Early Childhood Education, BSED

Program code: ECED

This program is designed to assist undergraduate students in becoming highly competent and effective teachers of children in prekindergarten through grade 4. This program prepares students to become professional educators who are well-qualified to utilize appropriate techniques and strategies to expand children’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, and physical development.

See requirements leading to teacher certification, titled “3-Step Process for Teacher Education,” in the College of Education and Communications section of this catalog.

Liberal Studies: 41-43

As outlined in the Liberal Studies Requirements with the following specifications:

Learning Skills: 6 (1)

Humanities:

HIST 196 - Explorations in US History Credits: 3

Mathematics:

MATH 151 - Elements of Mathematics I Credits: 3

Natural Science: 7

Any 7 credits of science are permitted; choose different content areas. We recommend the courses listed.

SCI 101 - Fundamentals of Physics Credits: 3
SCI 102 - Fundamentals of Chemistry Credits: 3
SCI 103 - Fundamentals of Earth and Space Science Credits: 3
SCI 104 - Fundamentals of Environmental Biology Credits: 4

Social Science:

GEOG 104 - World Geography: Global Context Credits: 3
PSYC 101 - General Psychology Credits: 3

Liberal Studies Electives: 3

MATH 152 - Elements of Mathematics II Credits: 3

College: 24

Preprofessional Education Sequence:

ETIT 103 - Digital Instructional Technology Credits: 3
EDSP 102 - Educational Psychology Credits: 3

Professional Education Sequence:

EDSP 477 - Assessment of Student Learning: Design and Interpretation of Educational Measures Credits: 3
EDUC 242 - Pre-student Teaching Clinical Experience I Credits: 1
EDUC 342 - Pre-student Teaching Clinical Experience II Credits: 1
EDUC 441 - Student Teaching Credits: 5-12
EDUC 442 - School Law Credits: 1

Major Required Courses: 50 (2)

HDFS 310 - Child Observation and Assessment Credits: 3
ECED 112 - Childhood Development Birth–Age 5 Credits: 3
ECED 117 - Family, Community, and School Relationships in a Diverse Society Credits: 3
ECED 200 - Introduction to Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
ECED 215 - The Developing Child: K-4th Grade Credits: 3
ECED 250 - Language Development Credits: 3
ECED 280 - Maximizing Learning: Engaging All Learners Credits: 3
ECED 310 - Science, Health, and Safety for All PreK to Grade 4 Learners Credits: 3
ECED 314 - Creative Experiences and Play for All PreK to Grade 4 Learners Credits: 3
ECED 351 - Literacy for the Emergent Reader: PreK to Grade 1 Learners Credits: 3
ECED 411 - Social Studies for All PreK to Grade 4 Learners Credits: 3
ECED 425 - Methods of Teaching and Assessing Language Arts: Pre-K to Grade 4 Learners Credits: 3
ECED 451 - Literacy for the Developing Reader: Grades 2-4 Learners Credits: 3
EDEX 111 - Introduction to Exceptional Persons Credits: 3
EDEX 323 - Instruction of English Language Learners with Special Needs Credits: 2
MATH 330 - Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School Credits: 3

Free Electives: 3-5

Total Degree Requirements: 120

(1) ENGL 202 Composition II requirements are fulfilled by the department’s Writing Plan.

(2) A 3.0 cumulative GPA is required to apply for teacher certification, register for major courses, and student teach.