Program Quick Facts
100% Online
Take 5- or 7-week classes online and on your schedule.
Strong Spiritual Foundation
Deepen your faith in programs taught from a Christian perspective.
Accelerated Program
Complete your degree in as few as 18 months.
Support Children Through the Early Years of Development
The online Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood will prepare you for an exciting career shaping the next generation and serving youth and families in your community. Fully online courses equip you as an early childhood professional for teaching, administration, leadership in the field and more. This program offers two concentration options: Special Education or S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). You can also choose to pursue a PreK-Grade 3 teaching credential alongside your master’s degree.
At Vanguard University, you will integrate faith and learning and build the community needed to succeed in your teaching career. Our transfer-friendly programs are perfect for working adults who need flexibility and convenience from a college program. Here, you can complete your bachelor’s in early childhood fully online and in as few as 18 months. Classes begin every 7 weeks!
Career Outcomes
The B.A. in Early Childhood prepares students with the foundation they need to succeed in teaching, curriculum development and administration. At Vanguard University, you can tailor your program to your career goals with concentrations in Special Education or S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math).
With a bachelor’s degree in education, you will be prepared to seek roles in a variety of settings, including:
- Daycare
- Elementary school
- Kindergarten
- Head Start program
- Preschool
- Recreational program
This program also prepares you to pursue your PreK-Grade 3 teaching credential and master’s degree.
I am most grateful for the love of Jesus Christ that is present throughout the Vanguard experience. I had heard of other colleges that have a Christian framework but it is not infused in the teaching. Yet, with Vanguard it was like learning in a ‘home’ of grace, compassion, understanding and kindness. Having this philosophy and having it modeled has been an example I will follow in my own journey as an ECE advocate and teacher. I know that it is not that I am a Christian who owns a preschool and teaches, but a disciple of Jesus Christ who ministers truth, love, grace, hope and joy into the lives of children, families and other professionals.
– Jill Lodato, ’17
In the online B.A. in Early Childhood program, you will learn to effectively create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, partner with parents and families, and promote children’s learning and development from birth through age 8 — all from a biblical worldview perspective.
Upon completion of the early childhood program, you will be prepared to:
- Understand, from the perspective of a Biblical worldview, young children’s needs and characteristics, from birth through age 8
- Use research-based, Biblically-grounded knowledge of child development to create learning environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, challenging and Christ-honoring for each child
- Examine diverse family and community characteristics, integrating a Biblical vision of inclusiveness and God’s love for all people
- Support and empower families, communities and churches through respectful, reciprocal, responsive relationships, honoring Christ and the God-given role of the family
- Understand the goals, benefits and uses of assessment, including its use in development of appropriate goals, curriculum and teaching strategies for young children
- Reflect on your own practice to promote positive outcomes for each child, giving evidence of Christ’s love for each child and family
- Practice in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice, using technology effectively with young children, with peers, and as a professional resource
- Engage in informed advocacy for young children, the early childhood profession and the glory of God
The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood program consists of 120 total units, including:
- General Education Core Requirements: 34 units
- Major Requirements: 39 units
- Electives: 47 units
| Sample Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| ECED-300 Guiding the Young Child’s Behavior | 3 Credits |
| ECED-305 The Exceptional Child and the Inclusive Classroom | 3 Credits |
| ECED-316 STEM/STEAM: Math for the Young Child | 3 Credits |
| ECED-322 STEM/STEAM: Science for the Young Child | 3 Credits |
| ECED-327 STEM/STEAM: Arts and Creative Learning for the Young Child | 3 Credits |
At Vanguard University, you will experience personalized instruction paired with a strong spiritual foundation that fosters knowledge, cultivates character and deepens faith. Our Christian professor-mentors will prepare you to make meaningful contributions in your profession and community, equipping you to lead a Spirit-empowered life of Christ-centered leadership and service.
Accreditation
