Early Childhood, B.A.

Mission

The mission of the Early Childhood major at Biola University is to equip early childhood Christian educators with developmentally, spiritually, culturally,  and linguistically appropriate research-based best practices, preparing them to step into professional educational roles that serve young children and their families in a variety of learning spaces including schools, children’s ministry, hospitals, and home environments.

Degree Program

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood is an undergraduate degree program designed for students who desire an in-person academic program with some courses online that focuses on combining the best practices in education, the most current and applicable research in education, and integration of biblical principles and Christian worldview.

This degree will produce high quality, early childhood educators who will ensure all young children have equitable access to developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate early learning, so that they can thrive and learn in an environment dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential.

This degree prepares students for the recommendation of up to five CTC-approved Child Development Permits in California.

Early Childhood Program Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to plan developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate practices to ensure a suitable learning environment for all students (ULO 3).
2. Demonstrate the ability to promote child development and learning through play-based experiences that engage caregivers (ULO 1).
3. Demonstrate the ability to identify students’ learning needs and develop appropriate adaptations to maximize learning (ULO 3).
4. Demonstrate the ability to integrate their faith and apply it to teaching and leadership (ULO 2).
5. Develop a model of spiritual formation for a particular age span, supported by the research from at least three related fields, clinical observation, biblical perspectives, and interviews (ULO 2).

Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.

Writing Competency

Every Biola student must fulfill the Writing Competency Requirement (WCR). Students fulfill the WCR by passing ENGL 313 with a C+ or better. If they fail to meet this requirement, they must consult with their major advisor for an alternative WCR pathway. For more information, see the section titled "Writing Competency Requirement" under the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section.  

Curriculum Requirements

Integration Seminar Requirement

Early Childhood majors must take the following course to meet their Bible Integration requirement: BBST 465 as "Christian Philosophy of Education."

¹

This course can be lower division if the 24 upper division credit requirement within the major has been met.

²

See Core Curriculum Program section for details.

Major and Child Development Permit(s) Requirements

Certificate of Clearance/Fingerprint Clearance and Tuberculosis (TB) Test

Candidates must obtain a Certificate of Clearance/fingerprint clearance and submit valid TB tests prior to registering for early childhood courses with fieldwork. Fees required.

Taskstream Subscription

Candidates must have a paid subscription to Taskstream while taking early childhood courses that require fieldwork.

Fieldwork Evaluation

Candidates must obtain good to excellent scores in each fieldwork evaluation for early childhood courses that require fieldwork.

Minimum Grades and GPA Requirements

Students must receive a grade of "C" or higher in all early childhood courses in order to apply for the California Child Development Permit(s).

Advisor Contact

Candidates are required to meet regularly with an advisor in their major to ensure that all requirements are met.

California Child Development Permits

The early childhood education program at Biola’s School of Education offers state-approved coursework required for five of California’s Child Development Permits. After completing the early childhood coursework, you will be better prepared to provide service in the care, development, and instruction of children in a child care and development program. 

After successfully completing the required early childhood coursework and the associated requirements, candidates make an appointment with a credential analyst in the School of Education at Biola University and apply for the California Child Development Permit(s) from the State of California's Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

The Early Childhood degrees leading to a California Child Development permits at Biola University are subject to change in response to new legislation and for accreditation/reporting purposes. Please see a credential analyst for current information on completing the requirements for child development permits.

NOTE: The course sequence table is designed by the major department and is one way that the classes will work out properly in sequence for your major. However, there are alternative or flexible ways to rotate some of the classes within the same year/level and sometimes between year levels. Please contact your major department advisor to discuss flexible alternatives in scheduling the sequence of your classes.

Taking coursework during the summer session may also be an option to accelerate your degree path.

See Core Curriculum Program section for a list of approved Core Curriculum courses.

Early Childhood, B.A.

NOTE: The course sequence table is designed by the major department and is one way that the classes will work out properly in sequence for your major. However, there are alternative or flexible ways to rotate some of the classes within the same year/level and sometimes between year levels. Please contact your major department advisor to discuss flexible alternatives in scheduling the sequence of your classes.

Taking coursework during the summer session may also be an option to accelerate your degree path.

See Core Curriculum Program section for a list of approved Core Curriculum courses.

Early Childhood, B.A.