GoSolaruLearnWebMailDirectoryMapEventsIndex

Early Childhood Education - B.S.E.

Program Offered:
Bachelor of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education
Concentration in P-5 Certification
Concentration in dual certification in Early Childhood Education and Special Education

The B.S.E. major in Early Childhood Education prepares teachers to work in classrooms with children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The program reflects research and best practice in the field of early childhood education and teacher education. Candidates receive content and pedagogy in all academic disciplines taught in the early childhood classroom. The program further provides integration of the visual and musical arts within the context of specific content area methods courses. The broad and extensive field-based experiences effectively develop candidates’ knowledge and ability to select and implement developmentally appropriate resources and activities for teaching and learning in diverse settings. Successful completion of this program leads to a recommendation for P-5 licensure or dual certification in P-5 and special education.

Program Admission
Students are required to meet all University and College admission requirements. In addition, students must apply for teacher education prior to beginning coursework in Area G of the program.

To apply for the B.S.E. Early Childhood Program:

  • students must have a minimum 2.75 composite grade point average on all undergraduate coursework previously completed;
  • students who seek certification in Georgia must pass the GACE Basic Skills Assessment (see http://www.gace.nesinc.com/ for more information) or presented official scores to demonstrate exemption upon application to the teacher education program. The department of Early Childhood Education will permit out -of-state students to submit passing scores on the PRAXIS I for admission for the B.S.E. Early Childhood Education program. These students are required to pass the GACE Basic Skills Assessment before continuing in the program;
  • students must have passed the Regents’ Test;
  • students must have successfully completed all courses in Area A - F;
  • students must consent to a criminal background check; students must submit proof of tort liability; and
  • students must complete a writing sample and participate in an interview with program faculty. Please note that the completion of the writing sample and participation in the interview does not guarantee admission to the B.S.E. program.

There are two program options for completing the B.S.E. Degree in Early Childhood Education: the general certification in PreK-5th Grade and the dual certification in Early Childhood and Special Education. Additional Teacher Education information is found in section 1600 of the catalog. For a detailed description of departmental requirements, please refer to the B.S.E. Program Manual available from the Department of Early Childhood Education or at the bottom of this web page.

Program Financial Information
B.S.E majors must pay all tuition and fees charged by the University and the College. A lab fee of $125 will be charged at the time students register for the student teaching experience. Educator preparation students must be aware that extra cost such as tort liability, criminal background check, and transportation will be incurred at various times during the completion of various teacher education field experiences, particularly during the students’ senior year.

Program Academic Regulations
Program of Study: Students must complete 42 semester hours in Areas A-E of the undergraduate Core Curriculum. Courses in Area A must be completed with “C” or higher grades. All courses listed below in Areas F-G must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher unless otherwise noted. Semester hours are shown in parentheses following an entry.

There are two program options for completing the B.S.E. Degree in Early Childhood Education: the general certification in PreK-5th Grade and the Dual Certification in Early Childhood and Special Education. 

Tort liability and criminal background check requirement: all students must show proof of tort liability insurance and consent to a criminal background investigation prior to any field experience.

Students must successfully complete a technology course that meets the requirements for the Georgia 2006 Technology Proficiency Requirement (IT 2210 reccommended) or demonstrate satisfactory proficiency on a PSC approved test of computer skills competency before graduation.

Program Degree Requirements
B.S.E. in Early Childhood Education
Students seeking certification from the State of Georgia Professional Standards Commission are required to pass the GACE Basic Skills Assessment (or provide an exemption) and GACE Content Assessment in Early Childhood Education. Students must pass the appropriate GACE Content Assessment prior to graduation (see http://www.gace.nesinc.com/ for more information).

Areas A-E: Core Curriculum Recommendations
Students must complete 42 semester hours in Areas A-E of the Undergraduate Core Curriculum. Courses in Area A must be completed with “C” or higher grades.

Semester hours are shown in parentheses following an entry. 

