Early Childhood Education

The first five years of life shape everything that follows. This degree prepares you to teach and lead in child care centers, Head Start programs, pre-K classrooms and family child care homes, carrying forward a teaching tradition that dates to Palmetto Ridge’s founding as a teacher-training school in 1894.

What you’ll learn

• Child growth and development from birth to age eight
• Planning play-based curriculum and early literacy
• Guiding behavior and building social-emotional skills
• Health, safety and nutrition
• Working with families and supporting children with disabilities

Why Palmetto Ridge

You’ll observe and teach in the Little Hawks Learning Center, our on-campus lab preschool, which also offers care for children of Palmetto Ridge students. Professor Annette and Professor Rosa bring decades of classroom and program leadership experience. Many courses are available through RidgeLearn and in the evening for students already working in child care. The program meets South Carolina credential requirements for lead teachers and directors, and graduates can continue toward a bachelor’s in early childhood education at an SC public university.