What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

Minimum of 120 semester hours; students must complete a minimum of nine hours in BRFV 4661 Student Teaching

Where will I take classes?
Atlanta Campus

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

  • Fall: June 1
  • Spring: Oct. 1
  • Summer: April 1

Birth Through Five, B.S.Ed.

The B.S.Ed. program in birth through five (B-5) prepares teachers and other early care and education professionals to work in varied settings with young children and their families. Age ranges from infancy through kindergarten, including children who are typically developing and those with disabilities.

Our program:

  • Offers evening and online classes
  • Allows students to complete clinical field experience in their work-based settings
  • Prepares students to be innovative, creative and high-quality early childhood educators
  • Offers certification and non-certification options

There are two concentrations:

  • Teacher certification
  • Non-teacher certification

Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

Program Highlights

In the birth through five (B-5) program, teacher candidates receive research-based content and pedagogy in developmentally and individually appropriate practices for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten age children. The program provides a multidisciplinary, comprehensive and holistic approach to working with young children and families in diverse settings.

Field-based experiences are structured to provide candidates with opportunities to work with different age groups and children with varying ability levels and educational needs. A broad range of courses and practicum experiences will strengthen candidates’ knowledge and ability to select and implement appropriate curriculum and instructional strategies, developmental activities and care routines, and observation and assessment methods. B-5 candidates may complete many clinical field requirements in approved work-based settings with evening and online classes.

Successful completion of this program leads to a bachelor’s degree. Candidates within the certification concentration may be recommended for certification in both birth through kindergarten and the endorsement in preschool special education (ages 3-5).

Are you interested in teaching children birth through age five?

If you’re curious about starting a career that contributes to young children’s growth and development, learn more about the birth through five program from its director, Tonia Durden.

Program Details

Admissions Requirements

Program Requirements (both concentrations):

  • Minimum 2.75 overall grade point average on all undergraduate coursework previously completed
  • Successful completion of all courses in Areas A-F with a minimum grade of “C” in Area A and F courses

As part of the application process for the teacher certification concentration, you must also complete or do the following:

  • Take the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment (360).
  • Purchase tort liability and upload proof of tort liability with your application
  • Complete the online application

As part of the application process for the non-teacher certification concentration, you must also complete or do the following:

  • Purchase tort liability and upload proof of tort liability with your application
  • Complete the online application

Apply here

Program of Study

Areas A-E. Core Curriculum Recommendations

Students must complete 42 semester hours in Area A-E of the Undergraduate Core Curriculum or have transferred in approved Area A-E courses as outlined in approved USG-DTAE Articulation Agreements. Courses in Area A must be completed with “C” or higher grades.

Semester hours are shown in parentheses following an entry.

Area F. Courses Appropriate for a Major (18)

Students must complete coursework with a grade of “C” or higher in Area F prior to admission to teacher education. Students must complete 18 semester hours in Area F, or have transferred in approved Area F courses as outlined in approved USG-DTAE Articulation Agreements, which can be found on the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education web site.

Required (18):

  • EDUC 2110 Investigating Critical & Contemporary Issues in Education (3)
  • EDUC 2120 Exploring Socio Cultural Perspectives on Diversity (3)
  • EDUC 2130 Exploring Teaching & Learning (3)
  • EDUC 2152 Birth and Parenthood (3)
  • EDUC 2300 Introduction to Child Development (3)
  • KH 2360 Childhood Health and Wellness (3)

Areas A-F Articulation Agreement for USG – DTAE Institutions

Graduates from Early Childhood Care and Education degree programs from COC accredited Technical College System of Georgia institutions will have satisfied the requirements for all six courses in the USG Area F for the BSED in Birth-Age 5 Teacher Preparation Program.

Area G: Courses Required for the Major

Required Courses (40):

  • BRFV 3200 Introduction to Administration and Organization of Programs for Young Children (3)
  • BRFV 3250 Professional and Ethical Practice-CTW (3)
  • BRFV 4360 Child Guidance Birth to Five (3)
  • BRFV 4370 Language, Literacy, and Cognition-CTW (3)
  • BRFV 4380 Methods for Infants and Toddlers (4)
  • BRFV 4390 Reading/Literacy, Social Studies and the Arts: Methods for Young Children(4)
  • BRFV 4400 Family and Community Relationships (3)
  • BRFV 4490 Mathematics, Science and Technology: Methods for Young Children(3)
  • EXC 3560 Observation and Assessment for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers (3)
  • EXC 4020 Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (3)
  • EXC 4520 Methods for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (4)
  • EXC 4530 Methods for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Children with Disabilities (4)

Electives (11): In consultation with their program coordinator, students choose their courses to fulfill the elective requirement (11 hours).

Graduates from Early Childhood Care and Education degree programs from COC accredited Technical College System of Georgia institutions may transfer one of the program specializations to complete 9 hours of Electives (11 hours).

Required prior to Area H: (40) Semester Hours; All courses in the major area must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher before students are authorized to enroll in student teaching.

Area H: Student Teaching (9-12)

All program requirements must be satisfactorily completed before students are authorized to enroll in student teaching. Students should not enroll in other courses while completing Area H requirements. Students must complete student teaching coursework in Area H with a grade of “C” or higher.

Required (9-12):

Students must complete a minimum of 9 hours in BRFV 4661 Student Teaching.

Students in the teacher certification concentration must post passing scores on the GACE Content Assessment, Georgia Educator Ethics – Program Exit (360) Assessment, and edTPA  in order to be recommended by Georgia State University for clear, renewable certification.

Students in the non-certification concentration are not eligible to be recommended for certification.

Total Program: Minimum of 120 semester hours

Our Mission

The mission of the birth through five program is to provide an exemplary, interdisciplinary teacher preparation program for early care and education professionals to positively impact the quality of programs for very young children in the metro Atlanta region. Our program is committed to principles and practices that are respectful of the unique characteristics of the children, families and teacher candidates with whom we work.

Student Resources

Financial Aid Opportunities for Students Working in Early Care and Education

In addition to the HOPE Scholarship and Pell Grant, there is a source of financial aid that may be available to students who are employed in early care and education in Georgia. To check eligibility requirements for the Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Education SCHOLARSHIPS program, visit www.caresolutions.com.

Description

Careers

Career opportunities in the B-5 field include:

  • Certified kindergarten and pre-kindergarten teacher*
  • Head Start program professional
  • Early childhood program director
  • Child care teacher
  • Preschool special education teacher
  • Home visitor program specialist
  • Family agency professional
  • Child care center owner/operator
  • Early intervention specialist

*Certification concentration program students only

Contacts

Program Coordinator
Tonia Durden
[email protected]
404-413-8020

Early Childhood and Elementary Education
[email protected]
404-413-8020

Mailing Address and Office Location
College of Education & Human Development, Suite 550
30 Pryor St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

College of Education Logo30 Pryor Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.