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B.A. in Early Childhood Education

(HEGIS 0823)

Students seeking a B.A. in Early Childhood Education (Birth through Grade 2) must also complete the requirements for a second major in arts and sciences, resulting in a dual major.

The Early Childhood Education student's plan of study will include professional education courses, three field experiences, and a major in the School of Arts and Sciences, plus College degree requirements. Students should meet with an Education advisor to fulfill the departmental requirements of all teaching candidates. Students majoring in Early Childhood Education are not required to complete a minor.

When candidates complete this program they will be able to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in (1) subject matter; (2) pedagogy; and, (3) pedagogical content knowledge at levels commensurate with new teachers as articulated by key professional organizations and agencies including the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the New York State Education Department.

To be eligible to apply for initial certification, students must complete all the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education; obtain a passing score on all required New York State teacher certification exams; complete the Drug Abuse, Violence Prevention, Child Abuse and Fingerprinting workshops; maintain a G.P.A. of 2.5 or above; and, have satisfactorily met the competencies established by the Human Development and Learning Department.

College-Wide Requirements 8 credits
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Core Requirements 33 credits
Click here to see core requirements

Major Requirements 48 credits
EDH 1021A Education in Society 3 
EDH 1131A Human Development and Learning 3 
EDH 3102N Field Experience in Special Needs Classrooms I: Grades Pre-k -K 3 
EDH 3160N Introduction to Early Childhood Education 3 
EDL 3146N Literacy Acquisition 3 
EDH 4106N Field Experience II: Grades 1-2 3 
EDL 4149N Literacy Acquisition II 3 
EDH 4160N Curriculum Development for Young Children (B-Grade 2) 3 
EDH 4161N Creative Arts, Movement, and Nonformal Learning 3 
EDH 4200N Supervised Student Teaching: Birth through Grade 2 6 
EDH 4201N Early Childhood Student Teaching Seminar 3 
Foreign Language (six credits in the same language, not including American Sign Language. Sign language may be used only by students requiring special accommodations) 6 
PSY 1001 General Psychology I 3
PSY 2015 Developmental Psychology 3 


Certification Requirements 4-7 credits
LIB 1101 Information Literacy 1 
ENG 1002 Experiments in Literature 3 
Mathematics (MTH 1003 or MTH 1004 recommended) 3 additional credits 
Major in Liberal Arts and Sciences 30-45 credits
Students are required to complete one of the following majors: Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, French, Humanities, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Social Science, Sociology/Anthropology, Spanish, Theatre or Visual Arts

Total: 123-132 credits

Recommended Course Sequence
Upper Sophomore Year
PSY 1001 General Psychology I 3
PSY 2015 Developmental Psychology 3 

Lower Junior Year
EDH 1021A Education in Society 3 
EDH 1131A Human Development and Learning 3 

Upper Junior Year
EDH 3102N Field Experience in Special Needs Classrooms I: Grades Pre-k -K 3 
EDL 3146N Literacy Acquisition 3 
EDH 3160N Introduction to Early Childhood Education 3 

Lower Senior Year
EDH 4106N Field Experience II: Grades 1-2 3 
EDL 4149N Literacy Acquisition II 3 
EDH 4160N Curriculum Development for Young Children (B-Grade 2) 3 
EDH 4161N Creative Arts, Movement, and Nonformal Learning 3 

Upper Senior Year
EDH 4200N Supervised Student Teaching: Birth through Grade 2 6 
EDH 4201N Early Childhood Student Teaching Seminar 3 
Foreign Language (six credits in the same language, not including American Sign Language. Sign language may be used only by students requiring special accommodations) 6 

When the requirements for a B.A. in Education overlap with the requirements for the second major in arts and science, the credits made available by this overlap should be taken as electives in the arts and sciences. This is in accord with the College policy that, "A course may not be used to fulfill requirements in more that one component of the curriculum (e.g. major, minor, core, electives)." All students seeking elementary education New York State initial certification must have six credits of mathematics, science, history, English, and foreign language in order to meet New York State requirements. In addition, students are urged to take MTH 1003A and MTH 1004A.

* In addition to course registration, students are required to register with the Director of Student Teaching Placements and Certification by November 15 for Spring semester student teaching and by May 1 for Fall semester student teaching. A G.P.A. of 2.5 is required for placement in field experiences or student teaching. Field placement will be at the discretion of the Director of Student Teaching Placements and Certification.