Description
Stevenson University offers a bachelor’s degree program in early childhood education: liberal arts and technology (pre K – grade 3). Courses in this program provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be successful early childhood teachers. The curriculum is designed to provide a strong foundation in liberal arts, mathematics and science, technological competency, and a thorough understanding of child development and its impact on educational practices. The curriculum includes an integration of theory, practice and mentoring, and includes field experiences from the second semester in the program. Candidates complete an internship in a Professional Development School that extends for two consecutive semesters. Candidates who successfully complete this program, including achieving passing scores on Core Academic Skills for Educators (or meeting the requirements for the SAT/ACT options) and Praxis II, are eligible for teacher certification in Maryland and in states with reciprocal agreements with the Maryland State Department of Education. The early childhood program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. The School of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Objectives
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education: Liberal Arts and Technology, graduates will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of discipline content and content-related pedagogy to design and implement effective instruction for all learners.
- Use knowledge of diverse students to design instruction and create a culturally responsive, equitable environment to support achievement for all learners.
- Design and implement instruction that engages students, encourages student participation, promotes higher-level thinking, and supports instructional outcomes.
- Design and implement assessment that monitors student learning, provides purposeful feedback on progress, and furnishes evidence to inform instruction.
- Reflect on teaching, collaborate in a professional learning community, seek professional development opportunities, engage in inquiry, persist toward goals, and exhibit integrity and professionalism.
Policies
Candidates must earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.50 to progress to the sophomore year and a 3.00 to remain in the program. The lowest acceptable grade is a “C“ in all major courses.
Admission into the School of Education. Candidates in the early childhood education: liberal arts and technology program formally apply for admission into the School of Education at the end of their second year and must successfully complete specific requirements in order to progress in the program. Criteria for admission into the School include, but are not limited to the following: 1) achieve passing scores on the Core Academic Skills for Educators or meet the requirements for the SAT/ACT options, 2) earn an overall GPA of 3.00 or above, 3) earn grades of "C" or above in all major courses; and 4) satisfactorily complete all field experiences.
Admission into an Education Internship. Criteria for acceptance into the internship include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) achieve passing scores on the Core Academic Skills for Educators or meet the requirements of the SAT/ACT options, 2) attain an overall GPA of 3.00 or above, 3) earn grades of “C“ or better in all major courses, 4) obtain the recommendation of the faculty in the School of Education; and 5) satisfactorily complete all field placements prior to internship. Candidates must also complete a criminal background check. Please see the Unit Assessment Plan: Performance of Candidates on the School of Education website for additional requirements.
Requirements
The courses listed below are required for completion of the bachelor’s degree in early childhood education: liberal arts and technology. Candidates must also complete the requirements for the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE).
Specific pre- and co-requisites for each course are listed in the course descriptions.
Major Requirements:
| FYS 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 credit |
| ED 108 | Learning Experiences for Young Children | 3 credits |
| ED 108F | Year 1 Field Placement | 0 credits |
| ED 202F | Year 2 Field Placement | 0 credits |
| ED 203F | Year 2 Field Placement | 0 credits |
| ED 205 | Year 2 Seminar | 0 credits |
| ED 230 | Processes and Acquisition of Reading | 3 credits |
| ED 270 | Curriculum Principles and Practices | 3 credits |
| ED 271 | Principles of Assessment | 3 credits |
| ED 272 | Principles of Special Education | 3 credits |
| ED 302 | Year Three Seminar I | 0 credits |
| ED 303 | Year Three Seminar II | 1 credit |
| ED 305F | Year 3 Field Placement | 0 credits |
| ED 306F | Year 3 Field Placement | 0 credits |
| ED 310 | Year Three Transfer Seminar | 0 credits |
| ED 318 | Methods of Teaching Mathematics: Early Childhood Education | 4 credits |
| ED 331 | Instruction of Reading | 3 credits |
| ED 343 | Integrated Methods of Teaching: Early Childhood | 4 credits |
| ED 365 | Materials for Teaching Reading | 3 credits |
| ED 410 | Assessment for Reading Instruction | 3 credits |
| ED 435 | Internship Seminar I | 1 credit |
| ED 436 | Internship Seminar II | 3 credits |
| ED 440 | Internship I: Early Childhood | 4 credits |
| ED 441 | Internship II: Early Childhood | 12 credits |
| ENG 282 | Literary Genres: Youth Literature | 3 credits |
| IS 302 | Integrating Technology and Digital Learning in the Classroom | 3 credits |
Fine Arts Elective
ART 241 Creative Development in Early Childhood Education (recommended)
GEO elective
GEO 112 Human Geography (recommended)
HIST elective
HIST 110 The United States: 1865 to Present (recommended)
Additional Requirements
| PHIL 420 | Philosophy of Education | 3 credits |
| PSY 206 | Child Development | 3 credits |
| PSY 330 | Educational Psychology | 3 credits |
MATH electives
Minimum of 12 credits required
MATH elective 1
MATH 132 Math for Teachers (recommended)
MATH elective 2
MATH 137 College Algebra (recommended)
MATH elective 3
MATH elective
Science electives
Minimum of 12 credits required
BIO elective
BIO 104 The Human Body and Contemporary Health Issues (recommended)
Two additional science electives
BIO, CHEM, ENV, FSCI, or PHYS
Suggested Course Sequence
Suggested Course Sequence Early Childhood Education
Minor in Early Childhood Education: Liberal Arts and Technology
A minor in early childhood education: liberal arts and technology is not available.
Course Descriptions
See Education Course Descriptions