Home Careers in Education Early Childhood Educator Indiana

Early Childhood Education Degrees in Indiana

By the time children get into mandatory schooling, they have already come close to the end of their peak brain development years. The aim of early education is to make the most of those years, effectively getting children learning and growing as early as possible.

This field has consistently been associated with positive outcomes for students, which is why it is a high priority for the state of Indiana. If you want to work in the field of education in a specialty where you can make a real difference, consider early childhood education.

Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher in Indiana

In the area of early childhood education, Indiana has many colleges and universities with programs that lead to teaching licensure.

Check out the list of schools below and request information from local programs to learn more.

The field of early education is the subject of quite a bit of research, which has highlighted the importance of this field and its role in children’s lives. Studies indicate that early access to education can minimize the prison-to-school pipeline that often traps juveniles (Kokomo Perspective, 2016). In light of this finding, many are pushing for increased funding in Indiana.

You can look into local teaching organizations and associations to get more details on what it means to work in this setting. Early Learning Indiana works toward the improvement of early education in this state and access for at-risk children.

At an accredited Indiana school, you can delve into the theory of child development and use it to develop effective teaching school’s that have a lifelong impact on students.

Get in touch with Indiana schools now.

Getting Your Early Childhood Education Degree in Indiana

The type of degree that suits you depends on how much previous education you have and what type of teaching jobs you want to qualify for.

If you would like to work in a preschool or day care setting, you may work as an assistant with an early childhood education certificate. This is a fast-paced option that often lasts about one year or less.

If you want to be certified to teach birth through third grade, you need a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. This degree option generally takes about four years, since you need a minimum of 120 credits to graduate.

Although course names vary between schools, topics and learning outcomes are often very similar.

Commonly Offered Courses in Early Education

  • Scientific Inquiry in Education
  • Early Childhood Development
  • Enriching Educational Experiences
  • Teaching Elementary School Math
  • Play as Development
  • Foundations of Early Education
  • Methods of Teaching Reading
  • Teaching and Learning in Preschool and Kindergarten
  • Physical, Social, and Emotional Development of the Elementary School Child 

Many schools do not let you begin your education courses as soon as you start your degree. Instead, you must qualify for acceptance to the teaching program by taking general education classes, passing a general knowledge test, and writing an essay that outlines your goals in your teaching career.

Once you begin your teaching program, you may take core courses that focus on pedagogy, current research, and Indiana teaching standards. Many schools also put you into a classroom at this stage of your training.

The earlier you begin your classroom rotations and the more classrooms you participate in, the more confident you may be when it is time to begin your teaching career.

The final assessment you face as a student is student teaching. For an entire semester, you work alongside a licensed teacher while keeping the same hours as them, taking on classroom responsibilities, creating lesson plans, and building connections with students.

Since you may spend over 40 hours per week meeting your student teaching obligations, you should have several hundred hours of classroom experience by the time you graduate.

This is one area of study in which financial aid is widely available. Look into local, state, and federal options. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Indiana Project funds multiple scholarships.

Indiana schools succeed because of the hard work of teachers.

Discover how you can become part of this group by contacting Indiana teaching programs below.

Working as an Early Childhood Educator in Indiana

Throughout Indiana, the demand for licensed teachers is high. Between 2014 and 2024, job openings for preschool teachers are expected to swell 15% (O*Net, 2016). Demand for elementary school teachers may increase 7% during this time (O*Net, 2016). Indiana teaching salaries are fairly similar to what is reported in other Midwestern states. Preschool teachers claim an average annual salary of $27,910, while elementary school teachers earn an average of $49,870 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).

However, prior to working as a teacher, you must get your teaching license. The Office of Educator Effectiveness and Licensing oversees this process. You must pass all required Indiana CORE Assessments before they administer your license.

You could start preparing for a new and meaningful career right now.

Just take the first step by reaching out to early childhood education schools in Indiana.