Early Childhood Education Degrees in Georgia
Professionals in the field of education have lots of challenges they have to meet. In states like Georgia, they must balance the availability of education in highly populated urban areas with the educational needs of rural students.
Early childhood education is a huge part of ensuring educational equality in the United States. It includes preschool, four-year-old kindergarten, kindergarten, and elementary school grades through third grade.
If you work well with young children, early education may be your calling.
Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Georgia
A teaching career starts with, of course, education.
Find out what options are available to Georgia students by contacting early childhood education schools below.
In recent years, Georgia has done a lot to make early education more affordable, more convenient, and more evidence-based. With Georgia Pre-K Week, schools can highlight the accomplishments of educators, teach the public about the long-term effects of early education, and make sure that the public is aware of resources available to low-income families. (11 Alive, 2016).
There are many government agencies and non-profit organizations that focus specifically on this area of education. The Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students hopes to graduate students who are ready for future education and work experiences by helping them develop an early love of learning. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning oversees programs for low-income families, including Head Start.
Are you ready to earn an early childhood education certificate or degree?
Get in touch with schools in your area for more information on program start dates, admissions requirements, and curricular requirements.
Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Georgia
Finding the right degree can help you meet your career goals and effectively meet the needs of Georgia students.
If you are interested in working in a preschool setting as an assistant teacher, you may be able to get started with a certificate. A certificate generally takes about one year, and it permits you to apply for entry-level preschool and daycare jobs.
If you want to be certified in all levels of early childhood education, a Bachelor’s degree is the solution. In four years, you may complete 120 credits and get your Bachelor’s degree.
Compared to secondary teaching programs, early education programs emphasize childhood development and learning theories, since early education professionals must understand the child as a whole person. To reach this goal and other learning outcomes, you may take courses like those found below.
Georgia Early Education Courses
- Exploring Learning and Teaching
- Sociocultural Perspectives on Diversity in Education
- Assessment and Management in the Classroom
- Instructional Technology for Early Childhood Education
- Special Education for Early Childhood Educators
- Creative Arts for Early Childhood Education
- Language and Literacy for Early Childhood Education
- Teaching Mathematics
- Science in Early Childhood Education
Throughout your degree, you should gradually build up your skill set and become a competent teacher who can effectively teach any grade between preschool and third grade.
Hands-on experience in the classroom is clearly a significant part of reaching this level of confidence. Some teaching programs require classroom experience during your first semester, since this gives you a chance to verify that you have chosen the right grade level and teaching certification for your career goals.
From there, you should get assigned to other classrooms while earning your degree. Student teaching is your final type of practical experience, lasting one full semester. Since you take on many day-to-day teaching responsibilities, you should plan on spending about 40 hours per week in the classroom while student teaching.
Due to the growing need for early education professionals, there are many scholarships that are available to early childhood majors. Through the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, you can apply for the DECAL Scholars program.
Now that you know what it takes to earn an early childhood education degree, discover the right school for you by getting in touch with Georgia colleges and universities.
Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Georgia
This is when you take the final step toward teacher certification and apply for your license. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission verifies your educational credentials and requires you to pass relevant Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators.
The demand for teachers is growing more quickly than the teaching workforce in Georgia. By 2024, this may lead to a 24% increase in job openings for preschool teachers and an 18% boost in demand for elementary school teachers (O*Net, 2016).
Currently, preschool teachers in Georgia earn an average income of $30,030 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016). Elementary school teachers claim an average income of $53,610 per year (BLS, 2016).
As a student, you may become active in teaching organizations and associations. If not, make this a priority at the start of your career. As a member of the Georgia Association on Young Children, you may get access to training events, legislative updates, teaching research, and other tools that help you make the most of your time in the classroom.
When it comes to early childhood education, Georgia colleges and universities have numerous options for aspiring teachers.
Compare your training options now and request information from schools below.
