Academic Catalog 2023-2024 
    
    Sep 24, 2023  
Academic Catalog 2023-2024

Bachelor of Arts: Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure)


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Within the context of a Christian worldview, the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure) degree provides a challenging, theory-based and application-oriented approach to educating children from birth to age 8. Courses and field experiences develop educators who are dedicated to addressing diverse learner needs with excellence through servant-leadership in their field and society.

The skills and dispositions of the professional educator will be developed through the study of curriculum development, learning assessment, psychological foundations, teaching methods, classroom management, and critical thinking. These principles are then put into practical application through field-based experiences in real early childhood classrooms. This combination of conceptual knowledge applied in real-world classroom experiences contributes to the student’s development as an early childhood educator.

Upon successful program completion, graduates meet requirements for certification by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) to teach in schools around the world. Students pursuing this degree are not eligible for a Colorado state teaching license. However, this degree will meet educational requirements for teaching in many private early childhood programs, Head Start programs, charter schools, international schools, and other agencies. A full-time student teaching practicum is not required. However, students are required to complete approximately 160 clock hours of field-based experiences over the course of two semesters.

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure) program may apply to the Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction  (MACI) program at CCU. Upon acceptance, three credits of graduate-level coursework included in the Bachelor of Arts professional core can be applied to the MACI “Non-Emphasis” degree.

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure) requires completion of the following 120 hours:
General Education (45 credits)
Prerequisite Professional Core (6 credits)
Early Childhood Professional Core (33 credits)
Electives (36 credits)

General Education Core Requirements (45 credit hours)


Arts and Humanities (9 credit hours)


Biblical Studies (9 credit hours)


Communication (9 credit hours)


Integrative Studies (3 credit hours)


Mathematics (3 credit hours)


Natural/Physical Science (6 credit hours)


Complete 6 hours of physical, earth, or biological science courses.

Social Science (6 credit hours)


Prerequisite Professional Core Requirements (6 credit hours)


Students must demonstrate a foundational background in early childhood education prior to beginning this degree by transferring 6 credits of early childhood education coursework from an accredited college or university. All students must transfer ECE 205 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition for ECE (3) and the additional 3 credits may be from any 100 level or higher ECE course, except field work or practicum experiences.

Requirements for Entrance into the Professional Core:


  • School of Education (SEP) - specified background check
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.50 for courses completed at CCU
  • A minimum of 9 credit hours must be completed at CCU prior to admission into SEP programs
  • Asynchronous interview with an SEP staff designee
  • Writing sample
  • Participation in a 90-minute synchronous program kickoff in June
  • Applicants must complete all general education and elective requirements prior to enrolling in any SEP core program courses. Applicants may be admitted by the program director for conditional admission with a maximum of 9 credits outstanding in any of the pre-professional core areas

Elective Requirements (36 credit hours)


  • Complete 36 hours of elective credits.

Graduation Requirements


The faculty recommends students in the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure) program to the Board of Trustees as candidates for graduation when they have completed the following requirements:

  • Completion of a total of 120 credits of courses, including all general education, elective, prerequisite, and professional core requirements
  • A grade of D or higher in all CCU non-education coursework, and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher in all CCU coursework
  • Students must earn a C- or higher in all education core courses, and must consistently demonstrate professional disposition qualities, knowledge and skills in all core courses and field studies
  • Compliance with the CAGS residency requirements  
  • Formal and timely application for graduation by the date specified by the University Registrar
  • No outstanding financial obligations to the University

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