It's never too early to start making a difference in a child's life.
Gain the expertise you need to make a positive educational impact in the lives of children from the very beginning — from infancy to the Kindergarten classroom — with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education online degree.
At University of the Cumberlands, we’re here to help you help even the littlest ones find learning success through our early childhood education bachelor’s degree. From providing free textbooks to offering this degree in an online format, we're committed to making it as easy as possible for you to get the education you need to succeed in this important sector of education. With the exception of field/clinical and student teaching hours, this online early childhood education degree program provides the convenience and flexibility needed to pursue a teaching degree in early childhood settings on your schedule and at your pace.
Programs & Requirements
* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.
To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog.
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
For many educators, there is nothing more fulfilling than helping a child discover the joys of learning. Teachers enter the profession because they want to make a difference. And while “lightbulb moments” are priceless, what educators really want is the kind of wealth that multiplies and brings prosperity to generations of learners. At Cumberlands, we understand that passion, that mission, and we're ready to prepare you to step into a successful career in early childhood education.
Course Requirements
IECE 234 Early Childhood Curriculum & Methods
IECE 236 Screening & Assessment in Early Childhood
IECE 232 Child Development and Learning II
IECE 330 Teaching Diverse Learners
IECE 331 Teaching Infants and Toddlers
IECE 332 Teaching Language and Literacy
IECE 333 Teaching Math, Science and Social Studies
IECE 334 Teaching Arts, Humanities
IECE 335 Instructional and Assistive Technology
IECE 430 Strategies, and Interventions for Exceptional Learners
IECE 431 Classroom Management and Positive Behavioral Supports
IECE 432 Working with Parents and Children of all Cultures
IECE 433 Methods and Materials for teaching Kindergarten
IECE 434 Advanced Assessment in Early Childhood
IECE 435 Early Childhood Administration and Leadership
IECE 436 Advanced Curriculum Planning and Delivery
IECE 437 Health and Safety Issues and Services
IECE 491 Supervised Student Teaching: Early Childhood Education
IECE 128 Overview of the Early Childhood Profession
IECE 130 Foundations of Early Childhood Education
IECE 132 Child Development and Learning I
IECE 134 Guidance in Early Childhood Education
IECE 233 Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education
HLTH 236 Health and Wellness
POLS 233 American National Government
Technology Elective (Choose one of the following)
- EDUC 130 Technology in the P-12 Classroom
- ITSS 130 Intro to Application Software
Diversity Elective (Choose one of the following)
- HSRV 436 Human Diversity and Ethics
- SPAN 134 Spanish for Public Service
Pathways for KCTCS Students
Under this pathway, students who have completed an Associate’s degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education at Somerset KCTCS may transfer up to 80 hours of course credit to University of the Cumberlands.
University of the Cumberlands and Somerset KCTCS have correlated efforts for Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education students. This effort provides for a seamless pathway for students completing the Associate of Applied Science degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education through KCTCS to move towards completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in Education through the School of Education at University of the Cumberlands.
The general requirement for graduation from University of the Cumberlands with the Bachelor of Science in Education is the completion of at least 120 semester hours including:
- General education – 50 hours
- Education major – 78 hours, including student teaching
(Some of these hours may be completed at the community college level.)
KCTCS students interested in additional information regarding transferring coursework to University of the Cumberlands should visit our Transfer Student page to learn more and request a review of their transcripts.
Option 9 Education Certification Program
The influence of a teacher on a child’s life leaves an immeasurable impact. Now is your time.
University of the Cumberlands offers an EPSB-approved Option 9 program. This alternative route is available to both in-seat and online Cumberlands students. Cumberlands offers programs in early interdisciplinary education, elementary education, and middle school education.
While education students at Cumberlands are completing coursework, they will have the opportunity to immediately put their learning into practice as an instructional assistant in a classroom, receive mentorship from experienced teachers in the district, and complete their bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate, in as little as three years.
We offer Option 9 pathways for candidates pursuing certification in early childhood education, elementary education, and middle school education.
To learn more information or to find out if your school district has an Option 9 partnership in place with Cumberlands, visit our Option 9 page.
Take the Next Step
Mission & Goals
The purpose of the School of Education is to develop entry level education students into highly qualified, knowledgeable and caring teachers. We provide training and experiences using best practices for teacher education candidates.
Early Childhood Education Careers & Outcomes
All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Preschool Teacher: $30,210
Preschool Teacher: $30,210
Preschool teachers educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten.
Childcare Worker: $27,490
Childcare Worker: $27,490
Childcare workers attend to children's needs while helping to foster early development.
Childcare Center Director: $47,310
Childcare Center Director: $47,310
Preschool and childcare center directors supervise and lead their staffs, design program plans, oversee daily activities, and prepare budgets.
SPED Preschool Teacher: $62,240
SPED Preschool Teacher: $62,240
Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Elementary School Teacher: $61,350
Elementary School Teacher: $61,350
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers instruct young students in basic subjects in order to prepare them for future schooling.
Preschool Administrator: $49,690
Preschool Administrator: $49,690
Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
Common Questions
Yes. Early Childhood Education Degree courses will be offered primarily in a synchronous, online format, but some general education core courses will be offered in a blended online format using Blackboard in the asynchronous environment, as well as face-to-face interactions, through:
- Clinical/Practicum/Student-Teaching Observations
- Co-Teaching Professional Development
- Individual Advising Sessions
- On-Site seminars
All programs at University of the Cumberlands are offered at some of the lowest rates in the nation – and we even include free textbooks through our One Price Promise! For more information on how affordable this program would be for you, visit our Financial Aid page.
An online bachelor’s degree in early childhood education offers the training that educators need to help young children succeed in school. The coursework covers topics such as strategies for exceptional learners, working with parents and families of all cultures, assessment in childhood learning, child development, classroom management, curriculum planning and much more.
A lot, actually. There are a number of job opportunities available for professional educators with relevant college training. Upon graduating with your early childhood education degree from University of the Cumberlands, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to pursue a career as a:
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Classroom Teacher
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Group Teacher
- Head Start Teacher
- Pre-K Teacher
- Preschool Teacher
- Teacher Assistant
That depends. Do you have a heart for helping young children succeed? Does instilling a lifelong love of learning sound more like a mission for your life than a job to do? Are you ready to make a real difference? Then, yes, an early childhood education degree from University of the Cumberlands is definitely “worth it."
You can rest assured that you'll have support from Cumberlands as you earn your degree. We provide high-quality instruction, an accessible support system, online course delivery, and the flexibility to advance at a pace that accommodates your life. We want you to be able to make an investment in yourself that pays off for young learners.
Faculty Experts in Education
Learn more about the education professors you'll be interacting with.
Melanie Belcher
Dr. Brad Miller
Lisa C. Wallin
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If you have any questions, we want to hear them! Send us a message, and we'll get back to you soon.