COURSE CURRICULUM

An Education Degree with a specialization in Early Childhood through Grade Six (EC–6) is designed to prepare future teachers with both the foundational knowledge and practical classroom experience needed to support young learners during their most important developmental years. One of the key highlights of this program is the opportunity for students to choose a focused specialization area that aligns with their interests and career goals. These options include Early Childhood Education, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), Language, Literacy and Activism, Inclusive Education, Ethnic Studies in Education, International Studies in Education, and Interdisciplinary Studies, allowing students to develop deep expertise in a specific educational field. The program also introduces foundational education coursework early in the freshman and sophomore years, enabling students to build essential teaching skills alongside their general academic requirements. A strong emphasis is placed on early and continuous field experiences, where students work in real classroom environments and diverse learning contexts throughout their studies, including clinical teaching experiences that prepare them for full-time teaching roles. Students benefit from a flexible curriculum with an increased number of electives, giving them the opportunity to explore specialized topics in greater depth or broaden their understanding of new educational approaches. The Department of Teacher Education and Administration offers courses in multiple formats, including face-to-face, online, and hybrid learning, ensuring accessibility and adaptability for different student needs. The program is also guided by a strong vision focused on equity-oriented, anti-racist, and humanizing teaching practices, which shape both faculty instruction and teacher candidate preparation. Career prospects in this field are strong, with employment for kindergarten and elementary school teachers expected to grow steadily, creating thousands of job openings annually across the country. Students take courses such as Learning With and From Children, Teaching as Advocacy for Equity, Early Language and Literacy Development, Strategies to Support Diverse Learners in General Education, How People Learn, and Classrooms as Communities, all of which prepare them to create inclusive, engaging, and effective learning environments for young students.