Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Special Education
Greenville, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 36,364 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* additional fees apply for international students: services fee $1000 | medical insurance $1600
Key Summary
As a student in Thiel College’s Education Department, you will experience a modern and exciting curriculum based on the latest “Effective Schools” research that includes instructional teaching strategies based on the work of Bob Marzano, Jay McTighe, Grant Wiggins, and other current leaders in the field of education.
Requirements for students pursuing a major in education include:
- courses of study based on “How Students Learn” and how to teach and plan for “Teaching for Understanding.”
- classes structured to reinforce the skills needed to be an effective teacher.
- learning about planning, classroom management, instruction, attitude, professionalism, effective discipline, and motivation techniques.
- a small student-faculty ratio.
- individual advising opportunities with members of the education department.
- extensive opportunities to be in real classrooms prior to student teaching (190 pre-student teaching hours).
- cooperative arrangements with Mercer County school districts for placement in pre-student teaching mentoring programs.
- student teaching placements with public schools in Mercer County and surrounding areas.
- highly interactive education classes that increase student confidence and skills in facilitating collaborative inquiry.
- class work that is grounded in high standards.
- opportunities to discuss best practices in an atmosphere where students’ input is valued.
Note: There is a GPA requirement for ALL education classes, whether one is an education major or not. A GPA of 2.75 is required for the first three ECE courses and the first two EDUC courses. A GPA of 3.0 is required for all other education courses.
A student who graduates from Thiel College with a major in early childhood and special education will:
- Teacher candidates will demonstrate oral, written, and presentation communication skills appropriate to the field.
- Teacher candidates will demonstrate mastery of major content knowledge areas and pedagogical strategies to design engaging and meaningful instruction and learning activities.
- Teacher candidates will demonstrate their knowledge of diversity by addressing learners’ commonalities and individual differences to design inclusive learning experiences.
- Elementary and Special Education teacher candidates will apply the Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) standards to the field of PK-4/SPED PK-12.
- Teacher candidates will understand and demonstrate effectiveness by designing rigorous and effective lessons and learning experiences.
Major Requirements
- ECE 110 Child Development, Typical and Atypical, Birth-Age 5
- ECE 111 Foundations of Education
- ECE 112 The Developing Child—The Primary Years K-4th Grade
- ECE 213 Language Development for Early Childhood
- ECE 214 Early Literacy Foundations for Preschool Years
- ECE 215 The Learning Process: Integrating Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
- ECE 216 Math Foundations for the Preschool Years
- ECE 304 Literacy Foundations for the Primary Grades
- ECE 334 Math Foundations for the Primary Grades
- ECE 335 Science Methods
- ECE 336 Social Studies Methods
- ECE 355 Evidence-Based Practices in Early Childhood Care and Education
- ECE 367 Advocacy Collaboration and Cooperative Learning Issues and Trends
- ECE 369 Integrating the Arts for the Developing Child, Pre K-4
- ECE 420 Using Instructional Technology and Universal Design to Support Literacy, Math, and Science Achievement
- ECE 424 Student Teaching
- SPED 356 Special Education: Processes, Procedures, Screening, Assessment, IEP Development, and Evaluation
- SPED 357 Effective Instructional Practices and Delivery Methods in Subject Area Content for All Levels of Special Education Support
- SPED 358 Intensive Reading, Writing, and Math Intervention Approaches
- SPED 360 Educational Assessment
- EDUC 400 Educating English Language Learners
- SPED 420 Effective Collaboration and Communication in the Academic Setting
- SPED 424 Student Teaching
- SPED 440 Evidence-Based Effective Instruction – Teaching Students with Behavioral Disabilities
- SPED 450 Instructing Students with Low and High Disabilities
- SPED 470 Transitions Across the Lifespan of All Students with Special Needs
This program equips you with the tools and knowledge you’ll need to make a positive difference in the lives of young children and their families, regardless of ability, income level, or cultural and linguistic background.
You may be eligible for one of the following scholarships set aside exclusively for students majoring in education:
- The Patti McKee Bock Scholarship Fund
- The John T. Egbert Jr. and June Smith Egbert Scholarship
- The Rev. Dr. Luther E. and Ruth (Potts) Fackler Scholarship
- Ellwood and Sara Hauser Scholarship
- William Randolph Hearst Scholarship Endowment Fund
- Ralston Memorial Scholarship for Education
- The J. Fred Reinhardt Scholarships
- Elijah G. Paraskos ’99 History Scholarship
- Charles E. Rogers ’36 and Ruth G. Rogers Education Scholarship
- Beverly Birkenmeier Thomas Memorial Scholarship
- Dorothy E. Whitehill Endowment Fund