Online Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies
Inspire Young Learners with an Educational Studies Degree
Online
3-4 Years
48 Credit Hours (Major)
$305 per Credit
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Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition, and more.
Expand Your Knowledge of Education with SMSU
Prepare for education careers that take you outside of the classroom with Southwest Minnesota State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Educational Studies. You can finish your program in three to four years and earn a degree accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Choose an emphasis in early childhood or elementary education. Throughout your program, you will learn from faculty members who are passionate educators with valuable subject-area expertise.
This BS in Educational Studies program is also offered on campus.
Program Details
- Scholarships available
- No work experience necessary
- Two emphasis areas
- Engaged faculty and peers
Choose Your BS in Educational Studies Emphasis
Our degree allows you to specialize your degree and align your studies with your interests with an emphasis early childhood or elementary education.
4 Years | 19 Credit Hours
Study how to make a difference and develop learning initiatives for young children.
Courses Highlights
- ED 315: Play & Creative Activities
- ED 331: Infants and Toddlers
- HLTH 290: Wellness, Safety, & Nutrition from Birth to Grade 3
4 Years | 15 Credit Hours
Broaden your knowledge of educating elementary-aged children with this in-depth emphasis.
Courses Highlights
- ED 418: Kindergarten Methods
- MUS 391: Teaching Music in Elementary Schools
- HLTH 491: Elementary School Health Education
Develop Your Education Skills with Dynamic Curriculum
120 Total Credits
18 Courses
The fully online curriculum includes a core focused on foundational topics like classroom technology, child growth and development, and positive behavior support. Pursue an emphasis in early childhood or elementary education to specialize your studies for your professional interests and career goals.
Course Highlights
- ED 102: Technology: Classroom Applications & Portfolio
- ED 251: Introduction to Child Growth & Development
- ED 312: Human Relations for Teachers
- SPED 460: Positive Behavior Support in Special Education
Apply to SMSU’s Educational Studies Program
Start Date May 21, 2024 Summer Term 2024
Start your application process with the support of the SMSU team. During the application process, our enrollment team will answer questions and help you meet application deadlines for the educational studies bachelor’s degree.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $20 waivable fee* |
| Official Transcripts | Send official high school transcripts. Transfer students must send transcripts from each institution attended |
| Minimum GPA | 2.5 minimum, 3.0 recommended |
International Students
Additional information and requirements may be necessary for international students. Please contact our enrollment team to learn more.
It’s always the right time to invest in your education with SMSU. Contact an enrollment counselor by calling 1-800-201-2944 to get started today.
Admissions DetailsFinance Your Online Educational Studies Degree
Calculate your cost for attending SMSU Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.
The first step toward creating a successful future for yourself is investing in your education. Whether you’re applying for a college degree for the first time or picking back up where you left off in your education, Southwest Minnesota State University’s tuition and aid packages can assist you. Take advantage of available scholarships, competitive tuition, and transfer credits when paying for your educational studies degree.
| Cost per Credit Hour | $305 |
|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 120 |
| Total Estimated Cost** | $36,600 |
| Other Costs | The estimated tuition cost does not include factors such as textbooks, supplies, or additional fees and expenses |
Military Benefits
SMSU proudly welcomes active military and veteran students. We accept the GI Bill™ and VA education benefits. Learn more by contacting an enrollment counselor or by visiting our military benefits page.
Financial Aid Options & Support
Southwest Minnesota State University offers a variety of solutions to help you invest in your education. SMSU offers in-state tuition rates to all students, along with a variety of financial services, including military benefits, financial aid opportunities, and scholarships for qualifying applicants.
Take your next step in financing your education by completing your FAFSA today. Use SMSU’s school code: 002375
Tuition Details
Launch Your Educational Studies Career
Upon graduation from the online educational studies program, you’ll have an academic credential designed for positions such as community education leader, youth club organizer, childcare facility leader, and more. Your emphasis in early childhood or elementary education will help you stand out from the competition when applying to jobs.
Jobs for BS in Educational Studies Graduates
Education Specialist $52,202 per year1
Preschool and Childcare Center Director $49,690 per year2
Program Outcomes
In the educational studies program, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to impact children and inspire learning in a variety of roles that make a difference. You’ll graduate with a deep understanding of child development’s physical, cognitive, and social-emotional domains.
What You’ll Learn
- Work in a variety of settings, both inside and outside of the classroom
- Have a deep understanding of children’s growth and development from conception through adolescence with a concentration on the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional domains of development
Meet Our Faculty
SMSU employs a faculty of experts who are top-skilled in their fields. Our educators are fully committed to providing each student with personalized and thoughtful instruction to help you succeed academically and professionally.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Kandy Noles Stevens, Professor of Education
Dr. Kandy Noles Stevens continued working to develop dynamic courses that reflect the vision and mission of the SMSU School of Education. She worked to integrate high leveraged teaching practices to model culturally responsive teaching in her courses to better prepare aspiring educators to teach with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. She revamped her course design in the science methods courses to prepare future educators to be well equipped to teach science using the three-dimensional learning in advance of the implementation of the new Minnesota science standards. She incorporated more practice-based teacher education strategies in all of her courses to allow students to practice to develop their teaching skills prior to field placements. The assistant professor strove to create stronger networks among the educators teaching SMSU concurrent enrollment courses and collaborated with colleagues and educational leaders across the country to create a virtual speaker series for students enrolled in College Now Education courses.
Learn Online with Southwest Minnesota State University
Whether you’re enrolling in a degree program for the first time or completing a degree you previously started, learning online with SMSU provides the flexibility you need to be successful. Our online programs offer the same rigorous curriculum delivered on campus, plus the convenience of studying on your schedule from the location of your choice.
Discover SMSU OnlineSources and Disclaimers
- Salary.com, Education Specialist, at https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/education-specialist-salary (visited October 3, 2023).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Preschool and Childcare Center Directors, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/preschool-and-childcare-center-directors.htm (visited October 3, 2023).
*Contact our enrollment team for more details!
**Tuition costs and fees will vary based on semesters of enrollment and number of transfer credits accepted. Contact our enrollment team to learn more.