Program Overview

Early Childhood Education Degree

The Early Childhood Education degree prepares future teachers to work with children in early childhood and elementary school settings. Early Childhood Education majors have multiple field-based courses where they will work in classrooms with infants/toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children.

Degree Type and Program Type

• The degree type is a Bachelor's Degree.
• The program type is Undergraduate.

Location and College

• The program is offered at the Main Campus - Cape, Regional Campus - Kennett, and Regional Campus - Sikeston.
• The college offering this program is the College of Education, Health & Human Studies.

Department

• The department offering this program is the Department of Elementary, Early & Special Education.

Program Overview

The Early Childhood Education degree prepares students to use and integrate instructional technology across the curriculum. Early Childhood Education majors are "tech ready" as beginning teachers, with both Google Educator and Apple Teacher certifications.

What Can You Do with an Early Childhood Education Degree?

• Be prepared and certified to teach ages birth-3rd grade.
• Add a certification in Elementary Education (grades 1-6).
• Integrate technology into the curriculum with the EDvolution® one-to-one instructional technology program.
• Gain leadership skills in numerous student organizations.
• Experience hands-on, real-world learning through multiple field experiences in classrooms as well as student teaching opportunities abroad.

Early Childhood Education Missouri Outlook

• Early Childhood was the fourth-highest teacher shortage area in Missouri in the school year.
• Students secure teaching positions across the state of Missouri, in surrounding states, and beyond.
• Early Childhood graduates with add-on certification in Elementary Education find jobs as preschool, kindergarten, and elementary grade teachers in public or private schools.
• Graduates may also work in programs such as Parents as Teachers or First Steps.
• First-year teachers report feeling well-prepared by Southeast Missouri State University on the annual survey of first-year teachers.

Admission Requirements

• 42 credit hours completed
• One of the following:
  • Composite/Superscore of 20 or higher on the ACT exam
  • Composite score of 1040 or higher on the SAT exam
  • Passing scores on all sections of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA)
  • A 4-year degree from an accredited college/university
• The following course requirements met:
  • A grade of C or above in CF/PY120 The Child or PY222 Development of the Adolescent
  • A grade of B or above in ED280 Introduction to Education as a Profession or ME222 Principles of Teaching Music
• International Students must also meet the following requirements:
  • C1 (CEFR) level
  • IELTS minimum score of 7.0 or TOEFL minimum score of 95

Graduation Requirements

• 3.0 professional education GPA
• Pass the following Missouri Content Assessments: 064 Early Childhood Education, 073-074 Elementary Education Multi-Content
• Successfully complete all required course work and field experiences

Field and Clinical Experiences

• Early – explore the role of educators before committing to the degree
• Mid-level – early childhood majors do field experiences with infants/toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary-aged students; field experiences are connected to education coursework
• Student Teaching – semester-long, co-teaching capstone experience in an early childhood classroom (PreK – 3rd grade)

General Education Requirements

Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in the major program.

• Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
• Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
• Written Communication – 6 hours
• Oral Communication – 3 hours
• Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
• Mathematics – 3 hours
• Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
• Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
• Civics examination

Sample Four-Year Plan

First Year

Fall Semester (14 Hours)

• UI100 (1)
• EN100 (3)
• BS118 (1)
• PS103 (3)
• SC105 (3)
• US105 (3)

Spring Semester (16 Hours)

• BS218 (3)
• ED280 (3)
• EN140 (3)
• MA128 (4)
• PY/CF120 (3)

Second Year

Fall Semester (16 Hours)

• CF124 (3)
• EC101 (3)
• EL274 (3)
• MA228 (4)
• PH218 (3)

Spring Semester (15 Hours)

• CF213 (3)
• CF233 (3)
• CF285 (3)
• LI243 (3)
• UI308 (3)

Professional Education Courses

• BS118 Process Science Elementary Teachers (1)
• CE330 Classroom Management and Environmental Organization (3)
• CE340 Family School Collaboration (3)
• CE364 Methods of Teaching Math, Science, Social Studies in EC / El Ed (2)
• CE365 Observation, Assessment and Data Analysis in EC / El Ed (3)
• CE366 Curriculum, Theory & Program Management in Early Childhood (2)
• CE368 Early Childhood Field Experience (2)
• CE370 Language Acquisition of the Young Child (3)
• CE480 Early Childhood Student Teaching (12)
• CE530 Foundations of Early Childhood Special Education (3)
• CF124 Child Health, Nutrition, Safety (3)
• CF213 Family Community Resources (3)
• CF233 Creative Thought & Expression in Children (3)
• CF285 Learning Theory/Infant Toddlers (3)
• ED280 Introduction to Education as a Profession (3)
• ED506 Education Law and Society (3)
• EF400 Student Teaching Seminar (1)
• EL274 Diversity in American Schools (3)
• EL300 Instructional and Assistive Technology in a Universally Designed Learning Environment (3)
• EL314 Literacy Field Experience (3)
• EL316 Emergent and Early Literacy Instruction (3)
• EL317 Literacy Methods for Elementary Teachers (3)
• EL354 Meeting the Needs of Struggling Readers (3)
• EL355 Content & Disciplinary Literacy (3)
• EL410 Differentiated Instruction (3)
• EL430 Advanced Field Experience (3)
• EN140 Rhetoric & Critical Thinking (3)
• EX390 Psychology of the Exceptional Child (3)
• LI243 Children's Literature (3)
• MA128 Numbers and Operations for Educators (4)
• MA228 Geometry for Educators (4)
• PY120 Psychological Development of the Child/CF120 Foundations of Child Development (3)

Additional Requirements

• BS218 Biological Science (3)
• EC101 Economic Problems and Policies (3)
• EN100 English Composition (3)
• PH218 Physical Science (3)
• PS103 US Political Systems (3)
• SC105 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3)
• UI308 Cultural/Physical Landscapes (3)
• US105 American History I (3)

Career Opportunities

• Preschool & Kindergarten Teacher: $41,450 (mean annual salary)
• Elementary Teacher: $69,790 (mean annual salary)
• Special Education Teacher: $70,150 (mean annual salary)

Accreditations

The program has various accreditations, including those related to technology in the classroom, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to integrate technology into their teaching practices.

Tomorrow's Teachers Learning Community

As an early childhood education major, students can choose to participate in Tomorrow's Teachers Learning Community, a special interest housing community that provides students with an opportunity to build community with others in their academic area.