4 answers
13
Questions
Updated
1062 views
What are good colleges preferably in california but out of state works too. That have good elementary education majors or the science of child development?
I am currently in 10th grade and have to make a college list for my scholarship programs highlighting colleges I'm interested in. Categorized by high reach and easily attainable. Through my search I couldn't find many good colleges with said majors. One of the only college I saw was University of La Verne which is good since it's in state. Another important thing to me is that they are willing to accept my college credits I have accumulated through dual enrollment at community college. Overall I'm just wondering what are good colleges for these majors as I want to work with children in the future.
4 answers
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Kathy,
It is good that you are thinking about pursuing a career in education and child development. There are many different colleges that have excellent programs for education majors. I will create a list for you to think about and look over. Hope this helps!
List:
-Stanford University
-University of California Berkeley
-University of California Fullerton
-Teachers College, Columbia University
-University of Michigan Ann Arbor
-University of Wisconsin Madison
-Vanderbilt University
It is good that you are thinking about pursuing a career in education and child development. There are many different colleges that have excellent programs for education majors. I will create a list for you to think about and look over. Hope this helps!
List:
-Stanford University
-University of California Berkeley
-University of California Fullerton
-Teachers College, Columbia University
-University of Michigan Ann Arbor
-University of Wisconsin Madison
-Vanderbilt University
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
First, George and Michelle both give excellent thoughts to your questions, far better than I could.
My only additional comment would be to visit local public and private elementary schools, which, apparently you have an interest in. Just walk in, dressed accordingly, and ask if you can talk to a teacher or two? This may not happen everywhere you stop in. But some will indeed talk to you. And if you're really lucky, one or two may ask you to sit in on a class. Or more.
And you may wish to call schools and ask for an appointment to talk to them re elementary education, instead of just walking in.
Regardless, elementary education teachers are in short supply, and you may just fit.
My only additional comment would be to visit local public and private elementary schools, which, apparently you have an interest in. Just walk in, dressed accordingly, and ask if you can talk to a teacher or two? This may not happen everywhere you stop in. But some will indeed talk to you. And if you're really lucky, one or two may ask you to sit in on a class. Or more.
And you may wish to call schools and ask for an appointment to talk to them re elementary education, instead of just walking in.
Regardless, elementary education teachers are in short supply, and you may just fit.
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Kathy !
I would be happy to advise you on this, however, you didn't mention which college you obtained your dual enrollment courses at so it's not possible to say if a random college would accept your college course units from where you did your dual enrollment.
As for what you would consider "good", I am not sure what your criteria is for that, but you can be assured that colleges are accredited and the professors at accredited colleges have the proper credentials to teach Elementary Education or Child Development majors. The best thing for you would be to read the programs of each college and see which curriculum you like best. They're all good and would be effective in preparing you for your teaching credential in California. You should study in the state that you intend to teach in as you will need to be either credentialed or Licensed in that state according to what the state requires. It is just a matter of applying to the colleges and waiting to hear back for acceptance. No one can predict who will be accepted at a college. The University of La Verne does have a medium acceptance rate of 48%, however. You can check the acceptance rates of other colleges.
You can first decide on your exact career choice because otherwise you'd be reading quite a lot of college websites. Looking at the CSU and UC system first, California State University, Long Beach, California State University, East Bay, California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Fresno, California State University, Sacramento, and California State University, Fullerton all offer master’s or bachelor’s programs in early childhood education or related fields. California State University, Fresno is noted as the only National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited program in the state for early childhood education. All these colleges are accredited but it looks like CSU Fresno has a program department accreditation separately.
Nine of the University of California colleges offer what your looking for. UC Berkley is one. Narrow it down to one major and read the websites of the UC colleges. In case you're not sure about matching the Major to a Career, Elementary Education would be for a Teaching Career and a Child Development Major would lend itself to a career in the Mental Health Field. For private colleges, Biola University in La Mirada, CA offers a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education. California Baptist University offers an Early Childhood Education major. There's an enormous amount of information about colleges that have what you're looking for so it would be good to explore your criteria through a search engine online.
Remember to ask the college you're attending for dual enrollment courses which colleges your units transfer to. Call the prospective colleges, too, and ask if they accept units from the dual enrollment college specifically that you got your units from. This will take a lot of first hand work on your part, but it's worth being well informed.
I hope this helps for a start and I wish you all the best !
I would be happy to advise you on this, however, you didn't mention which college you obtained your dual enrollment courses at so it's not possible to say if a random college would accept your college course units from where you did your dual enrollment.
