Education (Early Childhood PreK-3)

Our early childhood PreK-3 licensure provides you with the knowledge and training to pursue a career in early childhood education. The curriculum places a heavy focus on the study of children from birth-to-kindergarten age and pre-kindergarten (pre-k) to third grade. The B.S. Major in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Early Childhood program is a professional preparation program that gives you an in-depth understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of the physical, cognitive, language, social, emotional, and creative development of children in addition to the content knowledge and pedagogical skills required of teachers in today's classrooms. 

Students planning to seek Early Childhood PreK-3 licensure must complete the Professional Core as outlined by the Department of Education. This comprises a full semester of integrated professional practicum experience and one full semester of student teaching in public school settings. Students who acquire licensure in early childhood will be certified to teach PreK-3 grades.

 

 

 

4 - Year Plans

To make your path to graduation a little easier, a 4-year plan for students planning to pursue a career in PreK-3 Education has been created:

Degree Requirements

 

B.S. Major in Interdisciplinary Studies
Concentration:  (Early Childhood - PreK-3) 

126 HOURS

Program Coordinator:  Mrs. Shawna Northrop

For a complete listing of requirements for graduation, see Academics: Degree/Graduation Requirements.
 
I. Liberal Arts Core Requirements    34 hours

Listed in the catalog under Academics: Liberal Arts Core

Limit III. A. Behavioral Sciences to SOC241 General Sociology
Limit III. B. BIO: 100, 105, 110, 111, 112, or 211 (must include related lab)
Limit III. C. 1. History to HIS221 American History I or HIS222 American History II
Limit III. C. 2. Critical and Creative Works to Literature (ENG: 215, 225, or 235)
Limit III. C. 3. Humanities Capstone to HUM495 Values in Human Thought and Action

II. Additional Liberal Arts Core Requirements for the Major:

 6-7 hours
A.  Choose one (1) of the following Fine Arts Courses:  3 hours 

ART110 

  Art Appreciation  (3)

ART201

  Introduction to Photography  (3)

ART234 

  Introduction to Creativity (W)  (3)

MUS110 

  Music Appreciation  (3)

MUS214 

  Development of American Music  (3)

THE160 

  Introduction to Theatre  (3)

THE265 

  Acting I  (3)

THE299A

  New York Theatre Survey  (3)

 

    
B.  Choose one (1) of the following options:
(must include related lab) 
 
  3-4 hours

PHS111 

  Physical Science I   OR  (3)

PHS112 

  Physical Science II  (3)

OR

    

CHE121 

 General Chemistry I   WITH  (3)

CHE121L

 General Chemistry I Lab   (1)

 

  

III. Major Professional Core for Elementary Education (PreK-3):

 46 hours

EDU130

Introduction to Education (W)

3 

EDU250

Professional Reflective Seminar I 

2

SPE240 

 Special Education Foundations (W)  3 

 

Must be admitted to Teacher Education to take the following:

EDU310

 Literacy I: Emergent Literacy Methods Across Content Areas
 3

EDU311

Literacy II: Literature and Literacy (W)

3

EDU320

Technology in the Classroom

3

EDU327

Tests and Measurement

3

EDU330 

Teaching Mathematics: Methods, Strategies, and Techniques 

3

EDU350* 

Professional Reflective Seminar II 

1

EDU415* 

 Literacy IV: Teaching Methods Across Content Areas
 3 

EDU428*

Classroom Management

2

RDG312 

 Literacy III: Teaching Literacy  4 

*These courses must be taken the semester prior to student teaching.

  

Must be admitted to Student Teaching to take the following:

  

EDU444

Student Teaching, PreK-3

12

EDU450

Professional Reflection & Planning

1
     

IV. Additional Required Courses:

 39-42 hours 

FAM201

 Child Development and Lab  3 

FAM230 

 Marriage and the Family  3 

FAM305 

 Childhood Disorders  3 

FAM310

 Developmental Psychology  3 

FAM331 

 Parenting and Family Relations (W) 3 

FAM335 

 Human Sexuality  3 

HEA216

Personal Health

3

MAT206

Real Number System

3

POL231 

 American Government  3 

SOC445 

 Ethnic Cultures  3 

SPA131 

 Elementary Spanish I  3 

SPA132

 Elementary Spanish II 3 

 

 Math or Natural Science Elective (upper-division)   3 

Plus one (1) of the following:
 

 0-3 hours 

HEA217 

 First Aid and CPR    OR   (3)

 

 First Aid/Red Cross Certification   (0)

 

    

 V. Electives (including additional Bible):

 1-7 hours