2023-24 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 15, 2024  
2023-24 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Inclusive Early Childhood Education (Birth-2) [ECI]


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This major in the Childhood/Early Childhood Education Department  prepares students to obtain dual certification in early childhood education and early childhood special education to teach students with and without disabilities in preschool settings through grade 2. Students learn to create high-quality inclusive environments that respect all children and their families, are developmentally appropriate and are child-centered.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Apply their knowledge of child development and the continuum of learning and developmental abilities/disabilities, and the multiple interacting influences to provide learning experiences that are meaningful, relevant and appropriately challenging for every child.         
  2. Value the complex characteristics of children's families and communities by developing reciprocal, collaborative relationships with families and communities to holistically and responsively address their children's learning and developmental needs while partnering to build capacity for advocacy.             
  3. Apply purposeful assessment practices and their knowledge of goals, benefits, legal and ethical uses of developmentally, culturally and linguistically appropriate methods when designing, implementing, adapting and interpreting assessments to inform instruction, eligibility determinations, monitoring of progress, interventions, and learning environments that promote positive child outcomes.  
  4. Make evidence-based decisions to design and implement a broad repertoire of developmentally effective strategies, tools and inclusive environments that enhance child learning and developmentally effective strategies, tools, and inclusive environments that enhance child learning and development and provide all learners access to and support for progress within the general education curriculum. 
  5. Demonstrate and apply accurate understandings of essential practices, central concepts, learning standards and content-area structures to develop, evaluate and universally design developmentally appropriate, engaging, culturally, linguistically responsive and integrative curriculum and learning environments.   
  6. Demonstrate professionalism by employing foundational knowledge and professional ethical principles, integrating reflective practices and critical perspectives and involving themselves in professional communities through effective teaming practices, collaboration and informed advocacy using culturally and linguistically responsive and affirming practices. 

Professional Licensure Disclosure Information                

A. College-wide and General Education Courses: 50 credit hours


General Education Program


GENS: Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning)


GESS: Social Sciences


GEUS: US History and Civic Engagement


Any GEUS course.

GEWH: World History and Global Awareness


Any GEWH course.

GEHU: Humanities


Any GEHU course.

GEAR: The Arts


Any GEAR course.

GEWL: World Language


Students must successfully complete the second semester (102) of a college-level world language sequence or

through a testing program approved by the Modern Languages Department, such as the CLEP or OPI, confirm proficiency equivalent to successful completion of the second semester (102) of a college-level world language sequence.

GEDI: Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice


GEST: Science, Technology, Values and Society


B. Professional Preparation and Pedagogy Courses


A minimum grade of C is required for the following courses: EDU 270, EDU 315, EDU 330, EDU 331, EDU 334, EDU 340, EDU 432, EDU 438, EDU 481, EDU 482, FSA 340, FSA 479, LIT 371, and SPE 270.

Inclusive Early Childhood Education Student Teaching Block: 13 credit hours


C. Approved Concentrations


30-31 credit hours with a minimum of 12 credit hours at the 300 and 400 level.

Approved concentration requirements are listed in the program requirements. If a second major is selected as an alternative to the 30-credit hour concentration, the requirements will be listed in the academic department of the second major.

I. Environmental Studies Concentration


30 credit hours, with a minimum of 12 credit hours at the 300 level or above

B. Natural Science Courses - select two courses from the following:


Please note: some courses listed below may require additional prerequisites.

D. Electives: select additional 8 credit hours from above


Select 8 additional credit hours from the Natural Sciences (B) or the Social Sciences (C) categories as listed above. 

Total credit hours: 30


II. Humanities Concentration


30 credit hours, with a minimum of 12 credit hours at the 300 level or above. 

A. Required Humanities Core: 12 credit hours


Select one course from each of the groups below:

Humanities - select three credit hours from the following:


Select three additional credit hours from GEHU - Humanities


Select three additional credit hours from GEAR - The Arts


B. Humanities Electives at the 300 and 400 level : 12 credit hours


  • Select 12 credit hours at the 300 or 400 level in any of the following disciplines with the subject prefix:
    ATH, ATS, ATT, ENG, MUS, PHI, PWR, THT.
  • Additionally, EDU 303 and COM 436 may be used to fulfill this requirement.

C. Additional Humanities Electives: 6 credit hours


Select 6 additional credit from Required Humanities Core and/or Humanities Electives at the 100 through 400 level.

III. Social Sciences Concentration


30 credit hours, with a minimum of 12 credit hours at the 300 level or above.

A. Required Social Sciences Core: 9 credit hours


  • (3 cr. hr.)
  • In addition to PSY 101, select:

    any 3 cr. hr. course from GE category: US History and Civic Engagement

    any 3 cr. hr. course from GE category: World History and Global Awareness

B. Social Sciences Electives at the 300 and 400 level : 12 credit hours


  • Select 12 credit hours at the 300 or 400 level in any of the following disciplines with the subject prefix:
    ANT, ECO, GRY, HIS, POL, SOC or any of the following courses: FSA 305, FSA 326, FSA 333, FSA 347 or FSA 505 (also listed as SOC 505).

C. Additional Social Sciences Coursework: 9 credit hours


Select 9 additional credits from Social Sciences Core and/or 100-level through 400-level Social Science Electives.

Total credit hours: 30


IV. English Language Arts and Writing Concentration


B. Introductory English - select three credit hours from the following:


C. Professional Writing - select three credit hours from the following:


E. English and Professional Writing


  • Select 12 credit hours at the 300 and 400 level in any discipline with the ENG or PWR subject prefix. 

F. Additional Credits


Select 3 additional credits at the 100 through 400 level in any discipline with the ENG or PWR subject prefix.

Total credit hours: 30


V. Mathematics Concentration


B. Calculus: 6 credit hours


C. Statistical Methods: 3 credit hours


D. Upper-level Mathematics: 12 credit hours


E. Mathematics Electives at the 300 and 400 level


Select three credit hours from the following or any mathematics course at the 300 level or above.

Total credit hours: 30


VI. Urban Studies Concentration


30 credits (must have 12 hours that are distinct from the major and GE Requirements).

A. Urban Studies Concentration Required Core: 9 credit hours


C. Upper Level Urban Studies Concentration: 12 credit hours


Select 12 credit hours from the following:

Total credit hours: 30


Required Workshops


Complete the following workshops prior to student teaching:

  • Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (CARR)
  • Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
  • Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE)

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 126


Example of the B.S. in Inclusive Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Social Sciences over four years


First Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Total credit hours for semester: 18


Second Year Fall


  • (3 cr. hr.)
  • Any in concentration (3 cr. hr.)
    Any in concentration (3 cr. hr.)
    Any in concentration (3 cr. hr.)
    Any in concentration (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 15


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Total credit hours for semester: 18


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Total credit hours for semester: 13


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