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Bachelor of Arts in
Early Childhood Education
On-Campus

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Wall Street Journal ranks Cornerstone University as one of America's best colleges 2025.

Transfer Friendly
Transfer up to 75% of your program credits

Shape Young Lives with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education (Birth-K, Birth-3)

At Cornerstone University, our B.A. in Early Childhood Education equips you to nurture and educate children from birth through third grade — some of the most formative years in a child’s development. Acquire teaching foundations in early literacy, creative arts, and child health education, and gain valuable classroom experience through multiple classroom practicums and a student teaching internship. With a focus on both academic excellence and Christ-centered teaching by experienced faculty, you will be prepared to work toward education certifications from the State of Michigan for meaningful roles in classrooms, childcare centers, and early learning environments.

Develop Market-Ready Skills with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education Degree

Gain valuable teaching capabilities that are in demand inside and outside the classroom including:

Child Development Knowledge – Understand physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development in early childhood for creating age-appropriate learning experiences.

Classroom Management – Create a structured, engaging, and positive learning environment that fosters growth and minimizes disruptions.

Early Literacy Instruction – Teach foundational reading, writing, and language skills through interactive activities.

Experiential Learning – Incorporate play and hands-on activities to promote creativity, problem-solving and cognitive development.

Social-emotional Learning (SEL) Facilitation – Help children develop emotional regulation, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills.

Assessment & Observation – Use observations, formative assessments, and screenings to evaluate children’s progress and adapt teaching methods accordingly.

Differentiated Instruction – Adapt lessons to meet diverse learning needs, including special education strategies and individualized support.

Morally Grounded Formation – Prepare educators to influence students, families and communities through a solid Christian Worldview foundation.

Early Childhood Education Certifications

Through Cornerstone University’s rigorous, award-winning program in early childhood education, you will increase your marketability with a certificate, specializing in one of two areas:

Birth-Kindergarten

Early Childhood Education (Birth-Kindergarten) Certification

Students in the early childhood program will work toward a general Birth-Kindergarten certification, as well as a certification in special education. Through this major, you will earn certification from the State of Michigan. As a certified teacher, you will be able to teach in early childhood classrooms, inclusive early childhood classrooms, and early childhood special education classrooms.

This degree provides specialized training to help teachers identify developmental growth and delays in students to ensure that students receive optimal learning opportunities throughout their educational journeys.

What might make this degree a good fit for me? We recommend this path for students who desire to work with children from birth to five years old in settings such as daycares, early childhood education centers or special education classrooms.

Birth–Third

Early Childhood Education Plus (Birth-Third) Certification

Through this major, you have the potential to earn certification for two grade bands from the State of Michigan. Students in this program will work toward a general Birth-Third certification, as well as a certification in special education for Birth-Kindergarten. Plus, you will have the added benefit of being able to test for certification to teach in General Education to grades first, second and third.

The State of Michigan requires certification exams for each grade band. As a certified teacher, you will be able to teach in early childhood classrooms, inclusive early childhood classrooms, early childhood special education classrooms, young fives, and first through third grade.

What might make this degree a good fit for me? We recommend this path for students who wish to become well-rounded educators with a specialized certification in Birth through Kindergarten while also acquiring the experience necessary to teach in PreK through third-grade classrooms.

Courses

Cornerstone is ready to help you excel in your chosen field. The courses below reflect just a few of the general education and industry-focused courses you will experience to achieve your degree.

Featured Courses

EDU-265: Creativity for the Whole Learner

Explore research-based instructional strategies that integrate the arts and creativity. Learn to design developmentally appropriate, meaningful instruction using an interdisciplinary and thematic approach to engage diverse learners and reinforce core content through creative expression.

EDU-352: Teaching Young Children

Design developmentally appropriate learning for children birth through kindergarten, focusing on curriculum, teaching methods, and classroom environments. Emphasis is on language acquisition, play-based learning, and holistic child development.

EDU-386: Classroom Management & Teacher Assistant Practicum

Explore strategies for creating a positive learning environment, including classroom behavior standards, student engagement, and assessment methods. Teacher candidates will apply classroom management principles in an elementary practicum setting.

EDU-446: Early Literacy and Language Development

Expanded focus on research-based literacy instruction for children birth to age five. It emphasizes integrating literacy into daily activities and strategies for early literacy development. A clinical practicum allows teacher candidates to apply these skills in real classroom settings.

View all of the courses for your academic program.

Academic Catalog

General Education

A Christian Worldview of Liberal Arts and the G.O.O.D. Life

The humanities are integral to Cornerstone’s liberal arts approach, exploring culture, literature, history, and philosophy through a Christian worldview. Developed by our renowned Christian worldview scholars, students consider how to apply G.O.O.D. Life Biblical principles to inspire their spiritual growth and to profoundly influence society, industry and ministry for Jesus Christ. Our G.O.O.D. Life foundations guide students to answer life’s biggest questions from a rich Biblical perspective to shape Christ-centered moral leaders.

  • God: Who is God? What is His beauty, goodness and greatness?
  • Others: What does it mean to live in a community with responsibility and grace?
  • Ourselves: Who am I? What is the beauty and frailty of being human?
  • Dual Citizenship: What is my role as a citizen of heaven and earth?
  • Life: How do we live, know, and love the good life, valuing truth, beauty, and goodness?

Teacher Education Field Experience

To support teacher preparation, all Special Education and Early Childhood (Birth–K) majors will build on their coursework by developing skills in formal and informal assessment. Students will learn to diagnose learner needs, plan and teach targeted instruction, and use formative assessment to evaluate and adjust their teaching. This process is applied in a school-based apprenticeship, where students complete at least 420 hours in a classroom under the guidance of a professional educator.

Influential Careers with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education Degree

  • Public or private elementary school teacher
  • Child development specialist
  • Preschool teacher
  • Montessori teacher
  • Head Start teacher
  • Directors of before- and after-school programs
  • Family Support Specialist
  • Early Intervention Specialist

Tuition

On-Campus

$22,000 per year

Generous scholarship and payment options available.
Review information about student fees and housing packages on our Tuition & Fees page.

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Your Degree Starts Here

Start your degree at one of the most affordable Christian universities in the region. An admissions counselor is ready to help you begin the enrollment process.

  1. Apply — our application is free.
  2. Set goals — your admissions counselor is here to guide you.
  3. Maximize your credits — you could transfer in up to 75% of your degree credits.
  4. Discover affordability — scholarships and grants are available for qualified students.

Cornerstone University

Hours

MON - FRI: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
SAT & SUN: Closed

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