Early Childhood BA

  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Undergraduate Teacher Licensure
UNC Extended Campus Center with University of Northern Colorado sign on building.
Format
  • Online
Location
  • Online
Concentration
  • Liberal Arts
  • Licensure: Early Childhood Education (Ages Birth-8)
Estimated Completion Time

Varies

Start Date

Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (May)

Tuition Rate

$466/Credit

Credits

90 in Major | 120-121 Total

Area of Study
Apply

An Online Degree Completion Program for Early Childhood Education

Do you want a convenient way to complete your bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (ECE)? Take our online early childhood degree completion program. You will learn how to teach children from birth through age eight. You’ll have the option to earn your early childhood teaching license.

You’ll learn through meaningful coursework and authentic teaching experiences.

In This Program You Will…

  • Learn Child Development: Understand the various ways children develop and learn. Learn how to make the best decisions for each child.
  • Get Hands-on Experience: Get hours of valuable classroom practice. You’ll work with babies/toddlers (birth to age 5) and early elementary students (K-3).
  • Be Taught by Experts: Learn from dedicated UNC instructors. Our faculty are active teachers and researchers in early childhood education.

Are You Ready to Get Started?

This online program was developed to meet a need for licensed early childhood teachers, especially in rural areas.

  • Concentration Options: You can choose either the ECE Licensure or Liberal Arts concentration for this online program. If you want to become licensed to teach early childhood, we encourage you to apply!
  • Degree Completion: this program is designed for those who have already taken some college classes. You will need to complete some basic early childhood coursework before (or while) you start this program. See the Course of Study section below for details.

Convenience and Flexibility

  • Enjoy quality online education: This program is the same degree we offer on our campus, taught by the same faculty.
  • Finish on your terms: Start any term and study part time or full time.
  • Learn from education experts: UNC is the premier teacher preparation university in Colorado.

Early Childhood education bachelor's degree completion student doing coursework online on her laptop.

Your Career in Early Childhood Education

Many graduates of this program choose to teach in public schools (grades K-3). But this program also prepares you to teach in pre-K settings and to direct early childhood centers.

Teaching and Leading

Graduates of UNC teaching programs are highly regarded by employers in our region. You’ll make a difference in the lives of your students, and establish a career in a field that is in high demand. You will be ready to succeed in roles in:

  • K-3 classrooms in public and private schools
  • Pre-schools
  • Childcare centers (including as Directors, Assistant Directors and Owners)
  • County agencies
  • Head Start programs
  • Montessori schools (with additional training)

Some positions require licensure / endorsement.

Early Childhood Education Licensure and Endorsement

If you complete the Licensure: Early Childhood Education (Ages Birth-8) concentration of this program, you will qualify for:

  • Colorado teacher licensure with an Early Childhood Education (Ages 0-8) endorsement. Once you get your Colorado teaching license you can also add a K-6 Elementary Education endorsement if you pass the Elementary Content Exam.
  • The Colorado Early Childhood Director qualification.

The licensure concentration of this program will also qualify you for credential requirements in most states. If you plan to work outside of Colorado, please see the Licensure Eligibility by State section below.

Course of Study

Early Childhood BA – Licensure: Early Childhood Education (Ages Birth-8)

View the Full Degree/Concentration Requirement Details

Please review both the Program Overview and Degree Requirements tabs.

This program is designed for flexibility and accessibility. Your time to completion (graduation) will vary based on the amount of early childhood and other college credit you have when you begin the program. Most students will be able to graduate in two to four years if attending full-time.

You will be able to complete the program at your own pace, taking as many courses per term as you choose. Please note:

  • Full-time enrollment (12 credits or more during each term) increases the amount of federal financial aid for which you may qualify.
  • How long it takes you to complete the program will depend on whether you take all (or just some) of the ECE coursework that is recommended for each term.

Common Student Scenarios

  • Do you have an Early Childhood Education associate degree (or significant ECE coursework)? You may be able to complete this online program with little or no additional transfer coursework
  • Are you new to Early Childhood Education? If you have some earned college credit you can begin this program any time, though you may need to pursue some initial ECE coursework for transfer. For details, see the Prerequisite / Co-Requisite Coursework topic below.

Online Course Tutorial

If you don’t have recent experience taking classes online, you’ll have the chance to complete our online course tutorial. This tutorial will help you learn our Canvas course platform and prepare you to succeed in your online courses!

There are 90 combined Required Major and Early Childhood PTEP credits for the Early Childhood BA: Licensure: Early Childhood Education (Ages Birth-8) concentration.

  • UNC offers 72 credits of the major/PTEP coursework online.
  • The other 18 credits are Prerequisite/Co-Requisite Courses that will need to be completed outside of this online program. See the next section.

ECE Coursework in Fall and Spring Terms

During fall and spring terms, you will complete 16-week online courses. These will fulfill Required Major and Early Childhood PTEP requirements of the degree. Early Childhood courses are not available in the summer at this time.

To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.

ECE Field Placement Requirements

This program includes direct experience in pre-K to 3rd grade classrooms (or other instructional settings). You will complete these experiences through practicums and full-time student teaching. Each placement requires a qualified mentor teacher, as defined by the Colorado Department of Education. If you do not have work access to a classroom and mentor, the UNC Field Placement office will help you find a site to complete your field work.

You can start this online UNC program any time if you have some college credit. But please note that the courses listed below will need to be completed outside of this online program. They are not required for admission, but they provide the foundation for the courses in this program and are required for program completion.

