Early Childhood Development and Education, B.S. Early Care and Education Concentration

The Early Childhood Development and Education Major in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at UNCG prepares students for working with young children with and without disabilities. We prepare you to work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners and focus on children’s development in diverse cultural, school, and family contexts.

Students can choose from two programs of study:

• Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Licensure, which prepares students to teach in public Kindergarten and NC pre-K classrooms.
• Early Care and Education, which prepares students for working with young children with and without disabilities in diverse cultural, school, and family contexts.

Program Distinctions

• The Princeton Review recently reported that UNCG’s HDFS programs receive “enthusiastic praise from current students.”
• UNCG’s on-campus child care program provides a lab setting for you to gain hands-on experience working with young children in an educational setting.
• HDFS is ranked #1 Best Human Development and Family Studies colleges in North Carolina 2021 by Universities.com; and #1 Best Online Bachelor’s in Human and Family Development Programs by BestColleges.com.
• Faculty are renowned experts in early childhood development, care, and education.

The Student Experience

• Many graduates pursue graduate degrees in HDFS or related fields.
• 120 semester hours are required for graduation, including at least 36 hours at or above the 300 course level.
• Main Campus students can start the program in their first year. For students wishing to transfer from a North Carolina community college, see the Articulation Agreement.
• Required field placements and teaching internship in an inclusive early childhood settings/classrooms offer students applied experience.

After Graduation

• ECDC majors and early education professionals can work directly with children as: Teachers in community early education programs working with infants, toddlers or preschool age children, including Head Start; teachers in specialized educational programs providing instruction and supports that are designed to meet the unique needs and abilities of children; assistant teachers in all of these settings.
• Work with and for families in: Smart Start & NC Partnership for Children or as parents as teachers, family liaisons, parent referral counselors, and family and community resource professionals.
• Work to support early education professionals as: Directors or coordinators in an early education program; as a training coordinator; as a resource center specialist; as a quality enhancement specialist who provides coaching to early childhood teachers; a school-age specialist who is a professional development specialist or trainer who helps teachers and administrators develop, plan, and achieve continuous learning goals; a behavior specialist who specializes in understanding and treating behavioral issues in children; or infant/toddler specialist or develops, coordinates, and supports high quality programs to support early development and learning.

Online Program

• Online students must transfer to UNCG with successful completion of an AAS degree in early childhood from a North Carolina community college. See the Articulation Agreement.
• Students transferring to UNC Greensboro with their AAS degrees are 2+ students.  Remember this when filling out forms. Learn about the 2+ program.
• Admission into this program is for Fall and Spring semesters only. Application deadlines are July 15 (for Fall semester admissions) and December 1 (for Spring semester admissions). Students must accept their admissions offers by July 21 (for Fall semester admissions) and December 21 (for Spring semester admissions).
• 120 semester hours are required for graduation, including at least 36 hours at or above the 300 course level.
• Online courses are both asynchronous (with no set meeting time) and synchronous (conducted live via computer webcam).
• Required field placements and teaching internship in an inclusive early childhood settings/classrooms offer students applied experience.
• Given the nature of the program, students are required to have regular access to a computer with internet access, a webcam, and a computer microphone and headset. See a full list of Technical Requirements.

Undergraduate Minor

• Human Development and Family Studies Undergraduate Minor