Childhood Education and Care

Faculty

Associate Professor: Youn Jung Huh, Chairperson, (Acting)

Professors: Christina Cassano, Megin Charner-Laird, Francesca Pomerantz, Anneliese Worster

Associate Professors: Cami Condie, James Oigara, Leigh E. Rohde, Dennis Sanchez Rosemartin, Kristina Scott

Assistant Professors: Brian Ernest, Kara Morton, Megan Murphy

Faculty Emeriti

Professor: R. Clarke Fowler, Pamela Ann Halpern

The Childhood Education and Care Department prepares students to become educators of students from birth through age 11, including preparation for public school licensure at the early childhood and elementary level.

Students hoping to pursue licensure at the early childhood or elementary level have two options within the department. First, we offer a combined bachelor’s/master’s program leading to a public-school teaching license in early childhood (PreK to 2^nd) or elementary education (grades 1-6) with the option of earning a second license in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) or special education. Completing the add-on license programs in special education or TESOL may require summer coursework at an additional expense. The 4+1 programs are competitive and require a separate eligibility process during the second year.

Students may also prepare for licensure through completing the undergraduate Justice in Education major. This is a program for students interested in teaching in an elementary school but who prefer a traditional four-year degree. This path allows students to build a foundation in the field of education without the additional demands of heavy fieldwork or graduate level coursework. This program prepares students to go on to complete a graduate program after finishing their undergraduate degree in order to earn a public-school teaching license.

Students preparing to pursue a career in early education and care and private preschool programs may pursue the B.S. in Early Care and Education. Students in this program can earn their lead teacher EEC license for infant and toddler or preschool. They will also have the option to complete their Director I certification, prepare for a career in early intervention, or continue to a graduate degree program in early childhood.

For information about graduate programs, consult the graduate catalog.

Programs Offered

Bachelor of Science in Education

Early Education and Care

Education, BS, Justice in Education - EEC Pathway

Education, BS, Justice in Education, Licensure Pathway for Elementary & Early Childhood

Combined Bachelor of Science Education/Master of Education

Bachelor of Science Education/Master of Education Elementary Education

Education, BS-MEd Justice in SPED - Elementary Education, Teacher Licensure

Bachelor of Science Education/Master of Education Early Childhood Education

Education, BS-MEd Justice in SPED - Early Childhood Eduction,Teacher Licensure

Students seeking initial licensure to teach in the public schools Grades PreK-6 must major in education and minor a chosen area.

Admission to the Combined Undergraduate/Graduate Programs

For information on requirements for admission to the combined undergraduate/graduate programs, please visit the McKeown School of Education page in this catalog.

Requirements for Entry into the Early Education and Care Methods Courses

To be admitted into the methods courses in Early Education and Care, students must meet the following requirements:

A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all required education courses in the major;
A minimum grade of B- in each of the required education courses in the major;
A minimum GPA of 2.5 overall, and
A completed “Intent to Progress to Stage II” form

Requirements for Entry into the Early Education and Care Practicum Courses

To be admitted into the practicum courses in Early Education and Care, students must 1) earn a B or better in each of the required methods courses, 2) a favorable recommendation from the cooperating teacher of their methods placement classroom, and 3) complete the “Intent to Progress to Stage III” form.

Lifespan of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Licensure Courses

No education courses that are part of or required for either the early childhood or elementary teacher licensure course sequence may be more than seven years old at the start of a student teaching practicum.

Students who wish to appeal this policy may file an appeal with the chair and/or coordinator of their program. Students who file an appeal should provide a course-by-course explanation of how they have kept current in the content area of each course (e.g., by working in a classroom that employs specific curricular approaches, taking professional development workshops, attending lectures, etc.).

Policy for Students Who Do Not Complete the Fifth Year of the Combined Undergraduate/Graduate Teacher Licensure Program in Education

In unusual circumstances, a student enrolled in the combined BS/MEd program in education may petition the Dean of the School of Education to be awarded a BS in Education without the MEd and licensure endorsement. If the student’s petition is successful, course substitutions in lieu of field-based courses may be recommended and selected in consultation with the student’s program coordinator or chairperson. In such cases, the minimum number of education major credits for the BS in Education is 36.

Practicum Failure Policy

To review the McKeown School of Education Practicum Failure Policy, visit the Academic Policies section of this catalog.