Early Childhood BS

The Early Childhood bachelor’s degree from The University of Southern Mississippi will help you turn your interest in promoting healthy development within families and a better quality of life for children into a rewarding career! The Child Development emphasis is ideal for those wanting a career in a field related to early childhood education (birth through 8 years, including Pre-K/Kindergarten licensure) or program administration/evaluation. Graduates are qualified to work as teachers and administrators of childcare and preschool programs. Graduates may also work as early childhood specialists who plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities with children in other settings.

This Early Childhood bachelor’s degree will allow you to obtain a Mississippi teaching license for pre-K/Kindergarten grade levels and use your skills in a classroom environment. However, we do not guarantee that we will meet the licensure requirements of other states.

Were you looking for a graduate degree? Check out our fully online Human Development and Family Science Master’s Degree here! Want even more info? Our enrollment coaches are standing by. Click here for more info! This is your life, plus college.

Scholarship opportunities are available for online students! Our Online Student Scholarship gives first-time, fully online students an opportunity for $500 towards their first semester. To get started with our Online Student Scholarship or to view our list of available scholarships for which you may qualify, visit our Student Scholarship page now! The School of Human Development and Family Science has 13 departmental scholarships available for students each year. All university scholarship opportunities can be found at: www.usmfoundation.com. School-specific scholarships can be found on the school’s website.

This degree program was formerly Child and Family Sciences (Child Development) BS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH an early childhood bachelor’s DEGREE?

An Early Childhood bachelor’s degree qualifies you to work as teachers and administrators of childcare and preschool programs. You may also work as early childhood specialists who plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities with children in other settings.

General Education Curriculum

Written Communication (6 hours)

Course	Credits
Composition One	3 hrs.
Composition Two	3 hrs.

Natural Science (8-10 hours minimum)

Select 2 courses with labs:

Course	Credits
Biology and Society *	3 hrs.
Principles of Biological Science I *	3 hrs.
Principles of Biological Science II *	3 hrs.
Human Anatomy and Physiology I *	3 hrs.
Human Anatomy and Physiology II *	3 hrs.
Chemistry and Our Environment *	3 hrs.
General Chemistry I *	3 hrs.
Fundamentals of General, Organic and Biochemistry *	3 hrs.
Weather and Climate *	3 hrs.
Land and Water *	3 hrs.
Physical Geology *	3 hrs.
Historical Geology *	3 hrs.
Introduction to Ocean Science *	3 hrs.
General Physics I *	3 hrs.
General Physics II *	3 hrs.
General Physics I with Calculus *	4 hrs.
General Physics II with Calculus *	4 hrs.
Living in a Material World *	3 hrs.

Humanities

Course	Credits
World Literature	3 hrs.

Select 2 courses, 1 History required:

Course	Credits
World Civilizations: Beginnings to 1500 C.E.	3 hrs.
World Civilizations: 1500 to the present	3 hrs.
Colloquium on the Pre-Modern World	3 hrs.
Colloquium on the Modern World	3 hrs.
Introduction to Philosophy	3 hrs.
Ethic and Good Living	3 hrs.
Comparative Religion	3 hrs.

Aesthetic Values

Select 1 course:

Course	Credits
Art Appreciation	3 hrs.
Dance Appreciation	3 hrs.
The Enjoyment of Music	3 hrs.
Theatre Appreciation	3 hrs.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Select 2 courses:

Course	Credits
The Human Experience: A Global Perspective of Human Diversity	3 hrs.
Introduction to Cultural & Linguistic Anthropology	3 hrs.
Basic Economics	3 hrs.
World Geography: Dynamics of a Changing Earth	3 hrs.
Concepts of Wellness	3 hrs.
American Government	3 hrs.
General Psychology	3 hrs.
Understanding Society: Principles of Sociology	3 hrs.
Introduction to Language	3 hrs.

Mathematics

Select 1 course:

Course	Credits
Quantitative Reasoning ***	3 hrs.
College Algebra	3 hrs.
Higher-level MAT course
ACT Math sub score of 24 or higher
SAT Math score of 560 or higher

Writing-Intensive Requirement

Course	Credits
Family Life Education	3 hrs.

ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

Speaking Intensive Requirement

Select 1 course:

Course	Credits
Public Speaking	3 hrs.
Small-Group Communication	3 hrs.

Capstone Requirement

Course	Credits
Contemporary Issues Affecting the Quality of Life	3 hrs.

Must be taken Senior Year; ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

Program Curriculum

Major Area of Study Requirements

Minimum grade of C required in all Major Area of Study courses.