As for what you would consider "good", I am not sure what your criteria is for that, but you can be assured that colleges are accredited and the professors at accredited colleges have the proper credentials to teach Elementary Education or Child Development majors. The best thing for you would be to read the programs of each college and see which curriculum you like best. They're all good and would be effective in preparing you for your teaching credential in California. You should study in the state that you intend to teach in as you will need to be either credentialed or Licensed in that state according to what the state requires. It is just a matter of applying to the colleges and waiting to hear back for acceptance. No one can predict who will be accepted at a college. The University of La Verne does have a medium acceptance rate of 48%, however. You can check the acceptance rates of other colleges.
You can first decide on your exact career choice because otherwise you'd be reading quite a lot of college websites. Looking at the CSU and UC system first, California State University, Long Beach, California State University, East Bay, California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Fresno, California State University, Sacramento, and California State University, Fullerton all offer master’s or bachelor’s programs in early childhood education or related fields. California State University, Fresno is noted as the only National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited program in the state for early childhood education. All these colleges are accredited but it looks like CSU Fresno has a program department accreditation separately.
Nine of the University of California colleges offer what your looking for. UC Berkley is one. Narrow it down to one major and read the websites of the UC colleges. In case you're not sure about matching the Major to a Career, Elementary Education would be for a Teaching Career and a Child Development Major would lend itself to a career in the Mental Health Field. For private colleges, Biola University in La Mirada, CA offers a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education. California Baptist University offers an Early Childhood Education major. There's an enormous amount of information about colleges that have what you're looking for so it would be good to explore your criteria through a search engine online.
Remember to ask the college you're attending for dual enrollment courses which colleges your units transfer to. Call the prospective colleges, too, and ask if they accept units from the dual enrollment college specifically that you got your units from. This will take a lot of first hand work on your part, but it's worth being well informed.
I hope this helps for a start and I wish you all the best !
Updated
George’s Answer
In California, many teachers get their Multiple Subject Credential (for teaching elementary school) from California State Universities (CSU) or approved private colleges.
If you want your college classes to lead smoothly to a teaching credential, check each school’s teacher education page.
Most UCs, CSUs, and private schools will take dual-enrollment or community-college credits, but each school has its own rules.
To be sure, always ask the school’s admissions or registrar office.
You can also use ASSIST.org, a California website that shows how community-college classes match up with university majors.
High Reach Schools
(These are harder to get into but have great programs.)
Stanford University – Stanford has top programs in early-childhood research and teacher training. It’s great if you like learning about the science of how children grow and learn.
University of Southern California (USC) – USC’s Rossier School of Education has strong teaching programs and many ways to earn teaching credentials.
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) – UCSD offers a Human Development major that studies how people grow from childhood to adulthood. It’s a good choice if you like research and science.
Good Match Schools
(These have great programs and are realistic to get into.)
San Diego State University (SDSU) – Offers a Child Development (B.S.) program that helps you learn how to work with children and families.
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) – Has a Child and Adolescent Development major with options for early childhood or elementary teaching.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) – Has a Child Development major and hands-on learning.
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) – Offers Liberal Studies and Elementary Education programs that can lead to a teaching credential.
Azusa Pacific University (APU) – Offers Liberal Studies with built-in options to earn your Multiple Subject teaching credential.
Easier / Safety Schools
(These are easier to get into and very transfer-friendly.)
University of La Verne – Has a strong Child Development program and teacher training. It’s a great private school in California.
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) – Offers a Child and Adolescent Development (B.A.) program.
Other CSU campuses – For example: CSU Long Beach, CSU Northridge, CSU Chico, CSU Bakersfield, CSU East Bay.
Many CSUs offer child development or teacher-education programs and are friendly to students with dual-enrollment credits.
You can also do one to two years at a community college (using your dual credits) and then transfer to a CSU that offers child development or teacher-education majors.
How to Pick Schools for Your Scholarship Form
Choose a mix of schools:
1–2 reach schools (Stanford, USC)
3–5 match schools (SDSU, Cal Poly, CSUF, LMU, APU)
2–3 safety schools (La Verne, a CSU with higher admission rates, or your local community college + transfer plan)
If you want to become a K–6 teacher in California, highlight schools that have Multiple Subject Credential or integrated Liberal Studies programs (like LMU, APU, and many CSUs).
This shows scholarship reviewers that you’re serious about teaching in California.
About Your Dual-Enrollment Credits
Both UC and CSU schools usually take dual-enrollment or community-college credits.
Each school has its own rules—UCs sometimes limit the number of community-college units that count toward your degree, and CSUs ask you to report all college courses when you apply.
Always list your college credits on your application and send your official transcripts from the college where you took them.
