B.A. in Education

Early Childhood Education Specialization

Students in early childhood education and elementary education must major in education. Each of these programs includes coursework in psychology, human development, teaching methods, curriculum, and a supervised field practicum experience (student teaching) in nearby school settings.

Major Requirements

Summary of Requirements

Requirements for a Major in Early Childhood Education

For continuation in a teacher education program, an education major must maintain a cumulative degree average of 2.75 or better, with a B or higher in education courses and a C+ or better in all pre-major, pre-professional and related elective courses.

Required pre-major courses 6 hours

To be taken in freshman or sophomore year:
LIN 101 Sign Language and Sign Systems (3)
PSY 201 Introduction to Psychology (3)

Required major and related courses 62 hours

Preprofessional Component
EDU 250 Introduction to Education and Teaching (3)
EDU 311 Foundations of Literacy: Teaching and Learning (3)
EDU 320 Early Childhood Environments (3)
EDF 323 Educational Psychology (3)
MAT 171 Basic Concepts of Mathematics for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers I (3)
MAT 172 Basic Concepts of Mathematics for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers II (3)
PSY 311 Development I: Child Psychology (3)

Professional Component
EDU 493 Integrative Practicum and Seminar in Teaching (3)
EDU 600 K-12 Curriculum and Instructional Technology (3) (optional - may count as free elective hours)
EDU 609 Home, School, Community Partnerships (3)
EDU 620 Curricular Foundations of Early Childhood Education (2) 
EDU 621 Literacy Teaching and Learning: Early Childhood (3)
EDU 622 Observing, Documenting, and Assessing Young Children's Development (3)
EDU 624 Integrative Methods for Early Childhood Education: Primary (3)
EDU 626 Integrative Methods for Early Childhood Education: K-3 (3)
EDU 628 Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education (9)
EDU 639 Elementary School Teaching Methods in Mathematics (3)
EDU 665 Children's Literature (3)
EDU 670 Teaching Students with Disabilities (3)
EDU 694 Student Teaching Seminar (3) 

Related elective courses 9 hours

Choose 3 hours from each of the following areas for a total of 9 hours, in consultation with departmental advisors:

Creativity
ART 326 Ceramics Basic Hand-building Techniques (3)
FCS 361 Creative Activities for Children (3)
THE 470 Creative Movement and Drama: Preschool to Kindergarten (3)
THE 472 Educational Drama - Grades 1-6 (3)

Health and Wellness
FCS 324 Child Nutrition and Safety (3)
PER 386 Physical Education and Wellness in a School Environment (3)
PER 440 Adapted Physical Education and Recreation (3)

Diversity/Social Justice

DST 311 Dynamics of Oppression (3)
DST 316 Disability Studies (3)
GOV 370 Human Rights (3)
SWK 318 Human Diversity (3)

Field Experience Requirements up to 160 Clock Hours

Students will complete field experiences in conjunction with the courses below. These field experience hours do not count in the summary of requirements for the specialization. Students will be required to pay a fee for suitability background checks prior to their initial field experiences in the program. The courses with field experiences include:

EDU 320 Early Childhood Environments (20 clock hours)
EDU 609 Home, School, Community Partnership (20 clock hours)
EDU 621 Literacy Teaching and Learning: Early Childhood (30 clock hours)
EDU 622 Observing, Documenting, and Assessing Young Children's Development (30 clock hours)
EDU 624 Integrative Methods for Early Childhood Education: Preprimary (30 clock hours)
EDU 626 Integrative Methods for Early Childhood Education: K-3 (30 clock hours)