Teacher with Children

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Concentration

Early Childhood: Inspiring Lifelong Learners

The first few years of life can make all the difference for a child’s future. As a teacher, you’ll play a crucial role in their early learning, providing young children with exceptional education while setting them up for success.

The early childhood concentration at Pensacola Christian College fully equips young women to provide quality age-appropriate care and education to children from infancy and preschool to lower and upper elementary school. You’ll receive hands-on training in and out of class, learning to teach knowledge, character, and skills to even the youngest children. Classes covering child development, classroom management, and many subject areas will build your foundation to become an excellent educator.

You’ll hone your skills under the instruction of experienced and caring faculty at Pensacola Christian Academy (PCA) and in PCC’s on-campus nursery. Begin by observing how a classroom or nursery is run, then step into the role of teacher, ready to pursue your calling.


Faith-Based Early Childhood Education

The early childhood concentration will give you hands-on, practical training that will prepare you to step into your classroom, fully equipped for success. Gain a biblical perspective on child development and how to properly educate students at every stage of their early learning process. Viewing each child as a soul that needs salvation and instruction, you’ll fulfill your calling by teaching, influencing, and nurturing children from an early age.

Education Class

Early Childhood Concentration Learning Outcomes

As an early childhood graduate, you will be able to

  • apply a Christian-traditional philosophy of education to content and methods of teaching in elementary or early childhood classes.
  • demonstrate competency in elementary-level or early childhood subject content.
  • demonstrate proficiency in the use of methods and materials appropriate for the Christian-traditional elementary or early childhood classroom.
  • organize, establish, and manage an effective learning environment.
  • demonstrate knowledge of the learner with ability to teach him.
  • teach effectively in a Christian elementary or early childhood program.
  • integrate biblical Christian values in teaching.
  • exhibit the professional qualities required of successful teachers.

Program Highlight

Early Childhood Teaching Internship

Gain invaluable hands-on experience in an educational setting when you complete your senior internship (EE 450). You’ll spend a semester at PCA, where an experienced and caring teacher will mentor you, help refine your skills, and work alongside you as you grow into your calling. You’ll experience every aspect of your career and slowly take on more responsibility until you’re in charge of your whole class, an independent and empowered teacher.

Your Early Childhood Education Future

What can you do with an early childhood concentration?

Your early childhood concentration will prepare you to teach in a Christian school or even start and administer your own nursery or daycare. You could also continue your education with a specialized graduate degree. Although the education degree programs do not lead to state licensure, graduates are qualified to receive teacher certification through the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Here are a few of the countless career opportunities available to you.

  • Christian School Teacher
  • Daycare Director
  • Homeschool Teacher
  • Nursery or Kindergarten Administrator
  • Preschool Director
  • Public Speaker
  • School Administrator

Here are a few of the grad schools our early childhood alumni have attended.

  • Liberty University
  • North Central University
  • Veritas Baptist College

Here are a few of the many places that our early childhood alumni have worked.

  • Crosspointe Christian Academy, Indianapolis, IN
  • Bill Rice Christian Academy
  • Liberty University Online Academy
  • Pensacola Christian Academy
  • Santa Rosa Christian School, Milton, FL
  • Temple Baptist Academy, Powell, TN

Faculty Highlight

Naomi Sleeth

Mrs. Naomi Sleeth

B.S., M.S., Ed.S., Pensacola Christian College


“Our early childhood students get the training to teach anywhere from kindergarten to sixth grade, emphasizing the early years from birth to kindergarten. Sometimes people are tempted to think that working with the littlest learners is a lesser ministry or not ‘real teaching.’ But these young children are like little sponges, able to learn their shapes and colors along with the foundational subjects of numbers, phonics, and writing which are so important to future academics. They also learn to be kind and share, work independently, and focus on the task at hand.

The early childhood years greatly influence all the years of school still to come. What a privilege to use this time of focused study in college to be prepared to make such a difference in a child’s life!”

Meet more faculty

Alumni Spotlight

Madison Lehman
Madison Lehman ’21

K5 Teacher, Bill Rice Christian Academy


“I would encourage future students to attend PCC because they will be thoroughly equipped for their future ministry. PCC is committed to helping its students grow academically and spiritually. All my teachers were dedicated to supporting and challenging me to achieve my full potential.

The education program is designed to transform the future educator. I learned so much about how children develop, how to train them, and how to teach them effectively. The classes stretched me, but I enjoyed them and learned a lot. If your desire is to be personally transformed and spiritually renewed while gaining an excellent liberal arts education, then PCC is a great place for you!”

Meet more alumni

About the Early Childhood Concentration

The purpose of the early childhood concentration is to prepare young women to teach in a Christian elementary or early childhood program by equipping them with a Christian-traditional philosophy of subject content and teaching methods, practical teaching skills, and a servant‘s heart.

Early childhood students can apply for scholarships to receive financial aid.

Teacher Education Scholarship (up to $12,000)

  • Available to a qualified applicant who has declared an education major.
  • Applicants must have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.00 or higher.
  • Recipients must maintain a 2.00 GPA each year (not cumulative) at Pensacola Christian College in order to receive the benefit of the scholarship. Students who forfeit the scholarship because of grade point average will forfeit the benefit for future years.
  • Recipients receive a tuition benefit up to $12,000 (approximately $3,000 annually; 20% of total tuition) over the first eight consecutive semesters of attendance as a full-time student after approval. If the student is enrolled in the Fourth Year Tuition-Free program, scholarship payments will not be applied during semesters the student is receiving the Fourth Year Tuition-Free benefit.

Kathleen Irwin Scholarship
$1,000 scholarships awarded to students with secondary, elementary, and music education majors, to be applied over one semester.

Lucile T. Magaha Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 scholarship awarded to a continuing freshman, sophomore, or junior with an elementary education major, who exemplifies a desire to serve the Lord and to show love and compassion to their future students, to be applied over one semester.

Melvin and Mabel Teuscher Memorial Scholarship
$1,000 scholarships each awarded to continuing sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have a financial need, to be applied over one semester. Priority will be given to education majors.

See More Scholarships

Girl Standing In front of hospital

Education Career Support

With Career Services and Career Link, students can start making connections with employers while on campus during Career Fair events. These services provide tools and resources designed to empower you for your early childhood jobs.

Every year, an average of 96 schools attend Educator Recruitment, seeking to hire PCC graduates.

Need help? Career Services staff are ready to assist you in researching employment opportunities, exploring job qualifications, and providing mock interviews and résumé support.