If you have a passion for nurturing growing minds, enriching young people’s lives, and influencing the next generation, a career in education may be your calling. This rewarding career path is vital to growing our future and cultivating our society. Find fulfillment and purpose through our Education programs today.
Our Early Childhood programs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Students will apply their learned theories in real-life school settings. Curricula includes coursework in child growth and development, physical/nutritional needs of children, care and guidance of children, and communication skills with parents and children. Students learn to foster the cognitive/language, physical/motor, social/emotional and creative development of children.
Not only do we provide a hands-on learning experience, but we also make it easy for you to obtain your two-year associate degree.
The Teacher Preparation programs at Blue Ridge Community College are a starting point for those who want to teach in grades K-12.
Early Childhood graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. All education programs have great articulation agreements with four-year schools where graduates can continue their studies in either a Birth to Kindergarten (BK) degree program, Family Studies, Elementary Education, Secondary Education or Special Education program. Employment opportunities include child development and childcare programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and other educational programs, to name a few.
Blue Ridge Community College students who complete either the Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation or the Associate in Science in Teacher Preparations can transfer with junior status into teacher education programs at public universities in North Carolina. This agreement also applies to schools are participate in the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA). This program can typically be completed in two years and offers students the ability to take a major portion of the programs online.
View Education Articulated Programs
The A.A.S. Early Childhood Education degree at Blue Ridge Community College is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The current accreditation term runs from March 2021 through March 2028.
View 2021 NAEYC Annual Report Program Outcome Data
Students enrolling in these programs must meet specific emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive standards. This information is found in Technical Standards. Students qualifying for special accommodations to these standards must contact Disability Services at (828) 694-1813 for more information.
Melanie Wilkins
(828) 694-1850
mc_wilkins@blueridge.edu
Shelah Combs
(828) 694-1819
sk_combs@blueridge.edu