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college of education, nursing and health professions
bs in early childhood education
our bachelor’s degree in early childhood education will give you the knowledge and training to pursue a variety of careers in public and private schools as well as childcare centers and community programs. the degree leads to preparation for connecticut teacher certification with a focus in birth to age 5 or pre-kindergarten to grade 3.
you’ll receive extensive professional preparation through core theory, site-based observations, real-world fieldwork experiences, and two student teaching semesters in area schools.
all programs help shape our students’ professional identity in early childhood education and develop the professional skills to succeed in the field.
- attend our next virtual information session on sunday, jan. 24 at 1 pm to learn more. register now
- request information
- visit campus
- apply
about the major
our program is distinctive by design:
- learning focuses on the complete early childhood span from infants through age 8.
- the program integrates understanding of typical and atypical child development to prepare students to teach children across the learning spectrum.
- cross-disciplinary coursework includes early childhood development, psychology, sociology, and teacher preparation.
- our small class sizes allow students to receive plenty of individual mentoring from our experienced faculty.
students have placements with children in pre-k or kindergarten and then, depending upon areas of interest, complete another placement in either birth to pre-k or grades 1, 2, and 3.
degree requirements
the bachelor of science in early childhood education is a 126 credit program. in addition to general education requirements, students must complete additional courses in the following areas. this is just a sample of available courses; view the complete curriculum here.
human growth and development - 15 credits
human development
infant and child development
the sociology of the family
professional education courses - 30 credits
educational psychology
guiding children’s social development and learning
assessment of the whole child
language, literacy, and linguistic diversity
early childhood curriculum development
birth-kindergarten endorsement - 12 or 15 credits
foundations of literacy learning
infants and toddlers: development and assessment
programs and curriculum for normal and special needs infants and toddlers
nursery-grade 3 endorsement - 12 or 15 credits
reading and language arts instruction
foundations of literacy learning
early childhood (k-3) integrated curriculum
career outlook
job growth for preschool teachers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026 according to the federal bureau of labor statistics, faster than the average for all occupations. growth is expected due to a continued focus on the important of early childhood education.
alumni of the university of hartford’s education programs are employed at every level of the education system, from early childhood centers to public and private schools, higher education institutions, and at the highest levels of education administration.
brianna tribble-bryant
early childhood education, '20
graduating senior brianna tribble-bryant will begin work as a kindergarten teacher at the crec museum academy in bloomfield, ct come the fall. she credits the college of education, nursing and health professions (enhp) with providing the guidance and support she needed to truly learn and understand the field of education. read more.
uhart faculty and staff helped me find my voice and define my own philosophy. from dedicated professors to the office of student success and the staff at lincoln theater, they guided me on the path to where i am now, teaching young children how to develop their voices.
admission
students applying to the early childhood education program are accepted for admission in either the fall or the spring semester. although there are no strict application deadlines, we recommend that you apply by december 1 for entrance in january and by march 1 for entrance in september.
in general, a candidate for admission to the university of hartford should:
- be a graduate of, or student who will be graduated from, an accredited secondary school, or have passed a state secondary-school equivalency examination;
- complete and submit an application form and the application fee;
- submit an official transcript of the secondary school record and official college transcripts (if any);
- submit a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor.
- submission of sat or act test results is optional* (see below for requirements for education majors)
for admission to programs in the department of education, 16 units of secondary subjects are expected and should include the following as minimal:
- english, 4 units
- social studies, 2 units
- foreign language, 2 units
- science, 2 units
- mathematics, 2 units (including 1 unit of algebra)
- other academic subjects, 4 units
professional program requirements
education students must apply for admission to the professional program during the fall of sophomore year. professional program admission requirements include:
- sat, act or praxis core scores. although the university does not require sat, act or praxis scores for admission, the state of connecticut requires these scores for teaching certification.
- cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- completed dispositions interview form
transfer admission
to transfer into a teacher education program as a college junior (48 credits or more), you must show evidence of having taken the sat, act, or the praxis core. in addition, you must have obtained a minimum of a 3.0 (b) grade point average (gpa) in your previous coursework. your ability to complete the program in two calendar years will depend on the specific courses required and your flexibility regarding summer coursework. once admitted you must immediately complete the professional program application. we would be happy to review your records and map out a sample plan of study. please contact the office of admission:
office of admission
860.768.4296
admission@hartford.edu
additional information
program learning outcomes
upon completion of the program, candidates will:
planning: apply a variety of developmentally appropriate strategies and differentiation techniques when planning for educational and caring environments for young children birth to age 8.
assessment: assess young children in the classroom environment using non-invasive, developmentally appropriate strategies for collecting, organizing, and analyzing information.
adapt instruction: plan and adapt instruction for all children between the ages of birth through age 8, taking into account each child’s diversity.
instruction: utilize teacher inquiry inclusive of student work sampling to inform an effective teaching practice that reflects appropriate instructional strategies respectful of all forms of diversity in order to achieve successful student outcomes.
philosophy of education: effectively articulate a philosophy of working with children and families, communities and community agencies, and related educational and support professionals.
professional ethics: knowing the ethical guidelines for early childhood practice includes the following: reflect on their practice in light of research on teaching and resources available for professional learning. connect to the professional community through professional associations and opportunities for ongoing professional development. be informed advocates acting on behalf of children and their families.tuition and financial aid
if you are a full-time undergraduate student applying to the early childhood education program, you will be considered for financial aid programs that the university administers. in addition to our own funds, the university participates in all federal title iv programs and federal family education loan programs. residents of connecticut and those states with reciprocal agreements with the state of connecticut may also be eligible to receive state scholarships or grants.
view detailed information on tuition and fees here
view financial aid information here
phone: 860.768.4296
program contact
accreditation
accreditation and state of connecticut certification
certification programs in the college of education, nursing and health professions, including our bachelor's degree in early childhood education, are approved by the national council for accreditation of teacher education (ncate) as well as the state of connecticut department of education. pass rate on the educational testing service's praxis ii exam.
professional licensing disclosure
click here to see the connecticut state department of education reciprocity agreement. the nasdtec website details the interstate reciprocity agreement across states.