Applying to the Program

Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education Application Steps

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Closing Date for the Submission of Applications: April 1st 

The first cohort of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education program has 15 places and will earn you:

• Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education
• Washington State Residency Teaching Certificate
• Endorsement in Early Childhood Education

Interested participants should attend a program briefing. Participants will be required to meet all conditions of acceptance identified in the program acceptance letter the summer prior to the start of the Fall 2025 quarter.

 

Application Steps

1. Register and Attend a Program Briefing

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Choose a program briefing that fits with your schedule and register. At these faculty-led events, you will hear a program overview, including a discussion of its unique learning mode and entry requirements, and receive program application information.

 

2. Program Prerequisites

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Program Prerequisites

Prerequisites for the Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education program and courses have been streamlined to make the opportunity for a bachelor’s degree as accessible as possible.

By the time of entry into the program, you must have:

• Earned Associate Degree, with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
• Earned a 2.7 GPA (B-) in each of the following courses:
  • English 101
  • CMST& 210 or 220
  • EDUC& 115
  • EDUC& 130
  • EDUC& 150

* You may apply if you anticipate meeting these requirements before the start of Fall quarter. As long as there is time to complete those courses before the program starts. In these cases, you will receive provisional acceptance and these requirements must be cleared before the first day of Fall classes.

 

3. Submit an Application

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An application will be sent to you via email after you have participated in a program briefing session.

Use the link provided in the email to access the application. The email will be sent to the same address you used for the program briefing session.

Application Requirements:

• WEST-B Exam Score: You must upload your WEST-B exam score, including all three sections (reading, writing, and math). Equivalent assessments are also accepted. See the list of [accepted equivalent assessments]. Your exam score will not impact the admission decision.

• Essay Responses: You must provide responses to two essay prompts. The prompts and evaluation rubric are available below:

  1. Describe your experiences working with children. Include the age groups you have worked with, your roles and responsibilities, and how these experiences have shaped your understanding of what you will bring into the classroom.

  2. Describe a specific situation that challenged your understanding of diversity and social justice. Explain how it impacted your beliefs and values and how it has influenced your approach to diversity and social justice as a future teacher candidate.

Each essay should be 800–1,000 words (approximately two single-spaced pages).

Writing Support:

While bachelor's degree staff cannot review drafts of your essay, we encourage current SVC students to seek assistance from the Writing Center. Your associate degree advisor may also be a valuable resource.

Your essay responses are a crucial part of your application. We encourage you to put forth your best effort.

 

4. Participate in an One-Hour Interview

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The interview format is designed to select candidates who are culturally responsive, motivated to address inequities in public education systems, and demonstrate active listening skills. Candidates should also align with the expectations of lifelong learners and be strong representatives of our community. Interviews will be evaluated using this rubric.

 

Evaluation

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The following rubric will be used to evaluate your essay and interview. Rubrics are a guide that lists the specific evaluation criteria used by reviewers.

Essay Rubric

Criteria	Exceeds Expectation	Meets Expectation	Needs Development
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion	Provides detailed examples of significant contributions to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in educational or community contexts.	Discusses the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion but lacks examples.	Examples are limited or unclear. Limited reflection on the significance of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Early Childhood Experiences	Provides several examples of various experiences working with children and explicitly shares how that has helped shape their learning and what they will bring into the classroom.	Provides a few examples of experiences working with children and shares how that has helped shape their learning.	Provides minimal experience working with children.

 

Interview Rubric

Criteria	Exceeds Expectation	Meets Expectation	Needs Development
Personal	Response clearly articulates a deep passion for teaching, supported by compelling personal experiences and insights into the impact of education. Demonstrates a strong connection between motivation and the teaching profession.	Response displays a genuine interest in teaching,  with identifiable motivations rooted in personal or academic experiences. Provides adequate explanations for pursuing a teaching career.	Response lacks clarity or conviction in explaining motivations for teaching. Motivations are unclear or unrelated to the teaching profession. Fails to provide compelling reasons for pursuing teaching.
Asset-Based Mindset	Consistently uses positive, empowering language that reflects an appreciation of individual and collective assets.	In general, uses positive language, though it may occasionally revert to neutral or deficit-focused terms.	Frequently uses deficit-focused language or negative framing, showing limited awareness of the impact.
Cultural Responsiveness	Response demonstrates deep self-awareness of personal strengths and areas for growth related to cultural responsiveness and equity. Provides specific examples of experiences or elearning that have shaped this awareness. Shows clear commitment to ongoing reflection and growth in these areas.	Response displays a level of self-awareness regarding strengths and growth areas in culturally responsiveness and equity. Provides some examples or insights into personal experiences that contribute to this awareness. Expresses a willingness to learn and improve in these areas.	Response lacks depth or self-awareness or reflection on strengths and growth areas in cultural responsiveness and equity. Examples ar vague or unrelated to the teaching context. Shows limited commitment to ongoing development in these crucial areas.
Community	Response demonstrates extensive and meaningful experiences engaging with the local community as an educator. Provides specific examples of initiatives or projects that have positively impacted the community and student success. Articulates a comprehensive and strategic approach to building relationships with families and community members to support student well-being and academic achievement.	Response showcases some experiences in community engagement as an educator, with identifiable examples of connections with families and community members. Describes a proactive approach to building relationships to enhance student support and belonging.	Response lacks concrete experiences or examples of community engagement as an educator. Shows limited understanding of how to effectively build relationships with families and community members to support student success and foster belonging.
Goals and Self-Reflection	Clearly articulates specific goals aligned with aspirations and demonstrates thoughtful consideration of steps.	Describes goals but they are not necessarily connected to personal and professional aspirations.	Goals are vague or unclear and steps to achieve goals are missing or inadequate.