BS in Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Education

Turn Your Passion for Young Children into a Fulfilling Career

Do you want to make a lasting impact during the most important years of a child’s development? Whether you see yourself teaching preschool, kindergarten, or helping children with special needs thrive—East Carolina University’s Birth through Kindergarten (BK) Teacher Education Program can help turn your passion into purpose.

At ECU, our BK program prepares future licensed educators to work with young children, including those with exceptionalities. Our graduates take on classroom leadership, create a bridge to school for families, and shape curriculum for early childhood programs in public schools, private learning centers, and early intervention settings.

Why Choose ECU’s BK Program?

• Flexible Learning Options: Choose between learning on campus or completing your degree through our online program. Our online program is transfer-friendly and perfect if you need to balance school with work or family.
• Hands-On Experience: You’ll gain real-world teaching experience throughout your coursework in practicums in addition to a two-semester student teaching internship during your senior year in a preschool, an exceptional children’s preschool, or a kindergarten setting.
• High-Quality Mentoring: Students located in the Greenville area can complete practicums at the Nancy W. Darden Child Development Center (NDCDC). The NDCDC is a 5-star, NAEYC-accredited program serving children ages 3 months to 5 years old. Online students complete their practicums and internships at high-quality centers in their local communities. Employed students (campus and online) can also use their place of employment.
• Career-Ready Curriculum: With expert faculty, engaging coursework, and extensive fieldwork, you’ll graduate with the skills and confidence to lead in any early childhood education setting.
• Proven Success: Our faculty have a strong history of supporting students to successfully prepare and pass the edTPA, with a 100% pass rate. Our graduates have gone on to do amazing work, and many have been recognized as Beginning Teachers of the Year, Student Teachers of the Year, Clinical Teachers, and NC Demonstration Teachers.

Where Can a BK Degree Take You?

A Bachelor of Science in Birth through Kindergarten opens doors to careers in:

• Public preschool programs
• Public schools’ exceptional children’s preschool programs
• Kindergarten classrooms
• Early intervention programs
• Child development centers
• Opportunities to add on to your NC Teaching License

Admission Requirements

• Freshman and transfer students may declare BK as their intended major.
• Prior to enrolling in certain courses students must be admitted to Upper Division in Teacher Education, the official step in applying for and being formally admitted into a teacher education program.
• Upper Division Requirements: 2.7 GPA; passing score on PRAXIS CORE, SAT, or ACT; and successful essay and interview with faculty

Program Requirements

• Required Courses
• Four Year Plan

Delivery Methods

This program is offered in both an on-campus, Face to Face format and off-campus, on-line format. Please note that the on-line program is only open to residents of North Carolina.

Additional Information

The BK program requires practicum with the following methods courses (2123, 2124, 3321, 4121, 4122, 4123, 4300). These are completed in early childhood settings in non-public programs and public school. Practicum experiences are opportunities for students to apply content and gain hands on experience with young children. The BK program culminates in a year-long internship experience in a publicly funded program. Students complete Internship 1 during the fall semester of their final year of courses and are in their placement one day a week. Students complete Internship 2 during the spring semester of their final year and are in their placement five days a week. Schools located in the Latham Clinical Network are available for practicum and internship experiences in Eastern North Carolina. For students in the distance education program we support internship and practicum experiences across the state.

Uniform Articulation Agreement in Early Education (AAS to BS in BK/Early Childhood related programs)

The Uniform Articulation Agreement focuses on seamless transfer for Applied Associates in Science in early childhood education (ECE) students matriculating from the North Carolina Community College System to the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina in order to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Birth-Kindergarten teaching licensure program or a Bachelor’s Degree in a related Early Education non-licensure program.

Uniform Articulation Agreement in Early Education

ECU BK Comprehensive Articulation Transfer Guide

Accreditation Information

At ECU, teacher education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). Additionally, our program is accredited through the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (AAFCS).