B.A. in Early Childhood
The B.A. in Early Childhood degree is for those seeking to understand how young children learn and develop — and how high-quality early education can shape their growth, confidence and future success. Through the study of child development, early intervention, early literacy and family partnership, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence learning in the earliest years.
Hands-on field experience will prepare you to support young learners from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds during a critical stage of cognitive, social, emotional and academic development. By graduation, you'll be equipped to teach children up to age eight, integrating educational theory, practical skills and spiritual enrichment to help young learners flourish.
In addition to its strong curriculum, expert faculty members and biblical integration, Biola’s early childhood program offers several key advantages:
- Faith integration. Jesus, the Master Teacher, loves little children. You’ll encounter Christ’s example and a biblical approach in each of your courses through theological integration, prayer projects with an emphasis on holistic development and nurturing of young children.
- Professional preparation. While completing your bachelor's degree, you progress toward either a California Child Development Permit or a PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Preliminary Credential.
- Relational emphasis. More than the educational building blocks you cultivate, it’s the relationships you form that will leave a lasting impression. Our program prioritizes child advocacy and empowering families to help their children flourish beyond classroom doors.
- Innovative curriculum. Our curriculum incorporates play-based learning and experiential development alongside early literacy. We focus on helping educators facilitate social, emotional and spiritual growth in children.
- Intercultural competence. As classrooms grow more diverse, the ability to work with dual language learners and their families is increasingly vital. That’s why intercultural sensitivity is core to our program — and why we encourage pursuing fluency in at least one additional language.
Concentrations
- Child DevelopmentThis concentration is for students seeking to earn the California Child Development Permits. Child Development Permits are primarily used in child care and development programs.
- PK-3 Teacher Preparation
This concentration is for students seeking to earn the PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Preliminary Credential. The PK-3 Credential authorizes the holder to teach all subjects in a self-contained general education classroom from preschool through grade three.
