Human Services - Early Childhood Education | Springfield College

Human Services - Early Childhood Education

Bachelor of Science
About This Program
Program Contact
Curriculum and Delivery

Flexible scheduling formats to meet your needs.

  • Synchronous and Online
    • Meeting at a specific day and time with the faculty member and classmates, over a zoom connection. This is ideal for those who want a live classroom feel, but without the restriction of having to be in a specific place. 
  • 100% Online Asynchronous 
    • Participate or engage in the learning process on your own time when and wherever you can connect to the internet. This is ideal for those who need the flexibility to work at their own pace and/ or can't commit to specific class meeting times.  
  • Course requirements
Start Dates and Duration
  • Starts in Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters
  • Students can begin their bachelor's degree at the start of any of the three terms 
  • Students transferring in undergraduate credits and earning credits for what they've already learned through work and life experiences can often finish in 16 months
  • Full-time students with associate's degrees often finish the program in 16 to 24 months
  • Part-time students or those students with fewer transfer or prior learning credits will take longer to complete the degree
  • A minimum of 45 credits must be earned through courses taken to earn a degree from Springfield College
Paying for Your Education
Student doing arts and crafts with child

The BS in Human Services: Early Childhood Education (ages 0-6) educates students to serve as early childhood professionals who (1) create high quality, collaborative, comprehension, consistent, culturally congruent environments for all children; and (2) support and validate parents and families, so that communities will be empowered to achieve social and economic justice. The children you work with thrive on the activity they find in their early care settings. Springfield College mirrors that energy in our authentic learning experience.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the employment of early childhood education workers is projected to grow 15% percent by 2031. This is a faster increase in employment growth than on average for all occupations.

A bachelor’s degree and experience in early childhood education are typically required to become a preschool and child care center director. In many regions, a bachelor’s degree is required in order to work as an early childhood educator or administrator. However, the educational requirements can vary by state. Some states or employers require workers to have a nationally recognized credential, such as the Child Development Associate (CDA). Springfield College awards 18 undergraduate credits to students who have completed requirements for the CDA.

Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a concentration in early childhood education can become:

  • Early Childhood or Preschool Teachers

  • Parent-child Educators

  • Early Childhood Administrators

  • Curriculum Development

  • Training

  • Management

  • Employers may be private or public child care centers or preschools

  • Organizations that offer childcare include employers, family child care centers, health clubs, religious centers

  • Government centers employing early childhood educators include Head Start and Health and Human Services departments

Student Projects

Recent projects by students in our early childhood education concentration:

  • Developing an Anti-bullying Training Program in the Early Childhood Community
  • It Should Not Hurt To Be a Child: Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Campaign
  • Creating the Northeast Kingdom Boys and Girls Club in Lyndonville, Vt.
  • Children are Everything: Creating Greater Awareness of Autism
  • Pre-school Obesity Education Initiative
  • Healthy Lifestyle: Nutrition and Fitness for Children and Adults
Student reading a children's book to children in a classroom

Forbes Advisor ranked us among the Best Massachusetts Online Colleges

Springfield College has been recognized as one of the best online colleges in Massachusetts for 2024 by Forbes Advisor. Forbes Advisor scored schools based on the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes, student experience, and application process. 

In selecting Springfield College, Forbes advisor noted that the College “offers online bachelor’s degrees with majors that prepare students for careers in human services and the nonprofit sector. The school developed its online programs guided by the Humanics philosophy, emphasizing leadership in service to others. Admission requirements include a high school diploma or GED certificate and at least 15 college credits. Springfield College has a prior learning assessment program that lets students apply credit toward their degree for personal or professional experiences outside the classroom.”

Incoming first year Springfield College students participate in June Orientation on Alden Street
Core Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed in faithfulness to the Springfield College mission and to further strengthen the Humanics philosophy of educating students in spirit, mind, and body.

Student at the Learning Commons
Career Center

The Career Center’s mission is to educate, inspire, and empower students and alumni to effectively make well-informed career decisions. The staff is committed to student learning and development, and offers a variety of opportunities and programming for students and alumni.

The Academic Success Center offers readily and easily accessible services including support in writing, mathematics, science, subject area tutoring, learning strategies and time management counseling, and assistance for students with documented disabilities.
Academic Success Center

The Academic Success Center offers readily and easily accessible services including support in writing, mathematics, science, subject area tutoring, learning strategies and time management counseling, and assistance for students with documented disabilities.