. Offered every spring semester.
EDUC 3233
Probability and Statistics for Teachers
The study of rational numbers, decimal notations, real numbers, probability, and statistics. Collection, recording, and data analysis to enable data-based decisions will also be explored.
EDUC 3303
Development Across the Life Span
This course is a study of human development and the nature of those social structures which impact it, especially social, emotional, physical and cognitive aspects of human development throughout the life span. Prerequisite: PSYC 1103.
EDUC 4223
Students with Exceptionalities
This course is an introduction to the characteristics, needs, problems, and behavior patterns of exceptional children; and the various educational approaches used with them. Topics central to special education today – inclusion, diversity, assistive technology, collaboration, and multidisciplinary teams, will all be studied. The intellectual, physical, emotional, and behaviorally handicapped children will be studied, as well as gifted children and handicapped adults. Ten (10) hours of field experiences in special education and gifted classes will be required. Offered every fall semester.
EDUC 4909
Student Teaching
This course gives the student teacher firsthand experience in the school setting through observation/teaching in an accredited school. He or she will spend sixteen weeks in this course with fourteen weeks in the actual classroom under the supervision of both a cooperating teacher at a cooperating public school and the university supervisor. A teacher work sample and video tapes will be completed. Prerequisite: completion of classes in specialization and professional education. Offered every semester.