Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education
Learn to provide support and instruction at the early childhood level for individuals with varying levels of abilities and special needs.
Lutheran Teacher Diploma
Deepen your calling with a powerful credential that prepares you for ministry in Lutheran schools. Learn more about the LTD.
Credits
121-130
Program Format
Courses are face-to-face on campus with online options available for some courses.
Grade Level
Serve individuals and their families from birth to 3rd grade.
VirtualTour
Utilize your skills to teach special and general education at the early childhood level
You love working with the youngest children and know that it is your calling to teach at the early childhood level. Go further in your teaching career with a focus on both general and special education. Develop the teaching strategies and understanding to teach and lead a classroom with diverse learning needs. Give every student the opportunity to succeed in a learning environment right for their developmental level.
Our comprehensive program with experienced faculty will develop your passion and skills to help early childhood students (birth-3rd grade) with and without disabilities reach their full potential. Our program has a strong liberal arts foundation with a Christian emphasis. Faith and child development are integrated through each step of the program allowing you to be well-prepared to help all young learners grow in mind, body, and spirit.
Education coursework and fieldwork experiences will begin your feshman year. You will learn content knowledge in addition to a wide range of instructional strategies and learner accommodations. Develop skills in classroom management, curricular design and assessment, and engagement and collaboration with families, educators, and the community. Graduates with dual licensure in general and special education are highly qualified and in high-demand in today's schools.
What to Expect
You will earn your Wisconsin teaching license in Early Childhood Education (Birth to age 8) and Early Childhood Special Education (Birth to age 8).
This program requires 121-130 credits to graduate.
Fieldwork and real-world experience start freshman year and progress to student teaching in your final semester.
Student teaching can be done locally, out of state, and even internationally.
Small class sizes are taught by faculty with in-classroom experiences.
Courses are offered in-person on our Wisconsin campus. (There are online options and offerings within this program.)
Add-on a Lutheran Teaching Diploma (LTD) or Christian Teaching Certificate (CTC).
Provide Official High School Transcripts (college transcripts, if applicable)
Optionally, high school seniors may provide their ACT score.
Optional Add-on
Forming faith-filled educators
Deepen your calling and prepare for service. Concordia's Lutheran Teacher Diploma (LTD) prepares educators for service in LCMS schools through academic excellence, theological training, and faith integration, leading to divine calls and commissioned ministry. Learn more about the LTD here.
Department Chair - Special Education, Professor Office: Luther Hall LU204B Phone: (262) 243-4209
Bio
Linda Hensel is a Professor of Education and the chair of the special education department. She teaches special education methods and assessment courses. Her research focuses on the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Education
Ph D - Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, Cardinal Stritch University (2009)
MA - Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Cardinal Stritch University (1996)
BS - Special Education, University of Wisconsin (1984)
Contributions
Hensel, L. (2021). What’s Special? Special Education in Lutheran Schools. In Ed Grube (Ed.), (pp. 15). River Forest, IL: Lutheran Education Association (LEA). https://cdn.leaco...
Presentations
Adams-Qualls, L., Aschenbrener, M., Hensel, L., Schmitz, M., Stolzman, S. & Watry-Christian, M., (2025). Problem-Based Learning Interprofessional Experiences: Interdisciplinary Work – Not All Sunshine and Lollipops. Oral Presentation. 2025 Wisconsin Interdisciplinary Research Symposium (WIRS). Mequon, WI .
Hensel, L. (2023). UDL for OT Faculty. Oral Presentation. OT Faculty Department Meeting. Concordia University.
Hensel, L. (2021). What's Special about Special Education in Lutheran Schools. Oral Presentation. CU Faculty Scholarship Week Presentation. Concordia University: Zoom.
Hensel, L. & Routier, W. (2018). An Innovative Approach to a Collaborative Inter-Professional Problem-Based Learning Activity. Oral Presentation. Original Lilly Conference on College Teaching. Oxford, OH.
Hensel, L. & Routier, W. (2018). Research into Inter-Professional Collaboration in a Problem-Based Learning Activity with Special Education Preservice Teachers and Related Service Providers. Oral Presentation. 2nd International Conference on Educational Studies. Madison, WI.
Department Chair - Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Associate Professor Office: Luther Hall LU204K Phone: (262) 243-2417
Bio
Amy Lindgren is an Associate Professor of Education and the Elementary/Early Childhood Department Chair at Concordia University Wisconsin. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education with an emphasis on science and her M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University Wisconsin. Prior to her call to higher education, Amy taught middle school, preschool, and kindergarten for fifteen years in Lutheran schools in both Ohio and Wisconsin. She completed a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education from Concordia University Chicago. Her dissertation is entitled: The Development of Teacher Agency in Nature Preschools: Perceptions of Teachers and Directors. Amy has served at CUW since 2011 and teaches upper division coursework in the Early Childhood & Elementary Education Departments.
Education
Ph D - Educational Leadership, Concordia University Chicago (2020)
MS - Early Childhood Education, Concordia University Wisconsin (2012)
BA - Elementary Education, Concordia University Wisconsin (2001)
Contributions
Lindgren, A., Franzen, B., Masters, H. & Kremer, K. Meaningful, Motivating, and Intellectually Engaging Professional Development: Teacher Educators Engagement in Collaborative Energy Education Research Projects.
Lindgren, A. (2020). The Development of Teacher Agency in Nature Preschools: Perceptions of Teachers and Directors. In Katherine Green (Chair), Rekha Rajan (Methodologist), Pamela McCullough (Reader), Krista Soria (Editor) (Ed.), (pp. 414). Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. http://search.pro...
Presentations
Lindgren, A. (2024). ZOOM: Ecological Perspective-Taking with Young Children. Other. TENFEE Summit 2024: SHOWCASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS. TENFEE Summit 2024: Schmeekle Reserve, Steven's Point, WI.
Lindgren, A., Franzen, B. & Langeberg, M., (2023). Cultivating Genius: Environmental Education in Teacher Education Programs. Oral Presentation. MEEC 2023 Conference: To Hinukwaseja - Restoring Connections to Land and To Each Other. LaCrosse, WI.
Lindgren, A. (2022). Tinkering with STEM in Early Childhood Education. Oral Presentation. Together: 2022 LEA Convocation. Milwaukee, WI.
Lindgren, A. (2022). Using Nature Journaling to Facilitate Early Childhood Cycles of Inquiry. Other. TENFEE Summit 2022: Retention through Wellness in Nature. Virtual-Hybrid TENFEE Summit 2022.
Lindgren, A., Thompson, C., Franzen, B., Rydberg, V. & Liddicoat, K., (2022). Connect, Explore, Engage: Environmental Education in Teacher Education Programs. Oral Presentation. WSST 2022: The Comeback Conference. Wausau, WI.
Research Interests
Nature Journaling
Early Childhood Teacher Agency in Science, Math, STEM, and EE
Teaching Interests
Early Childhood - Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Play Theory
Early Childhood STEM: Science, Math, & Environmental Science
Review our curriculum requirements that feature key concepts you will need to teach at the early childhood level.
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