Fort Myers campus only. The Early Childhood Education Bachelor Degree program is designed to prepare students for careers in early childhood education. Early childhood educators work in preschools, childcare centers, school-age programs and in public schools with children through the age of 8. In addition, the coursework provides students with opportunities to study and apply their understanding in emergent literacy, the exceptional child, and in documenting observations and using the data to plan lessons to meet the needs of the children. Students will focus on the creation of developmentally appropriate curriculums, and instruction and assessment in their classrooms. The program includes a hands-on externship in an area school as the capstone course prior to graduation. Upon completion of the program, the student will have a strong background in the growth and development of young children; understand how children learn; be aware of the diversity in our population; be able to observe children and use the data to plan developmentally appropriate instructional experiences; and understand the roles of the teacher, the family and the school community in early childhood education.