To check which credits transfer, visit ASSIST.org and talk with each school’s admissions or registrar office.
If I were you and money isn't an issue, then Stanford and USC would be good prospects. However, if you will require financial aid and your grades aren't the best of the best, then any public school in California would suffice. Unless you plan on going out of state to live after graduation, I'd choose a California public school with the Blue and Gold Scholarships, Cal Grant, potentially also Pell Grant. Please keep in mind, it's completely ok to start at a community college. I personally went to Orange Coast College and later transferred to UC-Riverside. In my opinion, fit is a lot more important than prestige. I turned down UC-Berkeley and UCLA because I got a full ride scholarship at UCR. UC-Riverside reminded me of this college full of students looking to redeem themselves. With humbled hearts, UCR felt like home to me. Professors were more helpful than being arrogant. The staff at UCR were a lot more understanding and accommodating due to UCR's high population of first generation college students. I highly recommend you visit each campus to get a feel for what you like.
If you want your college classes to lead smoothly to a teaching credential, check each school’s teacher education page.
Most UCs, CSUs, and private schools will take dual-enrollment or community-college credits, but each school has its own rules.
To be sure, always ask the school’s admissions or registrar office.
You can also use ASSIST.org, a California website that shows how community-college classes match up with university majors.
High Reach Schools
(These are harder to get into but have great programs.)
Stanford University – Stanford has top programs in early-childhood research and teacher training. It’s great if you like learning about the science of how children grow and learn.
University of Southern California (USC) – USC’s Rossier School of Education has strong teaching programs and many ways to earn teaching credentials.
University of California, San Diego (UCSD) – UCSD offers a Human Development major that studies how people grow from childhood to adulthood. It’s a good choice if you like research and science.
Good Match Schools
(These have great programs and are realistic to get into.)
San Diego State University (SDSU) – Offers a Child Development (B.S.) program that helps you learn how to work with children and families.
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) – Has a Child and Adolescent Development major with options for early childhood or elementary teaching.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) – Has a Child Development major and hands-on learning.
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) – Offers Liberal Studies and Elementary Education programs that can lead to a teaching credential.
Azusa Pacific University (APU) – Offers Liberal Studies with built-in options to earn your Multiple Subject teaching credential.
Easier / Safety Schools
(These are easier to get into and very transfer-friendly.)
University of La Verne – Has a strong Child Development program and teacher training. It’s a great private school in California.
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) – Offers a Child and Adolescent Development (B.A.) program.
Other CSU campuses – For example: CSU Long Beach, CSU Northridge, CSU Chico, CSU Bakersfield, CSU East Bay.
Many CSUs offer child development or teacher-education programs and are friendly to students with dual-enrollment credits.
You can also do one to two years at a community college (using your dual credits) and then transfer to a CSU that offers child development or teacher-education majors.
How to Pick Schools for Your Scholarship Form
Choose a mix of schools:
1–2 reach schools (Stanford, USC)
3–5 match schools (SDSU, Cal Poly, CSUF, LMU, APU)
2–3 safety schools (La Verne, a CSU with higher admission rates, or your local community college + transfer plan)
If you want to become a K–6 teacher in California, highlight schools that have Multiple Subject Credential or integrated Liberal Studies programs (like LMU, APU, and many CSUs).
This shows scholarship reviewers that you’re serious about teaching in California.
About Your Dual-Enrollment Credits
Both UC and CSU schools usually take dual-enrollment or community-college credits.
Each school has its own rules—UCs sometimes limit the number of community-college units that count toward your degree, and CSUs ask you to report all college courses when you apply.
Always list your college credits on your application and send your official transcripts from the college where you took them.
To check which credits transfer, visit ASSIST.org and talk with each school’s admissions or registrar office.
If I were you and money isn't an issue, then Stanford and USC would be good prospects. However, if you will require financial aid and your grades aren't the best of the best, then any public school in California would suffice. Unless you plan on going out of state to live after graduation, I'd choose a California public school with the Blue and Gold Scholarships, Cal Grant, potentially also Pell Grant. Please keep in mind, it's completely ok to start at a community college. I personally went to Orange Coast College and later transferred to UC-Riverside. In my opinion, fit is a lot more important than prestige. I turned down UC-Berkeley and UCLA because I got a full ride scholarship at UCR. UC-Riverside reminded me of this college full of students looking to redeem themselves. With humbled hearts, UCR felt like home to me. Professors were more helpful than being arrogant. The staff at UCR were a lot more understanding and accommodating due to UCR's high population of first generation college students. I highly recommend you visit each campus to get a feel for what you like.
Delete Comment
Flag Comment