Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Applied Science

Teachers Shape the Next Generation

The world needs more teachers, perhaps more than any other profession. Unlike most career paths, teaching is a calling, one that takes a unique personality willing to listen to, learn from, and shape the students the teacher will have in their classroom. San Jacinto College created the Bachelor of Applied Science in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education (BAS-EDU) to help fill the workforce gap that currently exists in early childhood education by providing a new bachelor’s degree for students who are currently working in the education field. Those who have already earned an associate of applied science (AAS) in early childhood/child development and are working in the industry can enroll in the BAS-ECE program. Students can use a valid industry-based child development associate credential, and one of the previously earned San Jacinto College early childhood certificates or previous education, toward their final requirements for graduation with the bachelor’s degree. This degree will prepare students to work with young children from six weeks through third grade. Graduates will also be eligible to work in an early childhood organization, such as Head Start, or apply for teacher certification to teach preschool through third grade in public schools.

Career Information

According to a February 2023 report by the Learning Policy Institute, Texas has the largest teacher workforce of any US state with more than 370,000 teachers in 2021-2022.

The US Department of Labor database site projects that by 2030, the need for highly qualified early childhood and elementary teachers in Texas will increase by 13%. Nearly 3.2 million full-time teachers were employed throughout the United States last fall, but many local school districts were hit hard by vacancies with more than 25,000 job postings in the Houston-Galveston metro area alone.

Elementary, middle, and high school (secondary) school teachers: $63,581¹

¹

Source: www.texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2022

Campus

Central Campus

Information

Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site.

Plan of Study (Degree Plan)

BAS-EDU

¹

Students may substitute CDEC 1470 Educational Aide Associate for CDEC 1323 Observation and Assessment.

²

The department recommends students take SPCH 1315 Public Speaking or SPCH 1318 Interpersonal Communication; however, students may substitute another course from the Component Area Option for this requirement.