Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood
child and youth development major and PreK-3

If you’re an adult who has completed about two years of college and always wanted to finish your degree, consider Milligan. In 18-23 months you can complete the child and youth development major, and even certify to teach PreK-3. Classes meet only one night per week (certification takes an additional semester of full-time student teaching). And tuition is low, which makes it affordable and within your reach.

This program is ideal for people who want to teach at the PreK-3 level in public and private schools or to serve in leadership positions in church-related preschools or child development

Convenience
By scheduling classes only one night per week, our degree completion program allows you to work toward your degree even if you’re working full-time. Campus resources — such as the bookstore, library, and computer labs — are available in the evening. Parking is easy to find and the coffee is ready when you get here.

We’ll work with you from your first question to graduation, and we’ll help you develop a degree plan upfront that makes the most of your time and money. We know that working full-time, caring for a family, and going to school can be hectic. Our competent and friendly staff are ready to help you with the administrative details of the program so you can focus on learning.

Caring
Milligan offers you a "support team" in the Office for Life-Long Learning that is experienced and ready to help. We care about your success. We'll work with you from your first question to graduation. We'll help you develop a degree plan that makes the most of your time and money. We provide an orientation to our campus and to the program prior to your first class. We do our best to make your life easier.

Personal Attention
You’ll progress through the program in a small cohort, giving you an opportunity to develop relationships, learn from diverse experiences and approaches, and benefit from a built-in support network. Small classes allow professors to interact closely with students for individual attention and supervision throughout the program. Our faculty are role models and mentors, and they will challenge you and stretch your mind and your spirit.

Outstanding Reputation
Milligan’s education program has a reputation for producing quality teachers with a strong sense of dedication to their students. Fully approved by the Tennessee Department of Education, Milligan is one of nine private colleges in Tennessee accredited by NCATE, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. NCATE accreditation means your degree from Milligan is instantly recognized in Tennessee and throughout the nation for its quality.

Christian Worldview
Today’s schools are challenged as never before. Now more than ever, children need teachers and leaders who are committed to excellence in the classroom and to Christian values. Educators prepared in such a way can make a real difference in the school and community where they live and serve. Our primary goal at Milligan is to prepare caring and reflective educators who will affect the lives of children in a markedly positive manner.

Curriculum
The Child and Youth Development Major can be completed in 18 months and includes courses such as Child Development, Family, Technology in Education, Child Guidance, Literacy Development, Children’s Literature, Reading Processes with Assessment and Intervention, Early Childhood and Elementary Curriculum and Methods, Creative Activities for Children, Media Effects on Children and Adolescents, Psychology of the Exceptional Child, Health and Physical Education Methods, Teaching Methods, and Early Childhood Administration. Field experience included.

Certification to teach requires an additional full-time semester of student teaching, for a total of 23 months.

Students must also complete the college’s general education requirements, but often these have been completed in a student’s prior coursework. We are happy to review your transcript and provide a degree plan.

February 2007 Course Calendar

February 2008 Course Calendar

Classroom Experience
If you decide to pursue PreK-3 licensure, you’ll get extensive field experience in teaching, assessment, and classroom management through a capstone course and semester-long student teaching experience in our community partner schools. You’ll work directly with master teachers as mentors. You’ll also complete a portfolio documenting mastery of program outcomes to prepare you for board certification by the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards.

Financial Aid & Tuition Reimbursement
Students in this program are eligible to apply for state and federal tuition assistance programs, for employer reimbursement when applicable, and any other scholarship programs.

Getting Started
If you’ve completed 52 semester hours (about two years) of college work and can document two years of full-time work, you’re ready to go. If you’re currently working toward the 52 semester hours, let us help you prepare to transfer to Milligan. We can evaluate your transcripts and prepare a plansheet that will show you exactly where you stand. We can review this with you by phone, email or in-person.

Call us at 423.461.8782 or email ECE@milligan.edu.

Application for Admission
(PDF Format)

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