Students pursuing Early Childhood Education at Thomas College have the opportunity to follow one of three tracks, including one that provides dual-certification:
- Early Childhood Education (Birth-Age 5)
- Early Elementary Education (PK-Grade 3)
- Early Education (Birth-Age 5 + PK-Grade 3)
The program offers field-based preparation that highlights national Early Head Start, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf approaches. Our partnership with Educare of Central Maine provides majors with many opportunities for on-site observations, internships, and student teaching. Early childhood and early elementary students will experience courses that engage in authentic, relevant learning supported by early childhood practices that are developmentally appropriate, research informed, and classroom ready. Coursework is focused on blending early science, numeracy, literacy, and the creative arts. Students also have opportunities to participate in professional networking conferences hosted by Maine Association for the Education of Young Children.
Get a Career In:
- Birth to 5 Infant Care
- Preschool
- Public P-K Teacher
- K-3 Primary Teacher
At a Glance:
- 121 credit hours
- Over 920+ hours of classroom experience upon graduation
- Dual-certification program
- Partnership with EduCare Maine
Key Courses:
- Science for the Young Child
- Explorations in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)
- Trauma-informed Education and Social-Emotional Learning
