A solution-oriented approach to resolving Alabama’s statewide teacher shortage issue led to the creation of a new fully online completer degree program offered by Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences.

Tuesday, AU announced the launch of its early child development online completer degree in human development and family science. The university’s program was formed in conjunction with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education.

The state of Alabama, as does the entire nation, holds an outstanding need for qualified early childcare and pre-k teachers.

According to Emily Cumbie, an AU instructor in human development and family science, the land-grant institution’s new program aims to address the shortage in its new degree offering.

“There is a shortage of qualified early care and education teachers in the state of Alabama and as our state funded pre-k program continues to add classrooms, we need to address that need,” said Cumbie. “The College of Human Sciences’ Department of Human Development and Family Science is partnering with the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education to help students who have taken some college coursework but want to complete their degree.”

She added, “The online and asynchronous nature of the program is designed to support those who are already working in the field, throughout our state and beyond.”

Prospective students wishing to apply for the fall semester will need to register prior to the July 15 deadline, the university said in a release.

AU advised that students attending a community college who have completed the core college courses, or hold an associate degree, but want to continue their education, can receive a bachelor’s degree in human development and family science with an option in early child development through the completer degree program.

Depending on the transfer credits students hold, some may complete the bachelor’s degree in just five semesters.

According to the university, students wishing to apply for the fall semester will need to complete an application form, submit an official college transcript, hold a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher and pay a $25 non-refundable application fee, if applicable.

The partnership between Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education secretary Barbara Cooper and Auburn’s Department of Human Development and Family Science provided a professional development grant that was utilized to establish the online completer program.

This fully online program will be offered in 7.5-week mini terms, with five terms available each academic year.

After completing all required coursework, graduates will be qualified to seek an early child development certificate. The certificate will meet the mandatory requirements to teach preschool in publicly funded Alabama pre-k classrooms.

Under the leadership of Gov. Kay Ivey, the Alabama Department of Childhood Education added 135 new classrooms for the Alabama First Class Pre-K program within the past year.

The expansion brought the state closer to achieving Ivey’s goal of making preschool services available to 70% of eligible 4-year-old children.

More information regarding AU’s new early child development completer may be found here.