BestColleges.com has released their rankings of best online bachelor's in child development programs
Appalachian State University has been ranked 4th respectively.
Online Bachelor's Child Development Program at Appalachian State University
Founded in Boone, North Carolina in 1899 as a teacher's college, Appalachian State University earned public university status in 1971. Today, the school offers numerous distance degrees, including a flexible, part-time online bachelor of science in child development - birth through kindergarten.
Appalachian's 120-credit online birth-kindergarten bachelor's program usually takes 3.5 years to complete. Full-time students take 6-8 credits each semester, and complete courses such as administration of early childhood programs, constructivist pedagogy in early care and education, and variations in development from birth through kindergarten. The curriculum prepares online learners for work in many occupations, including public school teacher (Prek or K), early interventionist, and director of early care and education programs. Students receive NC teacher licensure for Birth through Kindergarten (dual certification in regular and special education).
After finishing all other requirements, students then complete one semester of student teaching in a public school, with the last five weeks in an agency internship. The school also requires two 150-hour practicums and one 60-hour practicum. At least one Practicum is at the Lucy Brock Child Development Laboratory School, a Reggio inspired early care and education program. Students need to maintain a 2.7 minimum GPA throughout the student teaching experience to successfully graduate.
Online learners must enter the program with a minimum of 30 credits from previous education. The program makes a combination of asynchronous and synchronous online coursework available through the school's Moodle-based learning management system, AsULearn. Appalachian holds accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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The methodology behind our rankings is grounded in statistical data and a few consistently applied guiding principles, including academic quality, affordability, and online competency. Our 2019 rankings reflect the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Minimum Requirements
- Each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution.
- Must offer an online bachelor's degree program in the given subject
- Must submit an annual report to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Ranking Factors
Academics & Learner Support - 50% of total score
- Admissions Rate
- Enrollment Rates
- Retention Rate
- 6-Year Graduation Rate
- Number of bachelor's degree graduates in the given subject
Affordability - 25% of total score
- Cost of program
- Percentage of Enrolled Students Taking Federal Loans
- Percentage of Enrolled Online Students Taking Federal Loans
- Loan Default Rate
Online Programming - 25% of total score
- Number of Online Programs Offered
- Percentage of Enrolled Students Taking Online Courses
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