Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure), BA (CAGS)

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 program (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.

Time Limitations

All degree program requirements must be completed within four years beginning from the start date of the first education course within the professional core of the program. After the four-year period, a student who has not completed the program requirements will be withdrawn from the program unless an exception to policy request to extend this time limitation is submitted by the student and approved by the program director.  In this case, the student’s CCU transcript will be reviewed by the program director.  At the director’s discretion, if an extension is approved, a program course may have to be retaken if the content of the course has received substantive changes since it was last taken by the student. 

Students who step out of the program for more than 365 days or go beyond the four-year period without an approved extension and wish to complete the program will be required to apply for re-admission. If approved for readmission, the student’s CCU transcript will be reviewed by the program director.  At the director’s discretion, a program course may have to be retaken by the re-admitted student if the content of the course has received substantive changes since it was last taken by the student. Students will be required to adhere to current academic policies, program requirements, tuition, and fees.

Degree Requirements

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)

Students who have earned a "Center-Based Preschool Child Development Associate" certification may substitute this certificate for two of the following three courses in the ECE professional program:

1. From the Prerequisite Professional Core Requirement

ECE 205A Health, Safety and Nutrition for ECE (3)

100 level or higher ECE course (3)

2. From the Professional Core Requirements

ECE 201A Teaching as a Profession (3)

Students should make sure this certificate is submitted to Registration Services.