Course	Credits
Health and Safety Standards for Young Children	3 hrs.
Infant and Toddler Development	3 hrs.
Child Development	3 hrs.
Assessment of Young Children	3 hrs.
Behavior and Guidance of the Young Child	3 hrs.
Administration of Programs for Young Children	3 hrs.
Child Development Methods and Materials	3 hrs.
Curriculum Activities for Young Children	3 hrs.
Student Teaching in Early Childhood	9 hrs.
Developmental Disabilities in Early Childhood	3 hrs.
Foundations of Family and Consumer Sciences	3 hrs.
Personal Development and Interpersonal Relationship	3 hrs.
Introduction to Child and Family Sciences	1 hrs.
Children, Families, and Technology	3 hrs.
Marital and Family Relationships	3 hrs.
Family Life Education	3 hrs.
Personal and Family Financial Management	3 hrs.
Parenthood	3 hrs.
Family Theories	3 hrs.
Contemporary Issues Affecting the Quality of Life	3 hrs.

Select 1:

Course	Credits
Families and Adolescents	3 hrs.
Families in Crisis	3 hrs.
Sexuality in the Family System	3 hrs.
The Family in Later Life	3 hrs.

Additional Requirements

Course	Credits
Literature and Related Media for Children	3 hrs.
General Psychology	3 hrs.
Educational Psychology	3 hrs.
Early Literacy Instruction I K-6	3 hrs.
Early Literacy Instruction II K-6	3 hrs.
Introduction to Mild/Moderate Disabilities	3 hrs.

Additional Note

Please note that the above information is meant to be a guide and is not official. For further information regarding courses for this degree, see the University Bulletin. Please be aware that not all course choices listed in the University Bulletin are available online. However, sufficient online options are available to complete this degree.

* Requires additional 1 hour lab

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the advisor for this program?

The advisor for this program is Ryan Luethje. You can reach Ryan Luethje at Ryan.Luethje@usm.edu.

What career opportunities are available to graduates of the program?

Graduates of the Early Childhood BS are qualified to work as teachers and administrators of childcare and preschool programs. Graduates may also work as early childhood specialists who plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities with children in other settings.

Does this program lead to initial licensure or an upgraded license in Mississippi or any other state?

Graduates of the Early Childhood BS may pursue an educator license to teach pre-kindergarten through kindergarten in the public school system. To do so, students must pass the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching-Early Childhood exam (5621) and the Praxis II Education of Young Children exam (5024). Additionally, students with an ACT below 21 must pass the Praxis Core exams (5713/5723/5733). This program is designed to meet the professional competency standards for licensure in Mississippi. The University of Southern Mississippi cannot determine whether this program leads to licensure in any state other than Mississippi. It is recommended that students who intend to seek licensure in another state verify that this program of study meets the desired state’s licensure requirements. For additional information about professional licensure, please review the Professional Licensure Disclosures web page.

Are there any additional fees?

Yes, there are fees around $75 for the online Child and Family Sciences degree.

I need some financial assistance. Where do I start?

Visit the site for more information:

http://www.usm.edu/financial-aid

What if I still have questions about the university?

If you have questions about tuition, transfer credits or anything else about the university, please visit our FAQ page, or take a moment to fill out our form at the bottom of the screen, and we will reach out to you!

Is the Early Childhood Bachelor's Degree accredited?

Yes, this degree is accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. This accreditation allows students in Early Childhood to pursue Special Licensure (pre-k/kindergarten) through the Mississippi Department of Education once they’ve earned their degree and passed the required Praxis exams. For detailed test information, please visit http://www.ets.org/praxis/ms/requirements. The University of Southern Mississippi cannot determine whether this program leads to licensure in any state other than Mississippi. For assistance with out-of-state licensure questions, please refer to the Professional Licensure Disclosures webpage.

Are there specific scholarships available for this program?

The School of Human Development and Family Science has 14 school-specific scholarships available for students each year. All university scholarship opportunities can be found at: www.usmfoundation.com.

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements: See University Admission Policies

The following is required from all undergraduate applicants:

Application for Undergraduate Admission
$45 non-refundable application fee
An official high school transcript for freshman (high school) applicants OR official transcripts from all institutions attended after high school for transfer applicants
Submission of ACT or SAT scores for freshman (high school) applicants

Students should be mindful of admission deadlines. For a full list of admission requirements, see the University Admission Policies.

Academic Policies and Requirements for Programs:

Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to transfer into programs offered in the School of Human Development and Family Science.
Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses required for the major area of study (DEG 01 and DEG 02) and any courses substituted for major courses in order to graduate.
See University Academic Policies and Requirements

Licensure Requirements: Graduates of the Early Childhood BS may pursue an educator license to teach pre-kindergarten through kindergarten in the public school system. To do so, students must pass the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching-Early Childhood exam (5621) and the Praxis II Education of Young Children exam (5024). Additionally, students with an ACT below 21 must pass the Praxis Core exams (5713/5723/5733). This program is designed to meet the professional competency standards for licensure in Mississippi. The University of Southern Mississippi cannot determine whether this program leads to licensure in any state other than Mississippi. It is recommended that students who intend to seek licensure in another state verify that this program of study meets the desired state’s licensure requirements. To review institutional determinations as to program licensure/state certification, see the Professional Licensure Disclosures webpage.

Accreditation: The Council for Accreditation of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences accredits the undergraduate program in the School of Human Development and Family Science.

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