Early Childhood Education with PreK-Grade 3 Licensure

A Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with PreK-Grade 3 Licensure is for you if you are committed to learning how to provide excellence in early care, early education and family support. This program is designed to give you the knowledge and skills necessary to create optimal learning environments for children, age three through Grade three, which will result in a deep understanding of human development, the whole child, and the contexts in which the child develops.

Program Highlights

• Laboratory-based program provides extensive field experiences at the Child Development Center (CDC) on campus
• Affordable tuition

Coursework and PreK-Grade 3 Licensure

During the course of the preK-grade 3 licensure program, you'll complete practicum experiences giving you the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and insight from teachers already working in the field. In your final semester of the program, you will complete student teaching, consisting of 16 full-time weeks in an approved placement.

This degree can be completed 100% online if a student transfers to ENMU with all 1000 and 2000 level early childhood courses completed. To receive licensure in early childhood education from the New Mexico Public Education Department, you must successfully pass various exams. For information regarding these exams, please contact direct the program advisor or to the Teacher Education Office, 575.562.2972.

Career Pathways

A degree in early childhood education with an emphasis in PreK-Grade three (licensure) can lead you to a career where you provide direct services to young children (from age three through Grade three) and their families, as well as to a career in which you administer these programs. You can also qualify for a career in which you provide professional development for these individuals.

Early childhood professionals who provide direct services to children and families include

• Teachers
  • Child care programs
  • Preschool classrooms
  • Head Start and Early Head Start
  • Prekindergarten programs in public/private schools and community-based agencies
  • Kindergarten and primary grade programs (First through third grade)
• Family child care providers
• Home visitors
• Child life specialists
• Nannies

Early childhood professionals who administer programs include

• Program directors in programs listed above
• Education managers in programs listed above
• Curriculum specialists in programs listed above
• Principals in public, charter, and private schools that serve children from birth through third grade and their families
• Public and private agencies that administer family child care networks

Professional development providers for these individuals include

• Adult educators/trainers in private and public organizations
• Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency staff
• Providers of training and technical assistance

In addition, other early childhood professionals provide monitoring and support services to program administrators and direct service providers through local, state, and federal agencies.

Organizations and Opportunities

As an early childhood education major, you'll have the opportunity to assist faculty with research projects, work in labs, and participate in other related activities. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in various campus and discipline-related student organizations.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance

We are committed to helping you finance your education. In addition to grants, loans, and work-study offered University-wide, the College of Education and Technology offers scholarships for current students. Additionally, many ENMU students work part-time jobs on campus to help finance their education. Additionally, you may be eligible to apply for funding assistance through programs designed to encourage underrepresented groups to participate in faculty-mentored research projects. Early childhood education students may be eligible for the E.C.E.C.D. (Early Childhood Education and Care Department) Comprehensive Early Childhood Scholarship Program.

ENMU Scholarships

High School Courses

If you're interested in majoring in early childhood education at ENMU, try to take courses in the areas of child development and psychology.

Additional Degree Information

On the degree programs section of our site, you can find additional information about the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education degree, including the courses you will take when you're majoring in PreK-Grade 3 early childhood education with licensure at Eastern.