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:
- 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.
- 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 Literacy 3 cr
EDUC 343 Fundamentals of Educational
Thought 3 cr
EDUC 403 Classroom Instruction
Laboratory/Early Childhood 3 cr
EDUC g419 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 Integrated Language Arts
Methods 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