Early Childhood Education

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree program is designed to provide training of teachers in the field of early childhood education. In addition, the program provides a means of upgrading the professional educator's knowledge and skills in the early childhood education area. The degree program is competency/field-based and allows students the opportunity to apply course work instruction to practical experiences in approved early childhood education centers at each level of preparation. Students interested in pursuing Early Childhood Education, either as a major field of endeavor or as a support component area, are advised to contact the coordinator of Early Childhood Education for general information and program advisement.

Summary of Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education

A minimum of 128 semester credit hours to include:

1. Completion of General Education requirements of the University.* *The state of Idaho requires individuals who apply for a Standard Elementary or Standard K-3 teaching certificate to have completed the following general coursework; 12 credits of English to include both composition and literature; 12 credits of social science to include a course in U.S. History and/or U.S. Government (Psychology will not count); 8 credits in two or more areas of natural science; 3 credits of fine arts (any art or music course); 6 credits in fundamental mathematics; 3 credits in content or methods of physical education and/or health education, exclusive of activity classes. Therefore, to help meet some of these certification requirements, it is recommended that Early Childhood and Elementary Education majors take one of the art or music courses listed to satisfy Goal 6 (fine arts); any of the English courses listed to satisfy Goal 7; either HIST 121 or 122 to satisfy Goal 9; an ANTH or HIST course to satisfy Goal 10; and an ANTH or SOC course to satisfy Goal 12.
2. Completion of a major in Early Childhood Education including:

        a. a component in either elementary education or an
        interdisciplinary block of coursework approved by the student's
        Early Childhood Education advisor, and
   

        b. a professional education component.
   

   Professional Education Component

   EDUC 200            Aide Experience               1 cr
   EDUC 304            Concepts and Practices
                       in Early Childhood Education  3 cr
   EDUC 305            Early Childhood Education
                       Laboratory I                  3 cr
   EDUC 306            Advanced Concepts and
                       Practices in Early
                       Childhood Education           3 cr
   EDUC 307            Early Childhood Education
                       Laboratory II                 3 cr
   EDUC 323            Motivation, Learning and
                       Assessment                    3 cr
   EDUC 333            Content Area Reading          3 cr
   EDUC 343            Fundamentals of Educational
                       Thought                       3 cr
   EDUC 403            Classroom Instruction
                       Laboratory/Early Childhood    3 cr
   EDUC 419            Developmental Reading         3 cr
   EDUC 493            Early Childhood Education:
                       Student Teaching:             7-14 cr
   EDUC 498            Student Teaching Seminar      2 cr
   CESE 200            Mainstreaming and
                       Multicultural Education       2 cr
   HEC 200             Human Growth and
                       Development                   2 cr
   H E 200             Promoting Wellness            2 cr
   MATH 209            Math for Elementary
                       School Teachers               4 cr
   P E 211             Physical Education Methods/
                       Elementary                    1 cr
                       OR
   H E 211             Health Education Methods/
                       Elementary                    1 cr
   

   Elementary Education component (may be selected to expand certification through upper elementary levels)

   EDUC 235            Introduction to Elementary
                       Art Methods and Materials     1 cr
   EDUC 321            Language Arts                 3 cr
   EDUC 322            Literature for Children       2 cr
   EDUC 330            Elementary Math Methods       2 cr
   EDUC 331            Elementary Science Methods    2 cr
   EDUC 336            Social Science Methods        2 cr
   EDUC 404            Classroom Instruction
                       Laboratory/Elementary         3 cr
   MUSC 233            Music Methods for
                       Elementary Teachers           2 cr
   P E 211             Physical Education Methods/
                       Elementary                    1 cr
   H E 211             Health Education Methods/
                       Elementary                    1 cr