Area F. Courses Appropriate for a Major (18)
Students must complete coursework with a grade of “C” or higher in Area F prior to admission to teacher education.

Required (18):
EDUC 2110 Investigating Critical & Contemporary Issues in Education (3)
EDUC 2120 Exploring Socio Cultural Perspectives on Diversity (3)
EDUC 2130 Exploring Teaching & Learning (3)
ISCI 2001 Life/Earth Science (3)
ISCI 2002 Physical Science (3)
MATH 2008 Foundations of Numbers and Operations (3) 

Area G. Major Courses (54)
There are two program options for completing the B.S.E. Degree in Early Childhood Education: the general certification in PreK-5th Grade and the Dual Certification in Early Childhood and Special Education. Students must complete all courses listed below in Areas G with a grade of “C” or higher unless otherwise noted. Students begin Area G of their programs as a cohort and must take courses in the sequence specified. The Department of Early Childhood Education provides a program manual describing course requirements and expectations.

*One asterisk indicates courses required exclusively for the ECE P-5 concentration.
**Two asterisks indicate courses required exclusively for special education (EXC) concentration.

Block 1
Required concurrently (15):
ECE 3021 Child Development (3)
ECE 3255 ESOL: Cultural Foundations (3)
ECE 3600 Language and Literacy (3)
ECE 3661 Classroom Management in Early Childhood Education Field Experience I (3)
**EXC 4010 Characteristics of Students with Disabilities (3)
*EXC 4020 Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (3)

Block 2
Required concurrently (15):
ECE 3601 Reading and Language Arts in Early Childhood Education I (6)
ECE 3606 Science and Inquiry in Early Childhood Education (3)
ECE 3607 Mathematics Methods in Early Childhood Education (3)
ECE 3662 Classroom Management in Early Childhood Education Field Experience II (3)

Block 3
Required concurrently (12):
  ECE 3360 Assessment of Classroom Learning in Early Childhood Education (3)
  ECE 3602 Reading and Language Arts in Early Childhood Education II (3)
  ECE 3605 Social Studies Methods in Early Childhood Education (3)
*ECE 3663 Classroom Management in Early Childhood Education Field Experience III (3)
(Students must earn a grade of “B” or higher in ECE 3663)
**EXC 4560 Educational Evaluation of Students with Disabilities (3)
**EXC 4570 Individual and Classroom Management (3)

 

Required prior to Area H (9):
MATH 3050 Geometry and Spatial Sense (3) (MATH 2008 is a prerequisite for this course)
MATH 3070 Introduction to Probability and Statistics I (3) (MATH 2008 is a prerequisite for this course)
MATH 3090 Algebraic Concepts (3) (MATH 2008 is a prerequisite for this course)

Select one (3):
AE 2300 Art and Music for Early Childhood (3)
MUS 2300 Art and Music for Early Childhood (3)

Area H. Student Teaching (12-15)
All program requirements must be satisfactorily completed before students are authorized to enroll in student teaching. Students must complete student teaching coursework in Area H with a grade of “C” or higher.

Required (12-15):
ECE 4650 Opening School Experience (0) (Required to successfully complete during the first fall semester preceding student teaching.)
ECE 4661 Student Teaching (8-12)
(P-5 concentration completes 12 hours; ECE/Special Education completes 9 hours.)

**EXC 4590 Functional and Social Methods for Students with Behavior/Learning
                       Disabilities (3)
**EXC 4671 Educational Partnerships and Practicum II: Special Education General Cirriculum: Consultative (3)

Students must pass the appropriate GACE Content Assessment prior to graduation (see http://www.gace.nesinc.com/ for more information).

Area I. Minor
Students majoring in Early Childhood Education do not have the option to take a minor.

Total Program: minimum of 126 semester hours P-5 concentration/ 129 hours ECE / special education concentration

B.S.E. Program Brochure (PDF)
Dual Certification Program Brochure (PDF)
B.S.E. Program Manual (PDF)