B.S. Early Childhood Education

Devote your career to providing child the tools and support for lifelong growth and development.
Degree Type Bachelor of Science
Careers & Salaries Annual Employment Report
Delivery On Campus

Make a Difference Teaching Early Learners.

Children are the foundation for a bright future. It’s never too early to start giving them the tools they need to be successful. If you've always enjoyed working with children, our Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Early Childhood Education will give you the skills to make a career from your dreams. 

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100% of Graduates Are Employed or Continuing Education.

UW-Stout's B.S. Early Childhood Education degree gives you real-world experiences in childcare. Our hands-on learning environments include childcare facilities on and off-campus. / UW-Stout

Career-Defining Curriculum.

As an Early Childhood Education major at UW-Stout, you'll become certified to teach birth through third grade in Wisconsin. Our experienced tenured faculty have established a caring community of learners. You will experience 250 hours of hands-on work with children before you even start student teaching. You can network with your future colleagues by joining student organizations related to the teaching field.

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Program Overview

View program plans, credit requirements and course descriptions.

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Program Highlights

  • 250 hours of hands-on work with children before you even start student teaching
  • Small class sizes 
  • Real-world experience in child care facilities on and off campus
  • Strong advisement from faculty 
  • 120 credits means you can graduate in four years

"Stout has provided so many opportunities for me that I did not know were possible. All within a short two years, and before the start of student teaching, my confidence has grown as well as my passion for teaching."

~ Ana Jane Schuerstedt
B.S. Early Childhood Education

Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education.

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Do More in Our Labs & Centers.

Infant & Toddler Education Lab

UW-Stout's Infant & Toddler Education Lab is a certified childcare center for the university staff, students and the Menomonie community. Students in the School of Education's Early Childhood Education program provide childcare for children ages 0-3.

"We really focus on teaching the children self-help skills and social and emotional skills, like learning to share toys, take turns, and asking friends if they are hurt," said Aaron Wisecup, an early childhood education graduate who worked in the lab.

Working alongside other student staff and experienced faculty and watching children develop gives students the necessary experience to benefit in their future teaching careers.

Child & Family Study Center

UW-Stout’s Child and Family Study Center will provide many opportunities to observe child behaviors. Our five early childhood classrooms are the perfect setting to learn teaching techniques.

You can add the Early Childhood Special Education certification with only five more classes and a fourth student teaching placement for licensure outside of WI.

Professional Licensure Requirements

​​​This program is designed to meet educational requirements for licensure/certification in the state of Wisconsin. Professional licensure/certification prerequisites vary from state to state, and we are not able to determine whether our program meets prerequisites in other states. If you intend to work in another state, contact that state's regulatory authority to determine if our program will meet the licensure/certification requirements, and contact the UW-Stout Program Director for assistance. Please see the following website for additional information.

Admission Requirements

New First-Year Students

  • There are no additional requirements for new first-year students.

Transfer Students

  • Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher from the last institution attended.

Students who meet this requirement will be admitted to the university in their chosen Education major. Subsequent acceptance into a teacher education major and enrollment in professional education coursework will require successful completion of Benchmark I requirements. Additional information can be found at the School of Education website.

Students whose cumulative GPA is lower than the 2.75 will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis for admission consideration.

Career Opportunities

Careers

  • Public and Private School Teachers (Pre-school-third grade)
  • Head Start Director
  • Assistant Director
  • Infant/Toddler Teacher
  • Pre-K Teacher
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • First Grade Teacher
  • Second Grade Teacher
  • Third Grade Teacher

Stout Graduates at Work

  • Starting preschool program » Lime Springs and Ridgeway, Iowa
  • Starting 4K program » Ellsworth, Wisconsin
  • First Grade Teacher » Almond-Bancroft, Wisconsin
  • Kindergarten Teacher » St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Elementary Teacher » Denver, Colorado
  • Kindergarten Teacher » Frederick, Wisconsin
  • First Grade Teacher » Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
  • Kindergarten Teacher » Bloomer, Wisconsin
  • Third Grade Teacher » Almena, Wisconsin
  • 4K Teacher » Mosinee, Wisconsin
  • Kindergarten Teacher » Eau Claire, Wisconsin
  • Third Grade Teacher » Stanley-Boyd, Wisconsin
  • Kindergarten Teacher » Eleva-Strum, Wisconsin
  • First Grade Teacher » Cokato, Minnesota
  • Pre-K Teacher » Shell Lake, Wisconsin
  • Elementary Teacher » Alaska
  • Kindergarten Teacher » Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
  • 4K Teacher » Baraboo, Wisconsin
  • Pre-K Teacher » Plum City, Wisconsin
  • Kindergarten Teacher » Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
  • Teacher for Teach For America » South Dakota
  • First Grade Teacher » East Central Schools, Minnesota
  • Kindergarten Teacher » Arizona
  • First Grade Teacher » Spooner, Wisconsin
  • 4K Teacher » Madison, Wisconsin
  • Second Grade Teacher » Colby, Wisconsin
  • Second Grade Teacher » Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
  • Kindergarten Teacher » Coolidge, Arizona
Program Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee Members

James Arenz UW-Stout Advisement Center
Lindsay BarnhartProgram Director, ECEUW-Stout
Nikki BresinaDirectorKIDSusa
AmberCarlsrud Barron Public Schools
Beth ComstockFirst Grade TeacherBarron Public Schools
Tracy DeRushaOffice of Field ExperiencesUW-Stout
Allison FellerDirector CFSCUW-Stout
AngelaGilbertsonInstructional SpecialistUW-Stout
Lisa Jasper MyerThird Grade TeacherWakanda Elementary, Menomonie School District
Carol JohnsonAssociate Dean (SOE)UW-Stout
MaggieKeenanInstructional SpecialistUW-Stout
JillKlefstadECE facultyUW-Stout
TheresaKohlmierECE facultyUW-Stout
Ruth NylandCEHHHS/SCOPEUW-Stout
ChrisPetersonDepartment Chair (SCOPE)UW-Stout
Kathy PreusseTeacherChippewa Valley Technical College
RobertSaltDean (CEHHHS)UW-Stout
Lori SmithPrincipalOak Lawn Elementary, Menomonie School District
Sapna ThapaECE facultyUW-Stout
LindaYoungAdmissions - Transfers and ArticulationUW-Stout
Joseph ZawickyKindergradten TeacherAugusts Schools
Student Organizations

​​​​Student Organizations

Stout Association for the Education of Young Children
Assists professionals working with young children - and others interested in the lives of young children — to better understand children's needs.    

Aspiring Educators of Wisconsin (AEW)
Develops understanding and appreciation for the education profession

B.S. Early Childhood Education Online

If you're a working adult who enjoys working with children, our online program will give you the skills to make a career from your dreams.
Learn More

Early Childhood Education

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