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The Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching (BAS ECE) is a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) approved baccalaureate degree program consisting of upper- and lower-division courses. The degree was awarded approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in June of 2020. The complete degree plan consists of 120-semester credit hours and also includes a pathway that can lead to initial Texas teacher certification through an approved Texas Educator Preparation Program.
Transfer options into the BAS ECE program are also available for students who have Associates degrees. Students that are currently in Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) pathways should speak with their designated success coach or senior success coach about completing their Associates degrees in the pursuit of the bachelor’s degree (SOEAdvising@DallasCollege.edu). Visit www.ntxccc.org/pathways to view guided pathways created for students who complete the A.A.T. and A.A.S. degrees.
The BAS ECE degree program is focused on preparing students to teach young children from birth to third grade. The BAS ECE recognizes the critical development that occurs for children in those early years - a period that lays the foundation needed for lifelong learning. Therefore, the BAS ECE is intentionally focused on developing early childhood educators for Dallas County. BAS ECE graduates will be prepared to provide early learners with intentional experiences and responsive relationships while helping close the achievement gap for lower-income children.
Students who complete this degree will also be prepared to seek careers as lead classroom teachers, teacher aides or program specialists in early childhood education private school settings, afterschool programs and early childhood centers such as Early Head Start, Head Start, non-profit preschools, and private infant/toddler programs. Upon approval from Texas Education Agency (TEA), the program will also offer students a pathway towards Texas teacher certificate through the Dallas College Educator Preparation Program.
The BAS ECE consists of the Core Curriculum selected by Dallas College and additional course work required for the specific degree. In keeping with Texas State law, students who complete the 42-hour credits of the Core Curriculum are assured that the Core should transfer to any Texas public college or university. In such instances, the Core should be substituted for the core requirements of the receiving institution. Therefore, in pursuing the BAS ECE degree, students are encouraged to complete the entire Core here at Dallas College. However, care should be taken in the selection of math and science courses to ensure that those courses also meet requirements of the proposed major at the transfer institution. The BAS ECE curriculum requires specific courses that must be taken in addition to the Core.
In addition to completing the required courses, students must meet all Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements and receive a combined GPA(2) of at least 2.75 for all coursework in the BAS ECE program.
Additional Note(s): Courses in the 3rd and 4th years of the bachelor’s degree program are largely field based and consist of both a lab and lecture component. Students must meet minimum requirements to take upper level (3000 and 4000 level) courses and permission to enroll in these courses is granted by program leadership and/or a Success Coach. Students should anticipate spending time in work-based education settings that are aligned with course material. Students will be supported by the School of Education and by program leadership in identifying these work-based learning experiences. Students enrolling in this program who plan to transfer to a four-year institution should consult an advisor or counselor regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of these courses to the four-year institution of their choice. Students enrolling in this program from another institution should also consult a success coach regarding transfer requirements and the transferability of their courses - particularly students seeking to transfer upper-level courses into the BAS ECE program. Students may be eligible to transfer up to six semester credit hours of upper-level coursework to satisfy upper-level course requirements of the degree program. Upper-level courses may be evaluated for purposes of course substitution and course equivalency; however, certain courses must be taken at the home institution at the discretion of the department. Due to strict teacher licensure guidelines, upper-level Teaching Methods from another accredited institution courses will not be considered for transfer. There is a separate admissions process into the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and acceptance into the BAS ECE program does not guarantee admissions into the EPP.
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