COURSE CURRICULUM

The Early Childhood Education program offers a comprehensive series of courses designed to prepare students to teach children from infancy through second grade. The curriculum begins with EDEC-3000, which covers curriculum development for individual and group instruction with an emphasis on best practices, technology, collaboration, and parent involvement, and requires field experience. EDEC-3200 focuses on building positive relationships between home, school, and community, highlighting legal responsibilities and communication with families, also requiring field experience. EDEC-3500 addresses emergent literacy from birth through grade three, including assessment and instructional planning, with prerequisites of EDEC-3000 and acceptance into teacher candidacy. Classroom management and assessment for bilingual learners are covered in EDEC-4300, emphasizing culturally responsive practices and authentic assessment tools. Specialized methods courses such as EDEC-4800 through EDEC-4808 teach content-specific strategies in movement, art, music, play, ESL, social studies, math, science, and infant and toddler care, all requiring field experience and many involving fees or field trips. These courses focus on developmentally appropriate practices, child development theories, and curriculum design tailored to early childhood. The program culminates in EDEC-4910, a 16-week full-time student teaching internship in early childhood classrooms with supervision and seminars, requiring acceptance into the internship semester. Additionally, EDEC-4950 allows for independent study under faculty guidance. Throughout the program, students gain hands-on experience and develop skills in observation, assessment, instruction, and classroom management, preparing them for diverse and inclusive teaching environments. The emphasis on fieldwork and practical application ensures graduates are ready to create nurturing and effective learning environments for young children.