The Inclusive Early Childhood Education program is part of the School of Inclusive Teacher Education in the BGSU College of Education & Human Development  

Inclusive Early Childhood Education in classroom
  • Bachelors Available
  • Available at Firelands Campus
  • Bachelors Available
  • Available at Firelands Campus

Inclusive Early Childhood Education

Learn how to teach young children with and without disabilities, up to grade 5, in the inclusive settings of pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, primary grades and daycare centers/community agencies. You'll earn a Bachelor of Science in Education degree with three highly sought-after credentials, so you'll be well prepared to help children during their most formative years. We are Ohio's largest producer of teacher education graduates, and our graduates get paid more on average than any other graduates in the state, according to a study by Payscale..

Quality classroom experiences

Your professors and instructors share your enthusiasm for teaching. Their extensive classroom experience means that they know what works and what doesn’t, and they’ll help you every step of the way. Courses within your major cover three primary areas: Human Development and Family Studies, Intervention Services, and Teaching and Learning. You’ll also take a mix of science, math, arts and humanities, and social & behavioral sciences classes.

Stand Out in courses like

  • Communication, Development in Young Children
  • Cultural & Linguistic Diversity in ECE
  • Creative and Expressive Arts & Movement for IEC
  • Working with Families of Young Children

Curriculum

Based on a background in typical and atypical child development, educational psychology and developmentally appropriate practices, your coursework and clinical experiences address four programmatic strands:

  • Constructivist, child-centered pedagogy
  • Developmental and diverse perspectives
  • Collaboration with families, communities and other professionals
  • Professionalism and reflective practice

BGSU is the first program in Ohio to enable students to earn two licenses and one certificate during the course of this four-year degree.

Internships and Careers

Your field experience opportunities start as soon as your freshman year. You’ll apply what you learn in your classes to your work in your students’ classes, putting you head and shoulders above other teacher education programs. By the time you graduate, you will have spent nearly 1,000 hours working with students in an inclusive classroom setting. The demand for inclusive early childhood educators is high, and BGSU’s strength in the profession means that you have access to high-quality student-teaching placement sites.

Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate

$38,153* — BGSU Inclusive Early Childhood Education graduates average starting salary

97% of Inclusive Early Childhood Education graduates report they're employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

(BGSU data compiled from students who completed the related questions on the graduation survey.)

GO FAR in your career

  • Teacher

College of Education and Human Development logo white

The Inclusive Early Childhood Education program is part of the School of Inclusive Teacher Education in the BGSU College of Education & Human Development



* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in Inclusive Early Childhood Education are expected to be able to:

  • Create, teach and assess child-centered, constructivist learning experiences for all children in inclusive and diverse classrooms;
  • Engage and collaborate with families, communities and other professionals to support the learning and development of all young children;
  • Teach and nurture young children based on knowledge of typical and atypical child development, educational psychology and diversity in our society;
  • Act as inclusive early childhood professionals who are continuous, collaborative and reflective learners, who act using ethical guidelines, and who advocate for all young children and their families.

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Inclusive Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and is in good standing.

More information on accreditation

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Inclusive Early Childhood Education program requires professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Inclusive Early Childhood Education program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Updated: 12/12/2023 02:11PM