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The School of Education offers an undergraduate degree program in Early Childhood Education that leads to a B.A. in Education. Students completing this program are eligible for the Massachusetts Teacher License in Early Childhood (PreK through Second Grade, Students with and without disabilities) and the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Lead Preschool Teacher certificate. Students in the Education major must also complete a secondary major related to the field of early childhood education including majors within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (e.g. Psychology, Sociology), School of Public Heath and Health Sciences (e.g. Nutrition), College of Natural Sciences (e.g. Biology, Mathematics), and College of Humanities and Fine Arts (e.g. English, History).

Students apply for admission to the Early Childhood program during their sophomore year. Prior to admission into the Education major students should seek advising through the Educator Licensure Office (educba@educ.umass.edu). Students will also need to work with the undergraduate departmental advisers of their secondary major to ensure that all secondary major requirements are met.

Requirements
It is expected that students will complete most of the course requirements for their secondary major prior to their admission into the Early Childhood program. The Early Childhood program requires 44 credits 14 of which are field-based as well as an additional 3 credit Integrative Experience. During their senior year students progress through the courses and practica as a cohort; junior year courses are individually structured.

Admission to the Major
Admission to the major is competitive. Students apply by February 15 of their sophomore year. Completion of HUMDEV 270, Math 113, and Math 114 (with a minimum grade of B in all prerequisite courses), passing scores on the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), and a minimum GPA of 2.75 are required to apply. Criteria for admission include cumulative GPA, completion of prerequisites and strength of the personal statement. Students interested in Early Childhood Education should seek advising through the Educator Licensure Office (ELO), 130 Furcolo Hall in their freshman year. Application materials are available through this office at educba@educ.umass.edu.

Career Opportunities
Early Childhood Education is considered to be a high-demand teaching field. Through extensive pedagogical course work and clinical field experiences students completing the Education major are qualified to teach young children with and without disabilities in a wide range of early childhood settings including public and private schools (PreK through Second Grade) as well as child care and preschool programs.