Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education

Our online Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education prepares you to nurture, teach, and advocate for children during their critical early years of growth and development.

An online early childhood education degree prepares you to effectively teach the youngest students. The program provides a deeper understanding of physical, intellectual, and emotional development, as well as theories and effective teaching strategies for students from birth to age eight. You’ll learn to develop educational programs and classrooms that emphasize age-appropriate practices, purposeful environment and lesson planning, and parent partnership. Our graduates gain the knowledge and hands-on experience to be successful teachers of young children.

If you are interested in an in-person program, we also offer a traditional learning option.

Take the First Step

Get in touch with any questions or submit a simple application for admission. We will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance so you can enroll and begin your classes!

At a Glance

5,500
Number of open preschool and childcare center director positions expected in the US per year through 2034.

Program Length

48 months / 8 semesters / 127 credits

Format

Online

Tuition per Credit

$510

Next Start Date: 9/7/2026

Fall, Spring, and Summer Starts

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Is This the Degree For Me?

Who It’s For

  • Paraprofessionals working toward their teaching license
  • Professional childcare providers interested in growing their knowledge and skillset
  • Those interested in working with young children in an educational setting
  • Anyone working in an early learning environment who wants to grow their understanding of early childhood development

Career Paths

  • Childcare Center Director
  • Preschool Director
  • Preschool Teacher
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • Childcare Worker

What You’ll Learn

Build a strong foundation in early childhood education for children from birth through age 8. This program prepares you to blend developmental theory with hands-on experience designed for real-world classrooms and childcare environments.

Highlights

  • Deepen your understanding of growth and development from birth through age eight, including physical, intellectual, and emotional milestones
  • Explore the foundations of early learning, including age-appropriate strategies and practices to foster developmental progress
  • Learn to create programs, choose curricula, and shape learning environments and lessons that engage even the youngest of students
  • Strengthen your ethical formation as an educator and your commitment to upholding the dignity of every learner
  • Gain practical teaching experience in collaboration with career educators and emerge prepared for classroom teaching

Eligible for State Educator's Professional License

Graduates of the early childhood education program are eligible for the North Dakota Educator's Professional License to teach or provide programming to children from birth to third grade. If you are not in North Dakota, work with your advisor to ensure you meet all the requirements in your state.

Looking for Scholarship Opportunities?

The Paraprofessional-to-Teacher Pathway program through the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is offering scholarships. These help paraprofessional educators get their North Dakota teaching license. To qualify for the scholarship, you need to be working at least 50% of the school day as a paraprofessional in a North Dakota school. If you are interested in applying, please contact an admissions representative.

The elementary and early childhood programs have prepared me for my career as a kindergarten teacher. Teaching is an ever-evolving field — my understanding of child development and best practices has helped me when I need to come up with new ideas, plans, or resources to help support students. Additionally, the high standard of professionalism has served me well as a teacher.

Ashley Miller
Ashley (Jones) Miller Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education, 2023

Program Details

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Your first step is to get in touch with any questions or submit the simple application for admission. We will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance so you can enroll and begin your classes!

If you are serving or have served our country, we sincerely thank you. Our military services office is here to work closely with active duty, retired, reserve, and eligible family members qualified for military benefits. Learn how we can help you with the application process and review the benefits you have earned.

For a full list of fees, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

The University of Mary is committed to putting your educational goals within reach. Learn what scholarships you qualify for.

We welcome students from various backgrounds, including transfer students from institutionally accredited colleges and universities recognized by the US Dept. of Education and those with military or career and work experience. 

How do I show my previous college, military, or work experience?

  • Official transcripts (if applicable) from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions.
    • Did you graduate from the University of Mary? Then we’ll get your Mary transcript for you!
    • At most other schools, you can request transcripts by going to the National Student Clearinghouse or by contacting the registrar’s office. 
      • Have your transcripts sent to:
        Office of Admissions
        University of Mary
        7500 University Drive
        Bismarck, ND 58504
      • Or request to send electronic transcripts to registrar@umary.edu.
  • Students with previous career or work experience can earn credits for prior learning.
    • You can choose to test for prior learning credits — we convert your test scores into college credit.
    • You can request a portfolio review for prior learning credits. You’ll assemble documentation to show your experience, which will be reviewed and evaluated by an experienced faculty member.
  • Military experience can count towards a degree.
WHAT WILL I NEED TO APPLY?
  • All of our programs require you to fill out the general application form in addition to submitting the application fee and your transcripts.
  • Any program-specific requirements you’ll need to submit in addition to the items listed above can be found in our catalog.

At the University of Mary, we review every application on an individual basis, ensuring that the materials you submit are evaluated with care and attention. Reach out to us if you have any questions in filling out your application.

Get Started Today

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