Program Overview

Introduction to the Program

The Early Childhood Education: Prekindergarten/Primary Education program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in teaching children from age 3 through grade 3. This program includes Reading and English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsements.

Degree

The degree offered is a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education: Prekindergarten/Primary Education: Age 3 through Grade 3 with Reading and English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsements Major.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program, students must:

• Complete an Associate in Arts (AA) degree
• Complete all prerequisites with a grade of C or higher
• Have a cumulative Transfer GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Complete the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) - General Knowledge Test

Special Notes

• MAC 1105 (College Algebra) is not required for this program. Instead, students should select MGF or STA courses that satisfy the AA.
• This major is an initial teacher preparation program designed to train future teachers of students from Pre-K to grade 3.
• Students interested in exploring the cognitive, language, and social-emotional growth in young children and preparing for professions that do not require teacher certification can consider the Early Childhood Education: Early Childhood Development Major.

Prerequisites

The following courses are prerequisites for the program:

1. EDF 2005 Introduction to the Teaching Profession (requires 15 hours of field observation/experience)
2. The following course is strongly recommended:

• EME 2040 Introduction to Technology for Educators

Program Details

This program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach children from age 3 through grade 3. The program includes coursework in early childhood education, reading, and ESOL, as well as field experiences and student teaching. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible for teacher certification in Florida.