Frequently Asked Questions

If your GPA is below 3.0, then you have the option of taking a graduate level course as a visiting student and then applying for the program. Students are not guaranteed admission to the program (a full application review will still be required) but they will be considered as eligible applicants if they earn a B or better in the course they take as a visiting student. Other coursework completed since your undergraduate degree can also be considered toward the GPA requirement.

Yes, many students work while completing the program. Synchronous class meetings are in the evenings from 5:00-6:50pm. Students in the Advanced Teaching Licensure concentration who take HDF/SES 607 and/or HDF/SES 606 are required to participate in 3-hours-per-week field experiences in high-quality inclusive settings.

Students in the Advanced Teaching Licensure concentration with a license in an area other than BK are also required to complete 8 weeks of full-time student teaching in high-quality inclusive settings. The program provides as much flexibility as possible for working students to meet these requirements. In some instances, students may need to leave their work settings to complete a field experience or student teaching in an approved setting.

The Leadership, Program Administration, & Coaching concentration does not require any classroom-based practicum experiences.

The program can be completed in as few as two years, depending on the concentration and number of courses taken each semester. The recommended plan of study is completed in three years. A limited number of courses are offered during summer sessions. Students applying from fields other than early childhood education may be required to take two prerequisite courses before or during the program.

Complete the online application. Applications must include academic transcripts, a current resume, a professional statement describing interest and rationale for the concentration to which they are applying and career goals, and three letters of recommendation, including at least one academic reference. Applicants are also required to complete a writing sample and a phone interview with faculty.

Applicants start the program as a cohort in the fall semester. The Early Admission deadline for the following year is October 1. The Final Deadline is January 15 for the year of admission.  

New students start the BKISED program in the fall semester. It is possible to take up to three courses as a Visiting Student prior to the fall admission semester. Contact the Program Co-Directors for more information about the option of taking courses as a Visting Student prior to admission.  

Applications are reviewed during the spring semester. Typically, applicants are contacted late in the spring semester with an update on the status of their application.

For further information about any BK program contact Dr. Catherine Scott-Little, Birth-Kindergarten Co-Director, Human Development and Family Studies at mscottl@uncg.edu or Dr. Heather Coleman, Birth-Kindergarten Co-Director, Specialized Education Services at hmcolem2@uncg.edu