About the Program

Stephen F. Austin State University is pleased to offer The National Online Head Start Completer Program. This unique program allows Head Start teachers across the nation to earn a bachelor’s degree online while continuing to work. Head Start teachers complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at a local community college and then transfer seamlessly into the Online Head Start Completer Program. The Completer Program offers Head Start assistant teachers, teachers, coordinators or curriculum specialists two degree options: 1) a Bachelor’s of Science in Child and Family Development or 2) a Bachelor’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with Texas teacher certification at the EC-6 level.




The Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Development (Option 1) is especially tailored to Head Start personnel who need to earn an early childhood related degree but do not need teacher certification. This is a 120 hour degree program (including your earned community college credit). The number of hours that must be completed online at Stephen F. Austin State University depends on the number of hours that you have already earned and are able to transfer in from another college. In addition to any incomplete core requirements, students must take at least 42 hours at SFA of which 36 hours must be advanced. Option 1 is offered entirely online and does not require any travel to the SFA campus.

This degree option is compatible with the mission of the Head Start Program of enhancing social and cognitive development of children through the provision of services to enrolled children and families. The program is accredited through the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and provides an in-depth understanding of growth, change and development of children, adults and families utilizing a life-span, multi-contextual and family-systems approach, and effective instructional practices. Program participants must: 1) meet Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) admission requirements, 2) hold an Associate's Degree in applied science in child and family development or an equivalent from a regionally accredited community college, 3) have a 2.0 GPA or higher on transferable credits, 4) be employed full time in a Head Start program as a teacher, assistant teacher, coordinator or curriculum specialist, 5) provide documentation confirming employment in one of the specified positions at Head Start within the last five years, and 6) be self-disciplined and have the technical skills for online learning. See more information about OPTION 1.






The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Science with EC-6 Texas Teacher Certification (Option 2) is designed for Head Start personnel who need to earn an early childhood related degree with teacher certification. This is a 127-128 hour degree program (including your earned community college credit). The number of hours that must be completed online at Stephen F. Austin State University depends on the number of hours that you have already earned and are able to transfer in from another college. Option 2 is offered predominantly online but does require some travel to the SFASU campus in Nacogdoches, Texas.

This online degree completer option is compatible with the mission of the Head Start Program and adds Texas EC-6 teacher certification which is transferable to other states. This award winning online completer program boasts a nearly 100% pass rate for participants completing and taking the Texas certification exams, uses webcam technology for the supervision of field experiences, is fully accredited through the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and is nationally recognized through the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The curriculum includes coursework that enhances teacher’s knowledge, skills and dispositions in working with children who have English language learner needs and prepares candidates to successfully add the Texas supplemental teaching certificate in ESL and/or bilingual to their teacher credentials. Program participants must: 1) meet SFASU admission requirements, 2) hold an Associate’s Degree in a related teacher certification area 3) have a 3.0 GPA or higher in transferable credits 4) be self disciplined for online learning, 5) have access to and ability to use technology (computer, webcam, digital still and video cameras, scanner, software, etc.) 6) be employed full time in a Head Start program as a teacher, assistant teacher, coordinator or curriculum specialist, and 7) commit to four 3-day trips (once each semester) to Nacogdoches, Texas, which coincides with laboratory courses.  See more information about OPTION 2.