About OU's Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education (Arizona)
Ottawa University’s Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education (BAECSE) degree program in Arizona will help students gain the knowledge, competencies, methods, communication skills and sensitivity to be a highly effective teacher of special education students from birth to eight years old. Our bachelor’s degree program can deepen your understanding of early childhood education through participation in methods courses, professional education courses, and field experiences and observations.
Curriculum for Ottawa’s BAECSE can help you develop critical-thinking skills, awareness of cultural diversity, and knowledge of the social and political contexts of education. The degree program is based on state, regional, and national certification criteria and testing competencies. This program is designed as a non-certification program.
The traditional route to becoming a public school special ed teacher involves completing a bachelor’s degree from a teacher education program and then obtaining a certificate/license in a specific state. Arizona new teacher certification requirements require all teachers to be highly qualified in early childhood development in order to teach students in preschool through 3rd grade.
Students in OU’s BAECSE program can earn their teaching degree in Arizona or Kansas. The education major is based on state, regional, and national licensure criteria and testing competencies. The Ottawa University teacher education programs are state approved in Arizona and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Dual Certification
OU’s BAECSE program in Arizona provides dual certification in special education and early childhood education. As a student in this program, you will become well-grounded in child development and its variations by closely observing children and engaging them in active learning. You will develop the capacity to work in a range of settings and engage all children, including working with children from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as children with a variety of social, emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive variations.
Career Outlook for the B.A. in Early Childhood Special Education
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of early childhood education teachers is projected to grow 4 percent through 2029. For special education teachers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects overall employment to grow 3 percent through 2029.
The median annual wage for early childhood education teachers was $59,670 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,020, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $97,900. For special education teachers, the median annual wage was $61,030 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,730, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,530.
Perspective on the BAECSE
Teachers play an important role in fostering the intellectual and social development of their students. Teachers act as facilitators or coaches, using classroom presentations or individual instruction to help students learn and apply concepts in identified subjects. They plan, evaluate and assign lessons; prepare, administer and grade tests; listen to oral presentations; and maintain classroom discipline. Teachers observe and evaluate a student’s performance and potential, and increasingly are asked to use new assessment methods. Teachers also grade papers, prepare report cards and meet with students, parents and/or school staff to discuss a student’s academic progress or personal problems.
Click here for a testimonial from one of OU’s Education graduates.
For curriculum and course descriptions, please download a program overview.
If you are interested in becoming a teacher and would like to earn your bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, contact us today.
For information about Arizona First Things First Scholarships, click here.
For information about Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry, click here.