PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College will offer two new four-year degrees, one starting this summer and one beginning next year.

A Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education will begin this summer.

A Bachelor of Arts in human services through Western Washington’s Woodring College of Education will be offered in the winter quarter 2011.

The emphasis areas for the early childhood education degree include special education, language and literacy, infant-toddler, bilingual-bicultural or program administrator, said Tom Keegan, president of the community college that offers classes across the North Olympic Peninsula. The degree will be offered through City University of Seattle’s Albright School of Education.

Classes will include a combination of in-class and online work.

“There will be hands-on, work-based learning using childhood work sites for practical experiences as well as distance education,” Keegan said.

The program will support up to 10 students.

“This program will build on our associate degree in early childhood education that we already offer,” Keegan said.

The bachelor of arts in human services will train students to work in nonprofit organizations, community service based businesses, government agencies and other areas.

“Students will be trained in case management and interventions, human development, agency management and diversity and social justice,” Keegan said.

The program is expected to accept between six and 10 students, he said.

It will be offered primarily through distance education and will build upon a transferable two-year degree.

“The benefit to both of these programs is that students can gain their baccalaureate degree right here without having to go to Western or having to go to City University — they can stay here on the Peninsula,” Keegan said.

“These have been well-thought-out in the expansion of our baccalaureate programs through the University Center.

“We have worked with area employers to identify what areas we have education needs.

“We are looking forward to serving these students and are looking forward to future expansion of our baccalaureate offerings as well.”

The two new programs will add to the other four-year degrees already offered at the college.

Other programs

The college currently offers a bachelor of arts in planning and environmental policy and a bachelor of science in environmental studies — both through the Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington.

City University also offers a bachelor of arts in elementary education with teaching certification at the college.

Peninsula College also grants its own four-year degree with a bachelor of applied science in applied management.

“Just as the new programs are well-thought-out, we considered carefully when we brought on our business degree,” Keegan said.

“It was a program that could be applied across all business sectors and many businesses could benefit.”

For more information on enrolling in the human services degree program, contact Jane Verner, academic advisor, at 360-650-7247 or e-mail jane.verner@wwu.edu.

For more information on enrolling in the early childhood education program, contact Lori Prysock, program coordinator, at 360-417-6358.

For more information on the college’s applied management degree or on any of the four-year degrees offered at Peninsula College, phone Vicki DeLorey at 360-417-5683.

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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.