Program Overview

PreK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential

This credential program prepares teachers to work with children in California public schools from age three to grade three. Through coursework, supervised fieldwork, seminars and workshops, and preparation to pass the CalTPA, candidates gain the knowledge and skills they need to be equitable, caring, and effective teachers of our youngest learners. Drawing on faculty expertise in both Early Childhood development and Elementary Education, candidates learn how to design and implement curriculum that allows children to learn through play, is developmentally appropriate, and meets national and state standards for the ages of children served. Additionally, our specific credential program holds social justice at the core, considering action and education for children in areas of justice as well as in ways that are socially just. The program prepares credential-holders for working in the culturally and linguistically diverse and vibrant classrooms of California’s young children today.

Admission Requirements

• Hold an undergraduate degree (BA) from an accredited institution of higher education with a G.P.A. of 2.67 or higher
• Completion of the CTC subject matter requirement (BA degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Studies, or a similar degree or completion of 24 units of early childhood development and education coursework)
• 45 hours of fieldwork experience in a group setting (e.g. classroom) with children in the 3-8 age range
• Certificate of clearance (fingerprinting)
• TB clearance
• Complete 3 prerequisite courses: Child Development (at SSU EDEC 110, ), Child Observation and Assessment (at SSU, EDEC 220), and Language Development (at SSU, EDEC 410) with a grade of C or better

Program Learning Outcomes

The program learning outcomes are identical to the Early Childhood PK-3 Instructional Specialist Credential Teaching Performance Expectations, mapped onto courses in the PK-3 credential. The seven major areas for program learning outcomes are outlined below:

• TPE Domain 1: Engaging and Supporting All Young Children in Learning
• TPE Domain 2: Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Children’s Development and Learning
• TPE Domain 3: Understanding and Organizing Core Curriculum for Children’s Learning
• TPE Domain 4: Planning Instruction and Designing Developmentally Appropriate Learning Experiences for All Children
• TPE Domain 5: Assessing and Documenting Children’s Development and Learning
• TPE Domain 6: Developing as a Professional Early Childhood Educator
• TPE Domain 7: Effective Literacy Instruction for PK-3 Settings
• TPE Domain 8: Effective Mathematics Instruction in a PK-3 Setting

Phase 1 (Fall)

First Semester of PreK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential.

• EDEC 470 - Decolonial Approaches to Social Studies PK-3 Unit(s): 3
• EDEC 474 - Integrated Mathematics Curriculum PK-Grade 6 Unit(s): 3
• EDEC 479 - Learning and Development PK-3 Unit(s): 2
• EDEC 484 - Creative Arts and Movement PK-3 Unit(s): 2
• EDEC 477S - Preschool Teaching Seminar Unit(s): 2AND
• EDEC 481F - Preschool Student Teaching Unit(s): 1-7
• OR
• EDEC 482F - Elementary Student Teaching Unit(s): 7AND
• EDEC 482S - Elementary Student Teaching Seminar Unit(s): 2

Phase 2 (Spring)

Second Semester of PreK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential.

• EDEC 463 - Integrated Language and Literacy Curriculum PK-3 Unit(s): 4
• EDEC 475 - Integrated Science Curriculum PK-6 Unit(s): 3
• EDEC 489 - CalTPA Preparation Unit(s): 1
• EDEC 477S - Preschool Teaching Seminar Unit(s): 2OR
• EDEC 482S - Elementary Student Teaching Seminar Unit(s): 2
• EDEC 482F - Elementary Student Teaching Unit(s): 7

Units required: 36