B.S. in Early Childhood Leadership & Advocacy
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This part-time online program is designed for the early childhood professional who has an associate's degree in early childhood education or a related field. As a "stackable" program, the B.S. in Early Childhood Leadership & Advocacy builds on an associate's degree and allows students to apply up to 12 semester hours of reduced tuition workshop credit based on job-embedded professional development. We know that quality early childhood programming requires quality professional development—and lots of it. We value the professional experience that you bring to the program and provide a vehicle for you to apply your professional development toward your degree.
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Credits
We have designed this program to be lean, which means that transferring credits that apply to the degree is easy. Here is how the B.S. in Early Childhood Leadership & Advocacy stacks up:
| 45 | semester hours in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy from the University of Dayton (including 12 semester hours of reduced rate workshop credit) |
| + 60 | semester hours from your associate's degree program (from anywhere in the country) |
| + 16 | semester hours of additional general education coursework (9 semester hours from a four-year institution) |
| = 121 | semester hours required for graduation |
Important Note: This program does not lead to a teaching license or certificate. It recognizes that many professional in the field of early care and education either have a Pre-K credential or do not need a teaching credential to do their job effectively. Student teaching is not required, so it is not necessary to take a leave from work to complete student teaching.
Coursework
Early Childhood Leadership Coursework
21 semester hours
- EDT 460E Early Childhood Program and Personnel Management with lab*
- EDT 461E Supporting Quality Curriculum and Instruction in Early Care and Education
- EDT 462E Regulations, Licensing and the Law in Early Care and Education with lab*
- EDT 463E Managing Finances and Marketing in Early Care and Education with lab*
- EDT 464E Advocacy in Early Care and Education
- EDT 465E Internship and Seminar in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy
*Most labs can be completed in the student's work environment as long as leadership opportunities are available.
Department Coursework
9 semester hours
- EDT 305 Philosophy and History of Education
- EDT 340 Educating Diverse Learners in Inclusive Settings with lab**
- EDT 344 Collaborating with Families, Professionals and Agencies
**The EDT 340 lab requires that students be able to work directly with children for 20 hours over the course of the term.
Workshop Credits
12 semester hours
To earn 1 workshop credit, submit certificates of attendance for approved* workshops, totaling 15 contact hours, with your completed registration form to:
Workshop Credit Coordinator
Bombeck Family Learning Center
University of Dayton
941 Alberta Street
Dayton, OH 45409
(937)229-2158
Workshop credit is University of Dayton transcripted credit. The cost is 25% of the undergraduate tuition rate. Professional development trainings eligible for workshop credit are state approved, county sponsored, Head Start sponsored, NAEYC or affiliate sponsored and others, depending on the approval of the program advisor.
General Education Requirements
16 semester hours
The University of Dayton is committed to educating the whole person, which means a rigorous liberal arts program is required. This coursework typically exceeds what is required in most associate's degree programs. Typically, students need to take 16 additional semester hours from an institution in your area. Most of this additional general education coursework can be taken at a two-year degree granting college. However, 9 semester hours must be taken from a four-year institution.
The required general education coursework comprises:
- western civilization
- physical science
- life science
- introduction to philosophy
- introduction to religion
- college composition I
- college composition II
- introduction to communication
- contemporary mathematics
- upper level historical study
- upper level art study
- upper level religion or philosophy study
- upper level social science
- other elective coursework
Altogether, the general education semester hours, when combined with your associate's degree credits, should equal at least 76 semester hours.
Sample Timeline
The proposed timeline is based on a student who enters the program with an associate's degree, has completed the general education requirements, and attends part time.
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
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Summer |
Summer |
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Fall |
Fall |
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Spring |
Spring |
Reduced Tuition
Students who are 24 years of age and older and who wish to attend the University of Dayton as part-time students can apply to take coursework through the Adult Degree Advancement Program (ADAP). Tuition for ADAP eligible students is discounted by 40 percent off the regular undergraduate tuition rate. Students who are ADAP eligible should make sure to indicate an interest in ADAP during the admissions process.
Partner Schools
The following schools have approved associate's degree programs in early childhood education:
Chatfield College
St. Martin or Cincinnati, Ohio
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, Ohio
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Interested in joining the Early Childhood Leadership & Advocacy program?
- Learn more about the undergraduate program in Early Childhood Leadership & Advocacy >>
- Apply to the undergraduate program >>