We are now accepting applications to enter this program in Fall 2023. Completed applications are due as follows:
OCTOBER 15, 2022 for EARLY ADMISSION
JANUARY 15, 2023 for PRIORITY consideration
FEBRUARY 1, 2023 FINAL opportunity for consideration
Applications must be complete (including letters of recommendation and transcripts) by the deadline to be considered.
TO BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION, CLICK HERE.
The online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Birth through Kindergarten (BK) Initial Licensure Program (BK:ILP) provides graduate-level training for students with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood or a related field seeking an initial North Carolina B-K teaching license. The certificate program requires 20 semester hours and is offered jointly by the departments of Human Development and Family Studies and Specialized Education Services.
Students enrolled in the program participate in synchronous online courses in which they interact with their professors and peers in real time, field experiences, and student teaching in inclusive early childhood settings. Experienced and committed faculty teach, advise, and mentor students in this innovative interdisciplinary program.
Residency License Process
Students who wish to qualify for a residency license while they are in the program can receive a Plan of Study as part of the application process. For further information on the residency License process, please click here.
Please note that this is not an alternate licensure program, students must be accepted and enroll in the full program to receive a plan of study.
Birth through Kindergarten Initial Licensure Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Requirements
This is a 20-hour graduate certificate resulting in eligibility for the initial B-K teaching license. Students are required to complete 10 weeks of full-time student teaching in approved placements (which can be their own classroom) and the following courses:
SES 601 Introduction to Inclusive Birth-Kindergarten Services (3 s.h.)
SES 603 Screening/Assessment in Inclusive Early Childhood (3 s.h.)
HDF/SES 606 Preschool-Kindergarten Learning in Inclusive Settings (4 s.h.)
HDF/SES 607 Infant/Toddler Learning in Inclusive Settings (4 s.h.)
SES 649C Student Teaching (6 s.h.)
Sample BK:ILP Plan of Study:
| Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Fall 2 |
| SES 601 | SES 603 | SES 649c |
| HDF/SES 607 | HDF/SES 606 |
Interested in continuing beyond the BK:ILP to the BK:ISED Masters of Education Program?
The BK:ILP is a great first step toward achieving a BK:ISED Masters degree. Students who complete the BK:ILP requirements described above receive their BK:ILP Post Bachelors certficate AND have completed Phase 1 toward the BK:ISED Matsers of Education. Then, if desired, the student may apply to the MEd If accepted, the folowing requirements are completed for the Masters of Education:
PHASE TWO (OPTIONAL): 24-hour BK:ISED Early Childhood Leadership and Advanced Teaching Licensure Concentration MEd program (with 13 hours of credit transferred from the Licensure Certificate)
HDF 650 Theory & Research in Early Childhood Development (3 s. h.)
ERM 604 Methods of Educational Research (3 s. h.)
SES 602 Inclusive Family-Centered Practices in Early Childhood (3 s. h.)
HDF 633 Advanced Curriculum in Early Childhood Education (3 s. h.)
HDF 636 Leadership & Mentoring in Educating Young Children (3 s. h.)
SES 604 Internship in Inclusive Early Childhood (6 s. h.)
Elective (3 s. h.)
Professional Portfolio capstone experience
Individuals opting to complete both phases complete a total of 44 hours of graduate study. Upon completion of the BK:ILP certificate, you will be eligible for the initial B-K teaching license, and upon graduation from the MEd program, you will have an MEd in birth through kindergarten and, if enrolled in the Advanced Teaching Licensure concentration, be eligible for the Masters level B-K license!
Frequently Asked Questions for BK:ILP:
What are the program admission requirements?
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood or a related field and an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 for admission. Coursework taken after the applicant’s Bachelor’s degree can be considered for meeting the GPA requirements.
What if my undergraduate GPA is below 3.0?
If your GPA is below 3.0, then you have the option of taking a graduate level course as a visiting student and then applying for the program. Students are not guaranteed admission to the program (a full application review will still be required) but they will be considered as eligible applicants if they earn a B or better in the course they take as a visiting student through UNCG Visions. The application review committee can also consider other coursework taken since your Bachelor’s toward the GPA requirement.
Can I work while completing the BK:IL Program?
Yes, many students work while completing the program. Synchronous class meetings are in the evenings from 5:00-6:50pm. Students are required to participate in field experiences and full-time student teaching in high-quality inclusive settings. In some instances, students may need to leave their work settings to complete a field experience or student teaching in an approved setting.
How long is the student teaching experience?
The length of the full-time student teaching experience will depend on a few factors. Students without a teaching license are required to complete 10 weeks of full-time student teaching. Students with a teaching license in an area other than BK are required to complete 8 weeks of full-time student teaching. Full-time is defined as 40 hours per week.
How long does it take to complete the BK:IL Program?
The program can typically be completed in three or five semesters, depending on the number of courses taken each semester. Students applying from fields other than early childhood education may be required to take two pre-requisite courses during the program.
How do I apply for the BK:IL Program?
Complete the online application and select “Human Development and Family Studies Online” for the Program/Department and “Birth/Kindergarten Initial Licensure (PB CERT)” for your Concentration/Major. Applications must include academic transcripts, a professional statement describing interest and rationale for obtaining BK licensure and career goals, and three letters of recommendation, including at least one academic reference.
For further information about BK:ILP contact Dr. Catherine Scott-Little, HDFS BK Graduate Co-Director, at mcscottl@uncg.edu or Dr. Salih Rakap, SES BK Graduate Co-Director, at s_rakap@uncg.edu.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a participating institution in both the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and North Carolina’s portal agency, State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements North Carolina (SARA NC). Participation in SARA allows institutions to provide online courses outside of their own state borders.
For further information about states in which UNCG is authorized to offer on-line education
Completion of the UNCG Birth through Kindergarten on-line program meets higher education requirements for teaching licensure in North Carolina. If you are considering a Birth Through Kindergarten online graduate program that leads to a professional license but plan to teach in a state other than North Carolina, it is highly recommended you contact Dr. Catherine Scott-Little (mcscottl@uncg.edu), BK Graduate Program Co-Director, to review the content of the program, and review the requirements of the appropriate licensing agency where you plan to teach (to learn about that state’s licensing requirements) before enrolling in the program.
Notice:
The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice.
As such, please review UNC Greensboro’s status by state for the Birth through Kindergarten Initial Licensure PB Certificate program. You should note whether the program either “meets”, “does not meet”, or if there “has not been a determination” of the program’s status in the state for which you plan to practice. You should contact one of our Co-Directors: Catherine Scott-Little (mcscottl@uncg.edu) or Salih Rakap (s_rakap@uncg.edu) with any questions regarding this data.