Program Overview

Introduction to the Early Childhood Education (BA) Program

The Early Childhood Education (BA) program is designed to prepare prospective teachers to serve as high-quality educators for students in urban schools and other childcare settings. This program is a 42-credit program that can be completed over four or six semesters.

Program Details

• The program code for certification is 37691 EARLY CHILDHOOD ED, BIRTH GR 2.
• The program includes fieldwork in New York City Public schools.
• Students will take a specified sequence of education courses in addition to fulfilling the CUNY Common Core Requirement and the requirements of their liberal arts or sciences major.

Academic Plan

• The program is 42 credits and can be completed in four or six semesters.
• Students must consult with the faculty advisor to determine their individualized course of study before registering for classes.

Course Sequences

4 Semester Track

• Semester 1 (12-15 credits):
  • ECF 20000 Human Development and Theories of Learning, Prenatal-Age 8 (3 credits)
  • ECC 30000 Early Childhood Programs and Curricular Frameworks (3 credits)
  • ECC 30100 Field work/Internship 1 (1 credit)
  • ECC 30400 Creative Arts and Play-Based Learning (2 credits)
  • ECC 30500 Language and Literacy for Children of Diverse Backgrounds (B-Prekindergarten) (3 credits)
  • MATH 10400 (STEM) Mathematics for Elementary Education I (or its prerequisite MATH 10100, if required) (3 credits)
• Semester 2 (9-12 credits):
  • ECF 20100 Social and Historical Foundations of Early Childhood Care and Education (2 credits)
  • ECC 30200 Field work/Internship 2 (1 credit)
  • ECC 30600 Language and Literacy for Children of Diverse Backgrounds, Kindergarten through 2nd Grade (3 credits)
  • ECC 30800 Inclusionary Practices and Teaching Children of Diverse Backgrounds (3 credits)
  • MATH 10400 (STEM) Mathematics for Elementary Education I (if not yet taken) (3 credits)
• Semester 3 (9 credits):
  • ECF 40000 Assessment in Early Childhood, Birth through 2nd Grade (3 credits)
  • ECC 30300 Field work/Internship 3 (1 credit)
  • ECC 31000 Mathematics in Early Childhood (3 credits)
  • ECC 31100 Early Childhood Science and Inquiry-Based Learning (2 credits)
• Semester 4 (6 credits):
  • ECC 31400 Health, Family, and Community Partnerships (3 credits)
  • ECC 40100 Student Teaching (3 credits)

6 Semester Track

• Semester 1 (11 credits):
  • ECF 20000 Human Development and Theories of Learning, Prenatal-Age 8 (3 credits)
  • ECC 30000 Early Childhood Programs and Curricular Frameworks (3 credits)
  • ECF 20100 Social and Historical Foundations of Early Childhood Care and Education (2 credits)
  • MATH 10400 (STEM) Mathematics for Elementary Education I (or its prerequisite, if required: MATH 10100 or MATH 101EN) (3 credits)
• Semester 2 (6-9 credits):
  • ECC 30500 Language and Literacy for Children of Diverse Backgrounds (B-Prekindergarten) (3 credits)
  • ECC 30400 Creative Arts and Play-Based Learning (2 credits)
  • ECC 30100 Field work/Internship 1 (1 credit)
  • MATH 10400 (STEM) Mathematics for Elementary Education I (if not yet taken) (3 credits)
• Semester 3 (7 credits):
  • ECC 30600 Language and Literacy for Children of Diverse Backgrounds, Kindergarten through 2nd Grade (3 credits)
  • ECC 30800 Inclusionary Practices and Teaching Children of Diverse Backgrounds (3 credits)
  • ECC 30200 Field work/Internship 2 (1 credit)
• Semester 4 (6 credits):
  • ECC 31000 Mathematics in Early Childhood (3 credits)
  • ECC 31100 Early Childhood Science and Inquiry-Based Learning (2 credits)
  • ECC 30300 Field work/Internship 3 (1 credit)
• Semester 5 (6 credits):
  • ECC 31400 Health, Family, and Community Partnerships (3 credits)
  • ECF 40000 Assessment in Early Childhood, Birth through 2nd Grade (3 credits)
• Semester 6 (3 credits):
  • ECC 40100 Student Teaching (3 credits)

Clinical Experiences

• Students participate in developmental field experiences (fieldwork) and supervised teaching (student teaching) to meet three age group requirements: birth to four years, kindergarten, and first or second grade.
• Fieldwork is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a course.
• Select courses have fieldwork requirements.

Graduation and Certification

• Graduation is the official completion of the program and conferral of an academic degree.
• To graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines.
• The Early Childhood Education (BA) program leads to New York State initial certification to teach Early Childhood Education (Birth Grade 2) in New York State.
• Students must wait to apply for certification until they receive an email from the School of Education indicating their recommendation has been entered, which usually occurs six to eight weeks after the conferral of their degree.

Certification Process

• Students must create/log in to their New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account.
• From the TEACH Online Services Home page, select Apply for Certificate, which is found under "Online Application."
• Verify/update profile, including education and employment history.
• Select the certificate(s) for initial certification, including area of interest, subject area, grade level, title, and certificate type.
• Enter the program code: 37691 EARLY CHILDHOOD ED, BIRTH GR 2.
• Complete the application, sign the affidavit, sign the application, and make payment.