UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
Bachelor's Degree Completion
Early Childhood
Students with college credits in early childhood education or child development may apply credits earned toward a bachelor of science degree and optional Wisconsin early childhood teaching certification (birth to age 8).
Who Should Enroll
Applicants for the Bachelor's Degree Option
- Learn to apply teaching strategies to meet the needs of children from birth through preschool.
- Become prepared to seek employment in Head Start programs and as directors or non-licensed teachers at child care centers and preschools.
Applicants for the Bachelor's Degree with Teaching Certification Option
- Teaching in four-year-old kindergarten and early elementary classrooms in public schools requires teacher licensure. Graduates will be licensed to teach children from birth through age eight.
Key Features
Convenient and Flexible
- 100% online, take classes through distance learning.
- Begin in fall, spring, or summer term.
- Enroll full time or part time.
- Complete field experience requirements close to home or work.
Personalized and Supportive
Receive ongoing, individualized, personal assistance to:
- maximize the number of credits transferred from courses you have already completed;
- design a plan to complete the program in a way that meets your unique needs; and
- navigate and utilize campus resources from a distance.
Affordable
- Receive transfer credit for courses toward your major, general education requirements, and practicum hours.
- Pay the same tuition rate regardless of where you live. Tuition rate is available here.
- Utilize the textbook rental program and have your books and materials mailed to you.
- Receive priority registration for many classes to avoid taking extra credits.
- Apply for financial aid and scholarships. Ask your employer about the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Wisconsin scholarship.
High Quality
- Approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
- Designated as a National Education Association (NEA) Exemplary Teacher Education Program.
- Offered in an integrated format that supports constructivism and developmentally appropriate practice. You will learn by actively exploring to make connections between subject areas and improve your skill of teaching children in this way.
- Emphasizes the importance of and strategies for connecting children to nature.
Program Curriculum For Degree
Program Curriculum for Degree and Certification
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to both programs must have an associate’s degree in early childhood education or child development, or equivalent coursework, and must meet the admissions standards for transfer students (minimum combined grade point average of 2.5).
Candidates for the bachelor's degree with early childhood teacher certification must also have:
- a minimum combined grade point average of 2.75;
- grade C or better in all early childhood major classes;
- grade C or better in ENGL 100 (Academic Reading and Writing) or equivalent course
- A criminal background check*
*A criminal background check is not required as part of the application, but will be required for all accepted students prior to formal admission. Accepted students will receive an email from the College of Education and Professional Studies Associate Dean about this process. Indications of any criminal history on the background check are not considered in the application review process but may require a meeting with the college Associate Dean. Additionally, the program cannot guarantee any graduate an educational license nor job opportunities. Some licensing agencies and some school districts may choose not to consider applicants with criminal histories.
Application Instructions
Apply online, pay your application fee, order the delivery of transcripts and, if necessary, submit your test scores by the following deadlines:
July 1 for Fall
December 1 for Spring
April 1 for Summer
Technical Requirements and Support
Learning and completing your coursework online requires sufficient technology and Internet access. Minimum hardware specifications are available at the Blackboard Collaborative web site. Please note that a web camera (web cam) is required hardware for this program.
Hear what our students say about the program!
Request more information, find out how to meet your career goals, how your previous credits will transfer and how to apply.
"I don't know if I would have been able to earn my degree if it were not for this program. The program was obviously designed to meet the needs of a nontraditional/distance learner and it works."
-- Jurita M. Foltyn
Transfer Institutions
Our students have transferred from the following institutions offering associate's degrees in early childhood education.
Wisconsin Technical Colleges
- Blackhawk
- Chippewa Valley
- Fox Valley
- Gateway
- Lakeshore
- Madison Area
- Mid-State
- Milwaukee Area
- Moraine Park
- Nicolet Area
- Northcentral
- Northeast Wisconsin
- Southwest Wisconsin
- Waukesha County
- Western
- Wisconsin Indianhead
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
- Dakota County Technical College
- Hennepin Technical College
- Inver Hills Community College
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College
- Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical
- Pine Technical College
- Saint Paul College
- South Central College
- Rasmussen College
