Program Overview

Early Childhood Education BSEd

The Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education prepares students to teach children from birth through grade 3. This program combines theoretical foundations with practical experiences, enabling students to work directly with young children and develop the skills necessary for effective teaching.

Overview

The curriculum provides a comprehensive background in learning theory, applied knowledge, and best practices for teaching diverse populations of children with varied abilities and developmental levels. Students in this program can also achieve an emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education by completing specific courses.

University General Education and Graduation Requirements

Education majors must complete all General Education requirements and Graduation Requirements of the University. The following courses fulfill General Education requirements and prepare students for advanced education coursework and licensure exams:

• First Year Writing: ENGL 1100 - First-Year Writing (MOTR ENGL 200)
• Communication Proficiency:
  • EDUC 2222 - Interpretation: Connecting Audiences and Meaning
  • or COMM 1040 - Introduction to Public Speaking (MOTR COMM 110)
• Mathematics Proficiency:
  • MATH 1020 - Contemporary Mathematics (MOTR MATH 120)
  • or MATH 1030 - College Algebra (MOTR MATH 130)
• Information Literacy: ED TECH 2230 - Information Literacy
• US History and Government:
  • POL SCI 1100 - Introduction to American Politics (MOTR POSC 101)
  • or HIST 1001 - American Civilization to 1865 (MOTR HIST 101)
• Humanities and Fine Arts: Choose any 9 hours from approved fields.
• Social Sciences: Choose any 9 hours. At least one course must meet the cultural diversity requirement.
• Math and Life/Natural Sciences: Choose any 9 hours.
• Junior Level Writing: ENGL 3100 - Junior-Level Writing

Program Requirements

All candidates in the B.S.Ed. Early Childhood Education program must successfully complete the following Teacher Education courses and the required Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) performance assessment. Professional Education courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

Preparing for the Teacher Education Program

The following courses must be completed prior to applying for admission to the teacher education program:

• TCH ED 1000 - Building Community, Culture, and Learning in Education
• TCH ED 1001 - Early Clinical Experience: Community Agency
• TCH ED 2000 - Experiential Education in Community Settings
• TCH ED 2001 - Early Clinical Experience: Schools
• TCH ED 2209 - Foundations of Teaching in American Schools
• ED PSY 2212 - Child and Adolescent Development
• TCH ED 3310 - Instructional Design and Technology Integration

Teacher Education Program

After acceptance into the teacher education program, students complete:

• TCH ED 3001 - Mid-Level Clinical Experience: Diverse Learners
• TCH ED 3212 - Sociolinguistics and Communication in the Classroom
• TCH ED 3312 - Psychology of Learning, Instruction, and Assessment
• ELE ED 3338 - Foundational Literacy Instruction and Assessment in Inclusive Settings
• ELE ED 4246 - Teaching Elementary Mathematics in Inclusive Settings I
• ELE ED 4342 - Teaching Elementary Mathematics in Inclusive Settings II
• SPEC ED 3318 - Inclusive Classrooms
• SPEC ED 4323 - Classroom Management and Positive Behavioral Supports in Inclusive Educational Settings
• TCH ED 3565 - Fine Arts Integration for the Elementary Classroom
• TCH ED 3566 - Health and Wellness Integration for the Elementary Classroom

Emphasis Area Requirements

For the emphasis area in Early Childhood Special Education, students must complete:

• ECH ED 3302 - Introduction to Inclusive Early Childhood Education
• ECH ED 3303 - Curriculum and Practice Laboratory: Infant/Toddler
• ECH ED 3304 - Curriculum and Practice Laboratory: Preschool
• ECH ED 3313 - Curriculum and Practice: Infant/Toddler
• ECH ED 3314 - Curriculum and Practice: Preschool Education
• ECH ED 3332 - Literacy, Learning, and Instruction For The Young Child
• ECH ED 3350 - Family and Professional Partnerships within School/Community
• SPEC ED 4315 - Language and Communication of Children with Disabilities
• ECH ED 4317 - Implementation, Evaluation, and Assessment in Early Childhood Education
• ECH ED 4348 - The Acquisition of Mathematical and Scientific Concepts

Practicum

The program culminates in two sequential site-based practicum experience courses:

• ECH ED 4989 - Practicum I: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education Site Based Experience
• ECH ED 4990 - Practicum II: Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education Site Based Experience

Total Credit Hours

The total credit hours required for the program is 124.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

• Continually reflect on professional growth to improve student learning outcomes/enhance student learning.
• Integrate technology to create meaningful student learning within the context of a global digital society.
• Apply content and pedagogical knowledge to create authentic and deep learning experiences.
• Use learning science principles to design, implement, and evaluate curriculum based on learning standards.
• Foster effective working relationships with students, school colleagues, families, and community members to enhance student learning and well-being.
• Design and establish a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment that nurtures the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.
• Use equitable frameworks and inclusive practices to create a variety of instructional and assessment opportunities adapted to diverse learners to encourage all students' critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.

Sample Four Year Plan

A sample four-year plan is provided to guide students in planning their coursework. The plan outlines the courses to be taken each semester for four years, ensuring that students complete all required courses for the program.