A new online accelerated degree program for Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences will begin this fall and is intended to produce teachers for Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program.
Auburn designed the program with the Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE). It will be a human development and family science degree focusing on early child development.
Director of Communications and External Relations for the College of Human Sciences Kim Hendrix said the program is not intended to solve the teacher shortage but hopefully will produce qualified teachers to fill the First Class classrooms.
Hendrix said the program is designed for those in community colleges, those working in the field who never finished a degree, or those who got a degree in a different field.
Students can complete the degree in five semesters, and completion will qualify them to seek the certificate needed to teach in the First Class classroom.
Hendrix said this will provide them with higher pay and more job opportunities.
The program will cost 125% of regular in-state tuition, though since it is entirely online, all on-campus fees will be waived, bringing the total cost down to approximately $30 more than the usual course.
The application deadline for the fall semester is July 15. Applications for the spring semester will begin Friday.
Applicants must fill out the online application, submit their official college transcript by mail or email to auburnonline@auburn.edu and pay the $25 nonrefundable application fee. They must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email will.blakely@1819news.com.
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