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Early Childhood and Elementary Education

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College of Education

You’ll be the Teacher They Remember

Bachelor of Science in Education — Concentration in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education (or both)
In-Class

Transforming young minds for a future they can’t yet imagine is the work of educators who specialize in teaching through the sixth grade. It’s important and rewarding work for people who have the passion to serve and the training to prepare them for it.

In AUM’s bachelor’s degree childhood education program, you’ll have three degree options, allowing you to get certified in:

  • Early Childhood Education (P-3)
  • Elementary Education (K-6)

To prepare, you’ll go from our classroom to your own classroom with a practicum under expert supervision in AUM’s own Early Learning Center, or one of our local schools. You’ll also perform an internship under a local expert teacher and gain hundreds of hours of supervised field experiences in local schools to practice what you’re learning in your teaching methods courses.

You’ll learn under internationally recognized AUM faculty who have won awards such as the Excellence in Teaching award from Sigma Alpha Pi, Primary School Teacher of the Year award from Montgomery Public Schools, the College of Education Excellence in Teaching award, and more.

Learn more about professional education requirements, teacher certification and other program information. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with a College of Education academic advisor.

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The Know How

What you will know with an Early Childhood/Elementary Education degree from AUM

We Prepare You For Lifelong Learning

The best teachers are curious and develop a love of learning. Throughout your career, you’ll stay current with subject knowledge and changes in education—both informally and through professional development classes and conferences.

We Enable You To Serve Those Who Need It

Our caring and experienced faculty will help prepare you to serve students with a variety of backgrounds, personalities, and learning styles.

We Believe In Hands-On Learning

You’ll get practical, hands-on experience at the AUM Early Learning Center, through an internship under a local expert teacher, and via field experiences in local schools.

We Help You Share Your Optimism

A teacher should not be a “glass half empty” type of person. Teachers have to be resilient and diligent, and the reason is because the students’ futures depend on it. Optimism is a key element to becoming a successful teacher.

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Game Plan for Success

Your GPS is an academic tracker that provides a step-by-step guide to graduating on time.

Points of Pride

  • All faculty in this program have experience teaching in the P-6 school environment, giving students unique access to their experience and expertise.
  • You’ll gain 300+ hours of hands-on teaching experience before your final internship. Practical field experience is included with each methods course. Students go to area schools with their professors and work with experienced teachers and then have a chance to practice what they are learning.
  • The accreditation of the College of Education is by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and all its programs are approved by the Alabama Department of Education.
  • To improve the quality of education in the area, and enhance career opportunities for our graduates, the College of Education partners with more than 150 surrounding schools and organizations.

Soaring Warhawks

  • Benita Taylor teaches at Redland Elementary School in Wetumpka and was a Golden Apple Teaching Award Recipient.
  • Cheyanne Barrett, a sixth-grade teacher at Holtville Elementary School, won a $5,000 grant when her students submitted an original app to the Verizon Innovative App Challenge.
  • Tonya Till teaches Pre-K for the Bright Beginnings program at Georgiana School, where she was named Elementary Teacher of the Year.
  • Monica Ousely is a Science Education Specialist for the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative at the Alabama Department of Education.
  • Maria Reuter recently accepted a teaching position with Teach for America. She’ll be an English Language Learner instructor in a charter school in the Nashville area.
  • Amy Ingram is the UNIV Program Manager at Auburn University at Montgomery.

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Video Testimonials

How has the College of Education prepared you?

Karmen Guy
Video Testimonials

Elementary/Early Childhood Education Curriculum at a Glance

Dr. Nicholas Bourke
Video Testimonials

How We Help Elementary Education Students Pass Their Certification Tests

Traci Kell
Video Testimonials

How do you know that teaching is the right field for you?

Grace Langston
Video Testimonials

AUM Students Get Practical Experience Teaching Preschoolers.

Chelsea Neeley & Laura Wildman
We Have the Answers

Rewarding Occupations and Job Growth

Check out our Career Discovery Board on this page to begin exploring your options. Contact us by phone or email so we can get you the answers you need.

Elementary teachers are vital to society, given that they help format and teach the building blocks of education. Teaching the basics of reading and math may seem boring to some, but students will use and build on these skills throughout the rest of their lives.

In addition to patience, organizational skills, and a calm personality, it helps to be creative. Whether designing interesting worksheets or creating interactive lesson plans, you can use your creative skills to help children open their minds.

Teachers trained in early childhood education are qualified to teach kids from birth through third grade. Those trained in elementary education specialize in grades four through six. This program allows you to focus on one of the specializations or both.

Degree Options

Is a Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education right for me?

With this bachelor’s degree as your educational foundation, you have many career possibilities.

Career/Job TitleEntry-level EducationJob Growth 2020-2030Annual Median Salary
Preschool TeacherAssociate’s degree (bachelor’s preferred)18% (Much faster than average)$31,930
Instructional CoordinatorMaster’s degree10% (As fast as average)$66,970
Kindergarten and Elementary School TeacherBachelor’s degree7% (As fast as average)$60,660

Note: Salaries vary depending on several factors including your level of experience, education, training, demographics, and industry. Here is a sampling of the future job growth and salaries according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Quick Facts

College of Education

At the AUM College of Education, you will have powerful learning experiences, working side by side with professors who have real-world experience.

Our academic departments include  the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology, the Department of Kinesiology, and the Department of Counselor, Leadership and Special Education.

To help you pay for college, you might qualify for one of our scholarships.

Official Name of the Early Childhood/Elementary Education Degree

Bachelor of Science in Education — Concentration in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education (or both)

Modality

This degree requires students to meet on campus. Students in these courses enroll in a program to connect in a campus setting and to collaborate using a variety of technological and educational tools. Professors play an inspirational role in building relationships among teams and individuals in this setting. The criteria for many programs can only be met with In-Class coursework. Be sure to check with your advisor to understand the best route to take.

In-Class
Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Courses Include

To complete this degree concentration, you will need to complete courses in the university core, education, and electives. Contact the College of Education for a current listing of courses required to complete this program.

The course listings below are only a few of the classes this track requires. For a full review of this program in detail, please see our official online catalog AND consult with an academic advisor.

Course NumberCourse NameWhat you will know…
ELEM 3000Methods of Teaching Creative ArtsLearn art and music teaching techniques for grades K-6.
ELEM 4000Methods of Teaching Elementary MathematicsYou’ll learn how to teach math in elementary school through lecture and on-site field experiences.
ECHE 3100Methods of Teaching the Very Young ChildLearn the foundations of how to teach children from birth to three years of age. Field experiences are provided.
ECHE 4203Families and CommunitiesThis course focuses on diverse needs of the child in family, school and community—considering diverse cultures, abilities and language.
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