Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education

Become a licensed educator and qualify to teach students from birth through third grade. Southwest Minnesota State University's online Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board.

You can finish your program in two to four years while studying essential topics like child growth and development, early literacy, classroom management, and more. A supervised semester-long student teaching experience is built into the curriculum, so you have the opportunity to apply your studies in real classroom contexts. Students will present their professional portfolio at a final conference at the end of the program.

Graduates of SMSU's early childhood education program meet all requirements for Minnesota Early Childhood Education Licensure upon completion. You will have the knowledge, skills, and experience required to help young children thrive and set them up for lifelong academic success. Possible work settings include private preschool, child care, Head Start, kindergarten, and family education.

Southwest Minnesota State University is a four-year public university offering a high-quality education in the liberal arts and professions to prepare you for a life that is successful both personally and professionally. SMSU has grown into a university of choice with high national rankings, producing scholars who become the leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs of the future.

Strong academics, fulfilling social activities, rewarding civic engagement projects, and support from fellow Mustangs in a close-knit environment mean you will get the education of a lifetime at a price that won’t take a lifetime to pay for. We invite you to visit SMSU and to see for yourself all that we have to offer.