COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

EARLY CHILDHOOD/EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION

ECE4U Online/Hybrid Bachelor’s Degree Program

A flexible program designed for YOU.

Designed for transfer students, UW-Whitewater’s ECE4U Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education is open to applicants who’ve earned an associate degree in early childhood education from a Wisconsin Technical College or the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College.

At UW-Whitewater, you’ll complete a variety of general education requirements (based on what you transfer in) as well as fulfill the Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education course requirements and field placements that lead to licensure. Your advisor will work with you to develop a personalized plan and schedule.

You’ll be licensed to work with students from birth through age 8 in a variety of educational settings.

Degree requirements Apply

Why study Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education at UW-Whitewater?

Designed with working professionals in mind, you’ll take your Early Childhood Education classes online with six meetings per semester. 

At UW-Whitewater, you’ll also receive personal academic advising. This means we’ll help you build a plan based on your prior education, such as considering the credits you’ve already earned in your associate degree program and your current work and family schedule. 

More and more employers in the childhood education field, and especially in child care, are seeking candidates with a bachelor's degree. The Wisconsin Early Childhood Association has also established its REWARD stipend program to encourage continuing education. Give yourself an edge by advancing your education.

What our students do

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Develop strong relationships with fellow students through a cohort model

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Gain real-world experience through field study

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Become licensed in regular and special Early Childhood Education

Clinical experiences

 

As a student in the online Early Childhood Education degree program at UW-Whitewater, you’ll gain experience working with a variety of age levels and in multiple education settings.

  • 50-hour placement working with children ages three to five years old and the special education professionals who work with them
  • 50-hour placement in an elementary school working in a first to third grade classroom

In addition, if pursuing licensure:

  • Student teaching placement (150 to 300 hours) working with young children birth to three years old and their families
  • 9-week full-time student teaching placement in a first to third grade classroom
  • 9-week full-time student teaching placement working with an elementary school special educator

What our graduates do

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County birth-to-three home early intervention educator

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4k-3rd grade classroom teacher

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Special education teacher

Jobs in Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education: Career success

Whether you’re looking to advance in your current position, increase your Early Childhood Education salary, and explore new opportunities in the field, graduates of our degree program work in a variety of locations or positions, including: 

With teaching licensure:

  • County birth-to-three programs
  • School district early childhood classrooms
  • School district-funded kindergarten and 4k programs
  • Early elementary grades, special education
  • Early elementary grades, classroom teacher (1st, 2nd and 3rd grades)

Without teaching licensure:

  • Preschool
  • Head start
  • Community child care
  • Early intervention home visitor
  • Curriculum specialist
  • Technical assistance provider
  • Program director or administrator
  • Community and non-profit organization advocate or educator
  • Trainer or technical advisor

Contact us

Want to learn more about our online/hybrid Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education program? education@uww.edu

Our faculty

In our ECE4U program you’ll learn from faculty members and instructors with a wide range of experience in early childhood education, special education, curriculum and design, policy and more.

Meet our faculty

UW-Whitewater offers the following Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education degree:

  • Bachelor of Science in Education — Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education
Transfer pathway programs and admissions programs

To apply, first you’ll complete UW-Whitewater’s standard application for admission and indicate your interest in earning a degree in Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education.  In your personal statement, please mention your interest in pursuing the degree through the ECE4U program.

Apply now

The ECE4U program is a hybrid version of our Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education degree program. While most of your coursework is completed online, you’ll also attend on-campus meetings a six times each semester.

These meetings are required and we announce the dates a year in advance, so please plan accordingly.

Summer 2026 Saturday Classes, held virtually through Webex:
5/30, 6/20, 7/11, 8/1

Fall 2026 Saturday Classes, held virtually through Webex:
Cohort 2025: 9/12, 9/26, 10/10, 11/7, 11/21, 12/5
Cohort 2026: 9/12, 9/26, 10/10, 10/31, 11/14, 12/5

Explore related programs at UW-Whitewater

Adult Student Admissions

Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education

Elementary — Middle School Education
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