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2012-2013 Undergraduate Academic Catalog | Program Descriptions | Teacher Education Overview | Majors

Early Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities Birth-2, B.S.

[Early Childhood Education & Students with Disabilities Birth-2 - 0823]

This undergraduate major will lead to initial certification in both Early Childhood Education (birth to grade 2) and Students with Disabilities (birth to grade 2).  Students enrolled in this major will be taught inclusive strategies that will qualify them to teach in a traditional preschool and elementary classroom; a self contained special education preschool and elementary classroom; and an inclusive preschool and elementary classroom.  The dual certification offered by this program will greatly enhance a graduate's ability to be employed in a preschool, elementary school, or at a facility devoted to special education. 

SPECIFICS OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION B.S. DEGREE

Minimum Total Hours: 124-127

Total Liberal Arts Hours Required: 60 hours (for definition of Liberal Arts, see Educational Programs)

General Education Requirements: Per General Education list (see General Education Division). Exceptions: only one fine arts course is required (ART 101, MUS 104, OR FNA 102); PSY 203 must be taken to meet the behavioral science requirement; GEO 201 must be taken to meet the history, economics, or social sciences elective; PHS 101 and BIO 120 must both be taken to meet the lab science requirement (met through the major in Math, Science & Technology concentrations); MTH 161 and 162 must be taken to meet the mathematics proficiency requirement for students in any concentration other than Science or Math; MTH 261 and 262 must be taken to meet the mathematics proficiency requirement for students in the Science or Math concentrations.

Minimum Requirements: Overall and major GPA of 2.7; no grade less than C in the concentration; no grade less than C+ in all 100- and 200-level education courses; no grade less than B- in 300- and 400-level education courses; minimum grade of C in CMC 101, CMP 101, and the mathematics proficiency courses.

Transfer Requirements: See institutional transfer policies.

Application to the Major: A minimum overall GPA of 2.7 is required to be accepted and to remain in the major.  It is extremely important for students to follow all stated guidelines, policies, and progressions in order to be admitted to and remain enrolled in the Teacher Education Program. See Admission to Teacher Education Programs at the beginning of the Division of Teacher Education section.

Major Requirements: 79-85 hours as follows:

  • EDU 190-Exceptional People (3);
  • EDU 190 OPE*-25 hours (0);
  • EDU 202-Foundations of Education (3);
  • EDU 307-Assessment in Inclusive Settings (3);
  • EDU 307 OPE-25 hours (0);
  • EDU 322-Inclusive Methods Elementary Language Arts (2);
  • EDU 323-Inclusive Methods Elementary Math (2);
  • EDU 324-Inclusive Methods Elementary Science (2);
  • EDU 325-Inclusive Methods Elementary Social Studies (2);
  • EDU 330-Classroom Behavior Management (3);
  • EDU 330 OPE-30 hours (0);
  • EDU 333-Strategies for Inclusive Teaching (3);
  • EDU 340-Family Systems for Inclusion (3);
  • EDU 350-Early Childhood Education I (3);
  • EDU 351-Early Childhood Education II
  • EDU 351 OPE-30 hours (0);
  • EDU 352-Emergent Language & Literacy (3)
  • EDU 352 OPE-40 hours (0);
  • EDU 400A & 400B-Student Teaching (6 + 6);
  • EDU 440-Early Childhood Education Student Teaching Capstone (2);
  • Training in Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment;
  • Training in School Violence Prevention and Intervention;
  • Training in the Needs of Students with Autism;
  • Completion of one concentration (30-hour minimum), select from:
    • Fine Arts
    • Language Arts/English
    • Mathematics, Science & Technology with an emphasis in Math
    • Mathematics, Science & Technology with an emphasis in Science
    • Social Studies
    • Spanish

(Contact the Division of Teacher Education for a comprehensive list of requirements for the degree and concentration of your choice.)

* OPE means Observation/Participation Experience (Fieldwork)

Students must register for OPE concurrently with course of same number, e.g., EDU 351 and EDU 351 OPE.