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Dallas College

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Earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching

This degree will equip you for a career in education — whether your goal is to teach our earliest learners in early childhood centers or students in PK-12 public schools.

The Dallas College School of Education offers one of the nation’s most affordable and high-quality teacher preparation programs through a “bachelor’s first” certification track. Students earn a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching (B.A.S. ECE) while completing a year-long teacher residency, followed by an educator preparation program to meet certification requirements.

With one of the highest four-year graduation rates in Texas at 69%, our program produces skilled teachers for high-need areas, ensuring they are classroom-ready and prepared to make an immediate impact.

A teacher points to a presentation on a digital screen

Accelerate your career at Dallas College!

Introducing the accelerated pathway for early childhood educators. Get your bachelor's degree and teacher certification faster than ever before.

We know you're busy, so we created an online program for future educators that allows you to take your classes whenever you want. All you need is an internet connection and you're on your way to becoming a certified teacher.

At Dallas College, we adjust to your schedule. We offer online courses during the day, in the evenings, and on the weekends.

Every student is also assigned a senior success coach, a caring professional who can help you enroll, find the right courses, and eventually, get you where you belong, as a lead teacher in your own classroom.

Email us at SOEAdvising@dallascollege.edu. A senior success coach will call you right back, show you how to enroll, and help you start your journey at Dallas College.

A teacher poses for the camera with a notebook in their hand, their class is seen in the background

Admissions Process

  1. Step 1: Apply to Dallas College. You must be a Dallas College student before applying to the B.A.S. ECE program.
  2. Step 2: Submit your B.A.S. Supplemental Application. Once you are a Dallas College student, you must complete and submit the B.A.S. Supplemental Application.
  3. Step 3: Meet with a senior success coach. If you meet all program admission requirements, you will receive an admission letter from the School of Education, and an SOE senior success coach will contact you about the next steps for enrollment.

To be approved for enrollment into upper-level B.A.S. ECE courses, students must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Complete the B.A.S. ECE Program Mini Course
  • Complete the B.A.S. Supplemental Application
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended to demonstrate completion of the B.A.S. lower-level courses
  • Complete all general education requirements (42-hour Texas Core Curriculum)
  • Have a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) (a 2.75 GPA is needed for degree conferral)
  • Have a government-issued identification and/or Social Security card and be able to pass a criminal background check (necessary to receive teacher certification)

Admission Deadlines

The application is open year-round. However, to start in your desired semester, you should have your application submitted by one of ​the following dates:

  • Fall semester due by: July 1
  • Spring semester due by: Nov. 1
  • Summer semester due by: April 1

Core Curriculum

Students must be Texas Core-complete before beginning the B.A.S. ECE program. Admission to the B.A.S. ECE program is conditional upon the successful completion of the Core courses.

Degree plan as of Jan. 1, 2023. Check the catalog for the latest version.

Program Structure

Our program provides hands-on experience, equipping you with the skills to deliver grade-level instruction, foster inclusive classrooms and accelerate student learning by at least one academic year. You will benefit from dedicated coaching from Dallas College faculty and experienced teacher mentors throughout residency and the intern year.

B.A.S. ECE Program Structure Overview

Lower-Level Program
  • Lower-level coursework includes courses from the 42-hour Texas Core Curriculum and the A.A.T. or A.A.S. program that are contextualized to prepare students for general education teacher certification exams.
  • After completing the 42-hour Texas Core Curriculum, or equivalent program, students can apply for admission to the B.A.S. ECE upper-level program.**​
Upper-Level Program ​
  • Upper-level coursework includes:
    • Junior year courses that combine asynchronous coursework with PreK-6 work-based learning while introducing teacher certification requirements
    • Senior year courses that focus on asynchronous coursework, practical experience and mentorship during a year-long teacher residency using the progression of responsibilities model, and the start of certification preparation.
  • All upper-level courses are structured as a lab course that includes approximately two hours per week (32 hours per semester) in addition to weekly class time for work-based learning opportunities in an elementary or early child care setting.
  • In the final semester of senior year, students can apply to the educator preparation program that’s required for standard certification.
Educator Preparation Program Components
  • Coursework: Six core courses, delivered in a hybrid format and aligned with the Texas Educator Standards beginning after a student obtains a bachelor's degree
  • Certification exam approval and preparation for EC-6 Core, ESL, Bilingual, Special Education and Professional Pedagogy and Responsibilities (PPR)
  • Year-long clinical experience on a state-issued intern certificate with full teacher pay, where the teacher candidate is a full-time teacher of record for one full school year
Program Course Offerings ​
  • Upper-level courses for the Bachelor of Science and Educator Preparation Program are offered during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters aligned to Dallas College’s academic calendar.
  • Residency I & II courses are offered during Fall and Spring semesters.
  • Practicum I & II courses are offered during Fall and Spring semesters. 