You can choose to take just these courses (and perhaps some LAC coursework) before you start the program. Or you could choose to pursue a full Early Childhood Education associate degree. Reach out to us for support about what enrollment and transfer credit scenario will fit your needs.

The following required courses are not available online at UNC at this time, but are commonly offered either in-person or online at community colleges. Colorado community college course equivalents are noted.

If you have been studying Early Childhood at another institution, you may have already taken many of these courses.

The rest of your 120 or 121 total credits for this bachelor’s degree will come from credits you take at UNC or elsewhere.

  • These credits will include completing the Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) coursework, which satisfies general education areas required for all undergraduate degree programs at all public higher education institutions in the state of Colorado. See the Full Degree Requirements for more information.
  • Many of these credits may come from the courses you transfer. See the Transfer Credit section below for details.
  • If you need additional coursework to reach 120-121 credits, see the Taking LAC or Co-Requisite Courses Online topic below.
  • Because this program features in-depth study in the field of Early Childhood Education and preparation for teacher licensure, you may not need any additional elective courses beyond the courses that fulfill LAC requirements. But if you do need any elective courses, there are a wide range of undergraduate courses offered online at UNC.

LAC and Co-Requisite Courses

Summer Term

Summer term is a great time to take any online LAC or Co-Requisite courses you may need. Taking these courses in summer allows you to take as many online major/PTEP courses as you are comfortable with each fall and spring.

  • You can find LAC and elective course options via the UNC Course Search – use the “Go to schedule of classes” button (online LAC course availability varies by term).
  • For Co-Requisite courses, you can look for online (and in-person) courses at any community college, particularly one near you (tuition is often lower for local residents).

Waiver of Liberal Arts Curriculum Requirements

Individuals with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or a Bachelor’s degree (regardless of date of completion) from a regionally accredited institution will have their Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements waived. See the Undergraduate Catalog for more information about LAC waiver and transfer evaluation policies.

Transfer Credit

You are considered a transfer student if you have completed any college-level coursework after you completed high school.

Please visit the Transfer of Credits pages from the UNC Office of the Registrar for information about:

  • How many credits can transfer
  • Requirements of credits transferred, such as your earned grade and institutional accreditation
  • The transfer evaluation process
  • Transferology – check your previous coursework in our published course equivalencies. You can do this before you apply to UNC.

Have Questions? Get in Touch!

Tuition Rate

Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate

You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.

$466

Per Credit

Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*

No Student / Technology Fees

Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.

*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking undergraduate students who are enrolled in 9 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.

Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.

Federal Financial Aid

Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Bachelor’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 12 credits per term.

You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).

  • Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
  • If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
  • Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.

You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.

Access the FAFSA Form

Coordination of Federal Financial Aid

If you start this program while you are still working on your associate degree at another school, you will keep applying for federal financial aid through that school until you finish that degree. If you are enrolled in this UNC degree program and take extra classes at other schools but are not pursuing a degree at those schools, you will apply for federal financial aid through UNC. There may be some rules or limits. Check the consortium information for more details.

Eligibility for Out-of-State Students

Eligibility by State

UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.

Licensure Eligibility by State

UNC’s professional licensure programs are designed to lead to Colorado licensure. Each state sets their own requirements, so a UNC program might not lead to licensure in other states. Visit the UNC Licensure page to learn more about which states UNC programs meet educational requirements for licensure.

It’s important to understand requirements in the state where you plan to work. Visit the State Licensure Boards page to find each state’s licensing agency and contact information. Questions? Contact Licensure@unco.edu.

International Student Eligibility

You are eligible to apply: We accept international students to online UNC programs. We can’t guarantee that our programs meet distance education requirements for every country. Before you apply, check your country’s policies and regulations. You should not apply if you live in a country that is subject to U.S. sanctions.

No student visa: Students in online UNC programs do not need to come to the United States. You will not get a student visa or receive any immigration documentation. You do not need to provide financial documentation when applying.

You will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:

  • Minimum English language requirements
  • Applying as an international student

Meet with an Enrollment Counselor

Speak with an Enrollment Counselor by phone or video.

Meet with Enrollment Counselor

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UNC Teacher Education

On-Campus Delivery Also Available

Are You Ready to Apply?

Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.

Program Eligibility

See the Program Eligibility section above.

Licensure Eligibility by State

This program is related to a state licensure, endorsement or other credential. If you intend to pursue a credential outside of Colorado, please check the Licensure Eligibility by State section above.

International Applicants

Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.

Recommended Application Deadlines

For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:

  • Summer term: March 15
  • Fall term: June 15
  • Spring term: Nov. 15

You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.

Application Process Details

On the application, you will choose:

  • Program:
    • Most applicants will choose Early Childhood: Teacher Education – Ages Birth-8 (B.A.).
    • You can also choose Early Childhood: Liberal Arts (B.A.)
  • Campus / Site: Distance-Online
  • Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (May)

Application Reimbursement From TEACH Colorado

For Colorado applicants to teacher licensure programs: UNC is pleased to be partnering with TEACH Colorado, a non-profit coalition that works to support future teachers. If you set up a free account with TEACHColorado.org before you complete your UNC application to a program / concentration that includes initial teacher licensure, you will be eligible to receive up to $100 in reimbursement of your application fee and any costs you may incur for academic transcripts or exams. The TEACHColorado.org checklist is optional, but you will need to create an account if you would like to request reimbursement.

We also recommend that you save this page that you are viewing right now for when you return to complete your UNC application.

Create an account with TEACHColorado.org.

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Related Programs Offered Through Extended Campus

Graduate Early Childhood Program