Early Childhood Education (BS Ed)

Degree and Certification

This degree is a bachelor of science in education with an emphasis in early childhood education.

Additionally, upon successfully completing the initial teacher-certification process, the state grants you certification in early childhood education.

Program of Study

This program encompasses three areas of study:

Phase I: Freshman – Sophomore Year

You are automatically accepted into Phase I with admittance to the University.

Course Work

The majority of your time in Phase I is spent completing your general-education requirements.

Course work through the College of Education focuses on facilitating learning at all levels of development and considers the influences of cultural, political, historical and economic factors on students, teachers and schools.

Field Experiences

Field experiences in Phase I include:

  • Sixteen hours in a classroom environment tutoring and working with students in small groups under teacher supervision.
  • Twenty hours in a service-learning environment serving in community organizations (e.g., Big Brothers Big Sisters, Granny’s House).

Phase II: Junior Year – First Semester Senior year

You must apply for admittance into Phase II in January of your sophomore year. For more information about the application process, please consult your adviser.

Course Work

In this phase, focus shifts to the field of early childhood education. Your course work challenges you to consider ways to support the development and learning of young children from birth through age 8.

Field Experiences

During your junior year, you spend at least 90 hours per semester in a classroom setting.

During the fall semester, you have two field experiences focusing on infants and toddlers, and literacy education with K-3 children.

During the spring semester, field experiences focus on math, science and social studies education with K-3 children.

During the fall semester of your senior year, you spend at least 90 hours teaching preschool children in all content areas.

Note: A senior year onsite program is currently under development. It will debut in fall 2016.

Phase III: Second Semester Senior Year

Student Teaching Internship

You are assigned to a classroom for a 16-week, full-time internship under the mentorship of an experienced K-3 teacher.