New state requirements have prompted a Florida-based college to launch a bachelor's degree program in early childhood education.

According to The Gainesville Sun, lead teachers in the Head Start program - which provides education to children from low-income families - will need to have a bachelor's degree by 2013. The news provider reports that the Florida's voluntary prekindergarten program will soon implement similar measures.

When proposing the early childhood education program to the state's board of education, college officials stressed that preschool education is among the 20 fastest-growing occupations in the region. The school will kick off the new program in January.

On a national level, the number of jobs in this field will grow by 19 percent over the next eight years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The organization states that early education professionals must understand the students' educational and emotional needs, and they should be organized, patient and creative.

Individuals who are interested in a career in this field may consider enrolling in online courses that can introduce them to different teaching methods.