**Students interested in the Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education program must apply and meet all program requirements to enroll in upper-level courses. Until admission, they may be designated as pre-bachelor’s students. Upon successfully completing an upper-level course, they achieve B.A.S. participant status.

How To Get Started

Ready to take the leap? Complete this interest form to see if you meet the criteria.

Fill Out the Interest Form

Not quite ready? Check out our other pathways to teaching, like the Teacher Assistant program.

For more information, please contact SOEAdvising@DallasCollege.edu.

“The most valuable experience I’ve had is the ability to interact with the teachers who are like me and have had my same experience as a Latina student. It gives me a lot of hope knowing I can provide for my family. There’s opportunity out there, and if I can do this, you can do it, too.”
Kimberly Argueta
Kimberly Argueta
Dallas College School of Education student

Frequently Asked Questions

We are here to help. Please contact our senior success coaches via email at SOEAdvising@DallasCollege.edu

You will need to submit a request to the Dallas College Accessibility Office by following the below steps. This office determines any physical or medical accommodations that need to be made for students. If you have any questions, please reach out to Beverly Neu Menassa, Associate Dean of Accessibility Services at BNMenassa@DallasCollege.edu

  1. Visit the Accessibility Office website for more information.
  2. Click on the red box that says, Submit a New Application.
  3. Once the application documentation disability are received, determinations about the student’s eligibility for accommodations will be made.

Students are assigned a senior success coach upon acceptance into the BAS ECE program. The senior success coach supports students in successfully completing program requirements. Students meet with their senior success coach virtually or in person at least once per term after enrolling in upper-level courses.

We have entry points available for Dallas College transfer applicants and transfer applicants from other institutions.

Yes. This pathway is for students who have not previously attended an institution of higher education.

Courses in the bachelor’s degree are available to students for the same cost per semester credit hour as our associate of arts programs. For Dallas County residents, tuition is $99 per credit hour or $297 for a three-hour course. This makes our bachelor’s degree one of the most affordable in Texas.

The Dallas College BAS ECE exemplifies the idea of ‘education that works.’ Students entering their senior year of the program will engage in required work-based learning opportunities that support students in being “day one ready” through extensive practice and coaching around key teaching skills.

In February 2022 Dallas College became Texas’ first U.S. Department of Labor teacher apprenticeship program. Through this program, Dallas College students have the opportunity to work as paid apprentices in their senior year, receiving a salary of approximately $30,000, and to receive tuition assistance. This innovative program provides students the opportunity to learn and earn as they engage in the many facets of teaching under the tutelage of an effective mentor teacher.

In addition to the apprenticeship model, students who are already employed in school systems or early childcare centers as assistants and aides have the option to remain in their current roles through an adaptive residency. This model supports students in engaging in modified residency experiences and completing the responsibilities and duties associated with their jobs.

  1. The Dallas College BAS ECE is the first bachelor’s degree program in education offered by a community college in Texas.
  2. The Dallas College BAS ECE is focused on preparing students to be day-one ready to teach young children from ages birth to third grade.
  3. The Dallas College BAS ECE allows students to obtain an education in teaching without withholding the degree until certification exams are passed.
  4. Our intentional, student-centered design enables students to obtain the bachelor’s degree first and then focus on certification.
  5. All bachelor graduates complete a year-long teacher residency.
  6. The National Center for Teacher Residencies reports that 78% of students that are prepared through a residency track return for a 3rd year to the classroom.
  7. The Dallas College BAS ECE offers high-quality, affordable teacher preparation, with a tuition rate of $99 per credit hour that covers both tuition and textbook costs.
  8. Dallas College School of Education ensures a well-structured and cohesive approach to teacher preparation, avoiding fragmented or inconsistent experiences through two (seamless or coordinated) programs: the Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching and Teach at Dallas College Alternative Certification Program.
  9. The programs prioritize equipping students and teacher candidates to advance student learning by at least one academic year, emphasizing measurable impact on educational progress.
  10. The programs highlight the importance of creating safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments, reflecting its commitment to equity and student well-being.
  11. Through the alternative certification program, students can obtain Texas teacher certification in critical need areas: EC-6 Core Subjects with English as a Second Language or Bilingual Education.
Updated August 19, 2025