BA Program for Early Head Start and Head Start Teachers (60 credits)
The Early Childhood Education program offers current Early Head Start and Head Start teachers and aides the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in two years. Eligible students must be currently teaching in Early Head Start or Head Start classrooms. The teachers, as students, are provided with extensive on-site mentoring by the Columbia faculty members.

This program is designed to meet Gateways to Opportunity ECE Level 5 Credential requirements; it is not a teacher certification program.

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, our program promotes extensive exploration of the arts and emphasizes the importance of the environment, relationships, inquiry, and communication in young children’s learning. Head Start teachers acquire skills in materials explorations, documentation, assessment, and research that they incorporate into their daily practice in their Early Head Start and Head Start classrooms.

Tuition Scholarships
This program is offered in partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) to create a unique experience that both honors and supports the teaching experience in the classroom. DFSS offers a fully paid tuition and fees scholarship for eligible candidates.

For further information about the Early Childhood Education program for Early Head Start and Head Start teachers, please contact Ms. Larissa Mulholland at lmulholland@colum.edu or 312.369.8826.