Early Childhood Education and Care (BA)

About the Early Childhood Education and Care Program

The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care program is designed to inspire students with passion and understanding of how children and their families can be supported from birth through age eight, by connecting theories into practice and demonstrating  their abilities to follow academic and professional standards from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Students will learn how to implement developmentally appropriate practice through integration of research and education. Students will engage in reflective thinking and gain the skills to become effective decision makers. The academic program offers core curricula and fieldwork in early childhood development and pedagogy while highlighting best practice, advocacy, and reflective practice in the context of family, culture, language, and society.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of child development, individual and exceptional needs, and culture to provide opportunities and environments that support the physical, social-emotional, language, and cognitive, learning of children birth through age eight.

• Understand, respect, and value, the characteristics and needs of families and their communities as they establish and maintain positive, collaborative, supportive relationships with the families of young children.

• Recognize how children and families differ in their perspectives and approaches to learning and create opportunities for growth and learning that are developmentally and culturally appropriate.

• Understand and use informal and formal observation, screening, documentation and assessment strategies and techniques, to plan and individualize the learning environment, curriculum and teacher interactions and practices for young children.

• Establish and maintain positive and supportive relationships and create learning environments that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, intrinsic motivation and self-esteem.

• Design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curricula that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for every young child.

• Understand education as a profession, maintain standards of professional conduct, and provide leadership to improve child learning and well-being.

Licensure Requirements

Fisher Colleges Early Education and Care Program is designed to meet certification for early childhood education (birth -5) in all 50 states, but is not a public school licensure program. Fisher College has not made a determination whether this program meets Pre K - 12th grade licensure. Students seeking professional licensure should contact the appropriate Department of Education licensing board in that state to verify licensure requirements. See list of licensure requirements for Early Childhood Centers by state.

Early Childhood Education Career Track

Bachelor of Arts Degree graduates may pursue a career in any a vast variety of childcare centers. The following list is just an example of some of the opportunities our students have pursued. Many of Fisher's ECE interns receive job offers from one or both of their Practicums. For those who choose to continue their education, the internships provide invaluable experience to help students succeed.  

• Early Intervention Specialist 

• Early Childhood Educator
• Early Childhood Education Director 
• Assistant Teacher
• Teacher
• Head Teacher
• Director
• Nanny