Early Childhood Education
The major in early childhood education (EDEC) is a field-oriented program designed to prepare you to teach children in preschool programs through the primary grades (grades kindergarten-3rd grade).*
As an early childhood major, you may begin taking some of your courses in your sophomore year (see suggested sequence of courses). However, the majority of your courses in this major will be completed in your junior and senior years; with student teaching in the final semester of your senior year.
The courses are structured so that you work with a cohort of peers throughout your program. You also learn about the growth and development of children at the same time as you work with them in local schools. In the first semester you learn about and work with children birth through 5 years, children 6-7 years old in the second semester and children 8-9 years old in the third semester. In this way, you have the opportunity to observe, practice, discuss and reflect on the knowledge and methods you’re learning in your courses.
Early Childhood Education: Possible Course Sequence
We hope you consider this valuable and rewarding career in education. *For further information, please contact Dr. Debra Lee at dslee@presby.edu*
*Graduates of this program may also be eligible for a second certification in elementary education (grades 2-6) with the addition of EDEL 305 and passing the elementary education licensure exams.
CO = Co-requisite ● POI = Permission of Instructor ● PR = Prerequisite ● RE = Recommended ● XL = Cross-listed
EDEC ● Early Childhood Education
303 Early Childhood Education Curriculum (3) (PR: Acceptance into Teacher Education Program) This course will provide an overview of types of programs for young children with emphasis on the history of early childhood education, current trends, and issues. Other areas of focus will include analysis of classroom design, selection of appropriate materials for young children, instructional planning, guidance, developmentally appropriate assessment and referral sources, modifications for children with disabilities, and parent/home relationships and communication.
304 Methods and Materials of Early Childhood Education (3) (PR: Acceptance into Teacher Education Program) This course provides early childhood majors an opportunity to design developmentally appropriate instructional learning activities for young children in preschool, kindergarten, and the primary grades. The course will focus on the content areas of science and social studies. Students will plan units of study that integrate these curriculum areas with literacy, math, health/safety, the arts, and movement.
310 Literature for Children (3) (PR: EDUC 201) This course will provide a survey of literature for children, acquaintance with outstanding authors and illustrators in the field and genres of literature, experiences in evaluating and selecting appropriate literature for children, and techniques for presenting literature to children and integrating it across the curriculum.
311 Emergent and Early Literacy (3) (PR: Acceptance into Teacher Education Program) This course will provide undergraduate students content knowledge and experiences in developing a literacy program for young children. The content will focus on language development; cultural and linguistic diversity; appropriate strategies for fostering emergent literacy; appropriate formal leaning experiences in reading, writing, speaking, and listening; and varied assessment strategies. Students will study various methods of primary grade instruction, including but not limited to phonics; language experience; literature based, shared book experience; and the writing process. Students will also have opportunities to engage young children in literacy activities through field-based experiences. A minimum grade of ―C‖ is required.
391, 392, 393 Practicum (1, 1, 1) (PR: Acceptance into Teacher Education Program; minimum grade of “C” in each practicum course ● XL: EDUC 391, 392 and 393) These three practicum experiences comprise over 100 hours of the Teacher Education Program fieldwork and are conducted in school settings. Seminars include EEDA; culturally responsive teaching; service learning; health, safety, and legal issues; assessment; etc.
394 Practicum in Classroom Management and Organization (1) (PR: EDEC/EDUC 392 ● XL: EDEL, EDMS and EDSD 394) This practicum in classroom management and organization provides for direct involvement in the school and classroom setting during the week of preplanning and the first week of school. Students study the school context; learn effective procedures necessary for the establishing, managing, and organizing a classroom; and participate in opening school experiences.
398 Honors Research (3-6) (PR: Acceptance into Teacher Education Program) Departmental Honors: Students with a 3.20 GPA in all courses and a 3.40 GPA in all courses in the major field may, with the approval of departmental faculty, undertake an honors research program during the junior and/or senior years. This program must include a senior thesis or project of exceptional quality and an oral defense of the paper or project before departmental members. This defense is to be open to the College community, and honors students will participate in all other defenses within their discipline. Students who successfully complete the departmental honors research program will graduate ―with honor in the major field.
408 Observation/Assessment; 409 Planning; 410 Teaching: Directed
Teaching in Early Childhood Education (3, 3, 6) (PR: Acceptance into Teacher Education Program; SR status and successful completion of all requirements for clinical practice) Provides for directed and closely supervised performance of student teachers in the full range of duties of classroom teachers. Regular seminars and personal conferences are an integral component of the course. A minimum grade of ―C‖ is required the College‘s recommendation for certification.
442 Directed Studies (1-6) (PR: JR or SR status; departmental majors and students in teacher certification programs; minimum GPA 2.5) Designed to allow the student to pursue a topic of special interest. A maximum of nine hours credit may be counted towards graduation. Each directed study will culminate in a research paper or its equivalent. A department may, at its option, allow the hours earned in a directed study to count toward its major.
444 Internships (1-6) (PR: minimum GPA 2.5) A maximum of six hours credit may be counted towards graduation. Internships are graded on a pass/fail basis only. A department may, at its option, allow the hours earned in an internship to count toward its major.
446 Readings (1-6) Selected readings are open to students with sophomore, junior, or senior standing. Hours earned in these readings cannot be used to meet requirements for the major. A maximum of nine hours credit may be counted towards graduation.448 Research (1-6) (PR: departmental majors and students in teacher certification programs; minimum GPA 2.5). A maximum of nine hours credit may be counted towards graduation. A department may, at its option, allow the hours earned in an internship to count toward its major.
450 Seminar (3) Seminars are regularly offered by various departments of the College. The requirements for these courses are individually listed.
452 Special Projects (1-6) Special Projects are open to sophomore, junior, or senior students who have a GPA of 2.25 and approval by the Provost. A maximum of nine hours credit may be counted towards graduation.
458 Special Topics (1-6) Special topics courses are those that cover subject matter that is not part of the regular curriculum. A special topics course must have the prior approval of the department and the Provost and may be offered twice. Students may enroll in and receive credit for an unlimited number of special topic courses as long as any prerequisites or other requirements are met.
