Early Childhood Education and Teaching, Bachelor of Science in Education (G3 AAS Pathway)
Program Overview
Early Childhood Education and Teaching, Bachelor of Science in Education
The purpose of the B.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and Teaching degree is to prepare undergraduate students for roles as teachers and daycare providers of infants, toddlers, and young children in schools and community daycare/preschool settings. The program will focus on providing students with a solid foundation in child development, educational psychology, and the role of the family and society in education.
Program Description
Students will be prepared to teach in diverse classroom settings through purposefully integrated fieldwork and internship experiences. The program will emphasize working with young learners in inclusive settings and the value of play in early childhood instructional environments. Students will develop skills to advocate for equitable learning opportunities for all children. Successful completion of the program will result in licensure for early elementary education (PK-3).
Career Opportunities
Graduates typically work in public or private school systems, child care centers, and youth service organizations. Teaching in public schools requires licensure. Graduates can also find work with programs such as Richmond Teacher Residency, Americorps, America Reads, or The Literacy Lab.
Bachelor-Level Job Titles
- Childcare Worker
- Elementary School Teacher
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Preschool or Child Care Center Director
- Preschool Teacher
- Recreation Worker
- Special Education Teacher
- Teacher Assistant
Admission Requirements
No guaranteed admission, but successful applicants will have:
- Completion of associate degree
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
- All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
- Following admission to VCU, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 for subsequent admission to the VCU teacher preparation program and a 3.0 GPA for admission to clinical internship.
Degree Requirements
The degree requires a minimum of 120 credits.
Plan of Study
The plan of study includes coursework in:
- Child development
- Educational psychology
- Teaching methods
- Curriculum design
- Internship experiences
Requirements
- Highest level of math required: MATH 303, MATH 361, and MATH 362
- Science required: Natural Sciences requirement only
- Foreign language requirements: No
- Additional tuition/fees: Yes
- GPA requirements: Advancement to Teacher Preparation requires 2.8 cumulative GPA and acceptance to Clinical Internship (Student Teaching) requires 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Coursework
Virginia Community College System Courses
| Course | Title | Equivalent Course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 or SDV 101 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General Education |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General Education |
| MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 131 | 3 | General Education |
| CHD 120 + CHD 166 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education and Infant and Toddler Programs | TEDU 101 + ECSE 410 | 6 | Major |
| CHD 145 + EDU 235 | Teaching Art, Music and Movement to Children and Health, Safety, and Nutrition Education | TEDU 390 + TEDU 411 | 6 | Major |
| CHD 205 | Guiding the Behavior of Children | TEDU 410 | 3 | Major |
| CHD 165 | Observation and Participation in Early Childhood/Primary Settings | ECSE 301 | 3 | Major |
| CHD 146 | Math, Science, and Social Studies for Children | TREL 1XX | 3 | Elective |
| CHD 118 + ENG 250 | Language Arts for Young Children and Children's Literature | TEDU 385 + ENGL 291 | 6 | Major |
| PSY 230 | Developmental Psychology | PSYC 304 | 3 | Major |
| EDU 200 | Introduction to Teaching as a Profession | EDUS 202 | 3 | Major |
| CHD 216 | Early Childhood Programs, School and Social Change | UNIV 2XX | 3 | Elective |
| CHD 210 | Introduction to Exceptional Children | SEDP 330 | 3 | Major |
| BIO 101 (or BIO 106) | General Biology (or Life Science) | BIOL/Z 151 (or BIOL/Z 101) | 4 | Major (Ancillary) |
| HIS 121 | United State History I | HIST 103 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| CHD 265 | Advanced Observation and Participation in Early Childhood/Primary Settings | TEDU 430 + TEDU 431 + TEDU 432 | 3 | Major |
| CHD 270 | Administration of Childcare Programs | TREL 2XX | 3 | Elective |
| Community college credits transferred to VCU | 62 |
VCU Courses
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDUS 304 | Educational Psychology for Teacher Preparation | 2 | Major |
| SEDP/EDUS 401 | Assessment in Diverse Settings | 3 | Major |
| TEDU 413 | Curriculum Methods and Instructional Models | 3 | Major |
| TEDU 452 | Teaching English Language Learners | 2 | Major |
| TEDU 510 | Instructional Technology in PK-12 Environments | 2 | Major |
| TEDU 416 | Math/Science Methods for Early Childhood Education | 4 | Major |
| TEDU 425 | Emergent and Early Literacy | 3 | Major |
| TEDU 466 | Literacy Assessment and Intervention in the Early/Elementary Classroom | 3 | Major |
| TEDU 471 | Internship I (PK-K) | 4 | Major |
| TEDU 475 | Internship II (Grades 1-3) | 4 | Major |
| TEDU 481 | Teaching as a Profession | 2 | Major |
| TEDU 490 | Social Studies Methods for Early Learners | 2 | Major |
| MATH 303 | Investigations in Geometry | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| MATH 361 | Numbers and Operations | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| MATH 362 | Algebra and Functions | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| STAT 208 or STAT 210 | Statistical Thinking or Basic Practice of Statistics | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Science | Select either CHEM 101 or CHEM 110 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Science | Select one: INSC 201, INSC 300, or PHYS 101 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Science | Select one: ENVS 105, ENVS 201, ENVS 301, ENVS 310, PHYS 103, or URSP 204 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Science lab | Select laboratory with one of the science courses | 1 | Major (Ancillary) |
| ECON 203 | Introduction to Economics | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| HIST 205 | Survey of Virginia History | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| POLI 103 | U.S. Government | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| REAL | The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3, or 4 or through an approved "REAL" co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. | 0 | Major |
| Credits completed at VCU | 65 | ||
| Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree | 120 |