Early Childhood Education

Program Description

The PSOE Early Childhood Education (ECE) program will lead to the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and will prepare teachers for certification in pre-kindergarten (PK) through grade five. Graduates of the Early Childhood degree program will complete a broad range of courses in the liberal arts through the general education curriculum, develop an understanding of the growth and development of young children with diverse academic needs and develop expertise in the craft of differentiated instruction and assessment through extensive study and over 800 hours of field experience in professional education courses.

In order to incorporate extensive opportunities for early childhood classroom experience in every component of the candidates’ preparation, the ECE program will begin early to provide focused and well-structured field experience activities for candidates to understand, develop and demonstrate principles of differentiated teaching. Stage I courses will offer opportunities for candidates to observe, assist and interview early childhood teachers who are planning and implementing differentiated instruction and assessment. During Stage II DATA Block Courses, candidates will participate in an 8-week practicum in an early childhood school setting. For Stage III Candidate Teaching, candidates will spend 16 weeks in a local early childhood classroom. These experiences will foster the development of candidates who can work effectively over time with young children of diverse ages, children with diverse abilities and with children reflecting culturally and linguistically diverse family systems.

Early Childhood Preschool Non-Certification Option

Program Description

The PSOE offers a non-certification option in Preschool Education.  The program is designed to prepare teachers of young children ages three through five as well as to introduce beginning management and marketing concepts.  To be eligible for admission to the non-certification option students must have:

• Completed forty semester credit hours of the General Curriculum core with a grade point average of 2.5 to include PSY 101, COM 108, ENG 101, ENG 102, and EDU 225 with a grade of C or better in each course.

• Completed EDU, PED 230, EDU 205, ECU 206, and EDU 235 with a grade of C or better.

• Provided three letters of recommendation including one from an Education faculty member, one from faculty member outside of the PSOE, and one from a community member who has knowledge of the applicant’s work with children, supporting admission to the PSOE.

• Demonstrated good moral character through the successful completion of a formal criminal background check.  The background check must be done in the county of residence during the teenage years as well as the adult years.  Additional background check may be required.  Disclosure of prior encounters with the judicial system is imperative.  Failure to disclose these encounters before admission may lead to denial of admission or dismissal from the program.

• Completed a successful interview with the Teacher Education Admission Committee.

• Demonstrated consistent ethical behavior, timely completion of course responsibilities, positive interactions with peers, public/private collaborating teachers, students, administrators, and college staff and faculty.  Should an area of concern arise about a candidate before or during the admissions process, a review of the candidate will be completed by the faculty and documented by the professionalism checklist.

Note:  PSOE education program candidates may apply to the Preschool program after having three unsuccessful attempts at PRAXIS I.  Candidates may have the option of reentering the PSOE DATA program upon passing PRAXIS I.  Candidates should be aware that not all course work taken in the Preschool program is transferable to the DATA program.  It is the candidate’s obligation to have this clearly understood prior to transferring into the Preschool program.