Online Bachelor’s Degree Program

BS Early Childhood/Elementary Education (P-3/K-6)

Certification

S A C S C A S I Accredited Council on Accreditation and School Improvement accreditation logo accreditation logo
Program Detail

Next Start Date

January 13

Est. Program Length

3-4 years

Credit Hours

127

Course Length

8 weeks

Cost Per Credit

$325

Alabama Teaching Certification

Yes

Degree Overview

Advance your career in education with the online bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education. Learn from one of the leading trainers of educators in the state, in an online format designed for working teachers. Most of your degree can be completed online. Your internship and field experience courses must be completed in an Alabama-approved school. Build your knowledge and skills in a flexible online environment from one of Alabama’s oldest and most prestigious universities.

The online bachelor’s degree in elementary education at UWA  is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Who is this degree for?

  • Individuals seeking a bachelor’s degree program.
  • Individuals seeking employment opportunities in elementary education.
  • Individuals seeking a Class B Professional Educator Certificate.
  • Individuals seeking to graduate faster with Competency-Based Education.

Mentor Collective

The UWA Mentor Collective program enhances your online learning experience by linking you one-on-one with a mentor. Students learn what to expect in school, while mentors build their networks and develop skills to become better professionals and leaders.

Competency-Based Education

Competency-Based Education (CBE) awards credit for how much you know, not how much time you spend in class. The CBE track is UWA’s most flexible option, allowing you to set the pace of your own education and complete as many courses as you want each term. Contact an enrollment counselor or your academic advisor today to find out how CBE can reduce your time to graduation.

Program Detail

Next Start Date

January 13

Est. Program Length

3-4 years

Credit Hours

127

Course Length

8 weeks

Cost Per Credit

$325

Alabama Teaching Certification

Yes

Submit your information to be contacted by phone/email.

Course Details

Total Hours: 127

Program Completion Requirements

General Requirements for Admission to the Internship:

  1. Submission of a written application for the internship program which includes a personal philosophy and its relationship to teaching practices.
  2. Unconditional admission to the Educator Preparation Program.
  3. Senior standing (90 or more semester hours) and within 12-18 semester hours of completing all course work and must be unconditionally admitted to the program by the beginning of the semester prior to registering for the internship.*
  4. A minimum quality point ratio of 2.75 with no grade less than a “C” in each of the following areas:  General Studies, Teaching Field, Professional Education, Overall
  5. Passing score on the Praxis II portion(s) of the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program must be submitted to the Certification Officer by the last day of the semester prior to the internship being completed.  Only official score reports from ETS may be accepted.
  6. Current background clearance on file with the Alabama State Department of Education.
  7. Approval of the Educator Preparation Screening Committee and the Coordinator of Field Experience.
  8. Freedom from any physical, mental, or emotional condition which might impair the student’s effectiveness as a teacher.
  9. Good standing of the student, both academic and disciplinary.
  10. Applicants should not seek to do their internship in schools which they attended as students.
  11. Undergraduate educator candidates (Class B level) completing the internship cannot be employed as a teacher or as a teacher aide during the school year.
  12. Interns should not plan to participate in organizational activities and/or University activities that in any way conflict with their internship assignments.

Admissions

An educator candidate may be admitted to the Educator Preparation Program under the following provisions:

  1. Applicants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing.
  2. Educator candidates seeking certification must submit an application to the Educator Preparation Program (EdPP) after completion of 45-60 semester hours but no later than two semesters prior to expected enrollment in the internship.
  3. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English.
  4. Applicants must have already completed and passed all required basic curriculum courses.
  5. Applicants must have at least a 2.75 quality-point ratio on all courses in general education, in the teaching field(s), in professional studies, and a 2.75 on overall college work. (No grade less than a “C” will be accepted.)
  6. A passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills test (formerly the Basic Skills Assessment portion of the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program) is required. Only official score reports from the testing company are accepted.
  7. Three UWA faculty interviews/recommendations designed to provide further information on the applicant’s dispositions, interests, and aptitudes, consistent with the requirements for successful teaching, must be on file.
  8. A transfer student is eligible to apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program during the first semester of residence. Such a student must achieve a 2.75 quality-point ratio on a course load of at least twelve semester hours attempted during the first semester of residence, in addition to having a 2.75 quality-point ratio on transferred credit with no grade less than a “C”.
  9. Fingerprint Clearance. A successful background clearance through ABI and FBI is required for admission to the Educator Preparation Program and for participating in clinical experiences in schools. Fingerprinting is completed in ED 300.
  10. All the requirements listed above must be met before an educator candidate is allowed to register for designated EdPP courses, including the internship.

Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is $325 per credit hour. There is a $60 technology fee each semester.

The University of West Alabama is dedicated to keeping education costs affordable and providing students with a full range of grants, scholarships and loans. Approximately 80 percent of UWA students receive some type of financial aid to support their studies. To apply for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The school code for UWA is 001024.

Transfer

We have a generous transfer policy at every degree level. Undergraduates transferring from a two-year college are eligible to transfer up to 60 credit hours and up to 90 credit hours from a four-year college with matching courses and curriculums.

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