Guide the Development of Young Children
Make a difference in the lives of young children, families, and the community by using the skills you learn in either the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies program or the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education Specialization at UM-Flint.
“Early childhood education” involves exploring the development of social, physical, emotional, and cognitive needs of children from birth through age 8. With the aim to produce effective and responsible early childhood professionals, these programs will help you understand early childhood ethics and practice to support child development and learning of creativity, reflection, critical thinking, problem-solving, and more.
You’ll learn how to:
- Apply current theories, methods, and practices to early childhood development in various settings.
- Provide care and education to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary children, and those with special needs.
- Conduct evaluation and assessment of young children.
- Foster meaningful family and community relationships.
- Advocate for educational equity and social justice as an ethical leader.
Early Childhood Programs at UM-Flint
College of Arts and Sciences offers two undergraduate degrees in early childhood education:
Why UM-Flint?
Your classroom instruction is bolstered by two early childhood fieldwork experiences where you can apply theories in practice. You’ll perform 100-180 hours of supervised fieldwork to gain valuable professional experience in working directly with children while benefiting from personalized instruction by a mentor. Fieldwork often takes place at UM-Flint’s Early Childhood Development Center, letting you gain practical experience in an excellent program right on campus.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies
Designed for students who are already working with young children and their families or want to work with them, the Early Childhood Studies program will provide you with comprehensive knowledge about development and learning, play, family and community, curriculum and assessment, and societal issues related to helping young children develop.
While the program prepares you for a wide variety of jobs in daycare centers, preschool programs, educational organizations, school administration, government agencies, and more, it does not lead to a teaching certificate. However, it does prepare you to continue your studies in graduate school in early childhood education, psychology, social work, education, health care, public policy, or other related subjects.
Review the detailed Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies curriculum.
If you want to teach young children in schools, you should consider UM-Flint’s Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education Specialization Elementary Education program.
Scholarships
If you’re working in a qualified preschool education program when you’re pursuing your B.S. in Early Childhood Studies, you may be eligible to apply for the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children’s T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship.
Academic Advising for Early Childhood Studies Majors
Linda Blakey is the academic advisor dedicated to the Early Childhood Studies program. She can help you with everything from choosing classes to exploring career options. You can contact her at [email protected] or 810-424-5215.
To help you understand how your program at UM-Flint will progress, we’ve created a major map for Early Childhood Studies majors. It provides year-by-year details about topics like class selection, extracurricular opportunities, career preparation, and more.
Career Opportunities in the Early Childhood Profession
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies program often work at childcare centers, preschools, state and independent schools, federal and state programs, health authorities, and nonprofit organizations. They have a variety of career opportunities from which to choose:
- Preschool teacher
- Educational home visitor
- Playworker
- Preschool and childcare center director
- Employee at a social work agency
- Teaching assistant
- Advocate at nonprofit
Demand for early childhood professionals is expected to stay strong. Here are just two examples:
- Jobs for preschool teachers are projected to grow 18 percent through 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s more than twice the national average for jobs, and the BLS estimates there will be 59,600 annual job openings through the decade. The median pay for preschool teachers is $31,930 annually.
- Demand for preschool and childcare center directors should grow 11 percent through 2030, according to the BLS. That’s faster than the national average for jobs, and the BLS projects about 5,300 job openings annually through the decade. The median salary for preschool and childcare center directors is $49,160 per year.
Get Started on Your Early Childhood Professional Career Today
If you’re ready to make a difference in the lives of young children, their families, and the community, apply to the University of Michigan-Flint’s Early Childhood Studies program today. If you have questions, contact the program’s dedicated academic advisor, Linda Blakey, at [email protected] or 810-424-5215.