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Welcome to the Education of Young Children (EYC) undergraduate program in the Watson College of Education! 

North Carolina needs licensed early childhood professionals. The EYC program offered by the Watson College of Education is designed for future teachers, consultants and directors of early childhood education programs. The program will prepare you to work with children with and without developmental delays from birth through kindergarten in a variety of settings including public schools and privately-run child care centers.  

Distinctive Features of the EYC Undergraduate Program

  • Small class sizes offering personal attention and guidance
  • Dedicated early childhood education faculty
  • Late afternoon and evening courses, designed to accommodate working professionals
  • A collaborative learning environment
  • Opportunity to gain knowledge of developmental milestones and the early learning process
  • Classrooms equipped with hands-on learning materials for young children
  • Extensive field and classroom experiences in four areas: infant/toddler, pre-school, kindergarten and children with special needs
  • A full-time internship during the final semester
  • High job placement rates

Admissions: Steps to Becoming a Teacher

Admission to UNCW and the Watson College of Education is a two-step process. The first step is admission to the university. The second step is admission to the Watson College of Education (WCE). Students typically apply to WCE during their sophomore or junior year at UNCW. Transfer students typically apply during their first or second semester at UNCW. 

Timeline

High School Seniors and Transfer Students

  • Apply for admission to UNCW
  • Visit the Watson College! 
  • Consider applying for the Education Living Learning Community to meet other pre-education majors and get a jump-start on field placements and enrichment experiences

Freshman or Sophomore Year
Before you declare your major

  • Create goals and make course selections that compliment your major/licensure
  • Arrange for experiences that will help you confirm your goals and interests. These could include meeting with faculty and students in the Watson College, attending events at the college, joining student organizations, studying abroad or volunteering

Sophomore Year
Pre-major status

  • Collaborate with your Watson College Advisor to ensure success
  • Review course requirements, sequence and pre-requisites to revise course map
  • Continue to arrange experiences that will help you confirm your goals and interests
  • Apply for admission to Watson College

Junior Year
Admitted to the Watson College

  • Begin education coursework
  • Tutor students in the Ed Lab and begin classroom field placements
  • Continue assessing your skills, strengths and interests
  • Network with professors, students and teachers who work in your field

Senior or Final Year

  • Complete a semester-long internship
  • Apply for graduation, pass licensing tests and apply for licensure
  • Attend job fairs, seek Career Center support to perfect your resume and interviewing skills and apply for jobs