2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Nov 21, 2024  
2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog

Early Childhood and Childhood Education (Birth-6) [ECD]


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs

This major in the Childhood/Early Childhood Education Department  prepares students to have dual certification in early childhood and childhood education for teaching from birth through grade 6.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Apply their knowledge of child development, learning, and the multiple interacting influences to provide learning experiences that are meaningful 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.
  3. Apply purposeful assessment practices and their knowledge of the goals, benefits, and uses of varied assessment methods when designing, implementing, adapting, and interpreting assessments to inform instruction 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 environments that enhance child learning and development.
  5. Demonstrate and apply accurate understandings of essential practices, central concepts, learning standards, and content-area structures to develop and evaluate developmentally appropriate, engaging, culturally responsive, and integrative curriculum and learning environments.
  6. Demonstrate professionalism by employing the field's foundational knowledge and professional ethical principles, integrating reflective practices and critical perspectives, and involving themselves in professional communities through collaboration and informed advocacy.

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: 61 credit hours


A minimum grade of C is required for the following courses: EDU 270, EDU 315, EDU 331, EDU 333, EDU 334, EDU 340, EDU 373, EDU 374, EDU 375, EDU 481, LIT 371, LIT 372, and SPE 270.

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, IST or any of the following courses:

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, or select from the options below.

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 (CAR)
  • Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)
  • Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE)

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 126


Total Credit Hours Required for Childhood/Early Childhood Dual Certification with Concentration: 126


Example of the B.S. in Early Childhood and Childhood Education with a concentration in Humanities over four years


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Second Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 18


Second Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Third Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Third Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 18


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Total credit hours for semester: 13


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Academic Programs