Early Childhood Education - Teaching B.A.
Early Childhood Education - Teaching Major
The B.A. Early Childhood major requires a minimum of 120 hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements, the Professional Experiences requirements, Educator Essentials requirements, and the following specified major requirements, to complete the minimum of 120 hours.
This major leads to ED 1001 (Birth through grade three, Inclusive Settings) licensure for teaching young children, emphasizing working in inclusive settings. Early Childhood Education majors engage in a curriculum that prepares them for general and special education positions in early childhood settings.
Students majoring in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, or Middle-Level Education may not repeat or withdraw from any courses within the ELEMECML, LRNTECH, or LITED course categories more than twice (taking any course a total of 3 times). Students in these programs are also limited to a maximum of five course retakes across these same courses. Under extraordinary circumstances, an elementary, early childhood, or middle-level education major may request in writing that an exception be made to this policy. All written requests will be reviewed by the department head, who will determine whether or not an exception will be granted. Where an exception is not granted, a student may appeal the decision through the regular appeal process for other teacher education-related appeals. This policy applies to all majors declared after April 2016.
| Required: | ||
| Educational Psychology: | ||
| EDPSYCH 2068 | Development and Learning in Sociocultural Contexts | 3 |
| EDPSYCH 3109/5109 | Development and Assessment of Young Children | 3 |
| Early Childhood: | ||
| ECIE 3149 | Child, Family, School and Community Relationships * | 3 |
| ECIE 4130/5130 | Guidance and Instruction in Early Childhood Education * | 3 |
| ECIE 4151 | Early Childhood Curriculum Development and Organization * | 3 |
| ECIE 4162/5162 | Administration and Advocacy of Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| ECIE 4192/5192 | Field Experience and Seminar in Early Childhood | 2 |
| Literacy Education: | ||
| LITED 1044 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| LITED 3115 | Methods of Teaching Early Literacy * | 3 |
| LITED 3119/5119 | Language Development and Emergent Literacy | 3 |
| Mathematics: | ||
| MATH 1204 | Mathematical Reasoning ** | 3 |
| MATH 2204 | Mathematical Reasoning for Elementary Teachers II ** | 3 |
| MATH 3203 | Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School * | 3 |
| MATH 3204 | Mathematical Reasoning for Elementary Teachers III ** | 3 |
| Life Science course: | 3-4 | |
| Inquiry into Life Science (recommended) | ||
OR | ||
Any life/biological (BIOL xxxx) science course *** | ||
| Physical Science course: | 3-4 | |
| Inquiry into Physical Science (recommended) | ||
OR | ||
Any chemistry (CHEM xxxx) or physics (PHYSICS xxxx) *** | ||
| Earth/Space Science: | 3-4 | |
One course from the following: | ||
| Inquiry into Earth and Space Science (recommended) | ||
| Astronomy | ||
| Elements of Weather | ||
| Introduction to Geology | ||
| Special Education: | ||
| SPIE 3150 | Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners in Classrooms | 3 |
| SPIE 4148/5148 | Assessment of Young Children and Families with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| Total Hours | 56-59 | |
- *
A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required for all Methods courses.
- **
Students must earn a C- or higher in MATH 1204, MATH 2204, and MATH 3204 in order for the course to satisfy in the Early Childhood Education major.
- ***
Excluding 1000Z transfer courses.
A 2.50 grade index in all course work at the University of Northern Iowa, and also a 2.50 GPA in all course work at this university and elsewhere, or the approval of the head of the Department of Literacy, Early Childhood and Special Education is required for registration in major courses in the department.
Professional Experiences
| Required: | ||
| EDUC 2301 | Teaching Methods l: Infant/Toddler Curriculum and Early Intervention * | 3 |
| EDUC 2401 | Teaching Internship l: Infants/Toddlers | 3 |
| EDUC 3523/5523 | Teaching Methods ll: Teaching Elementary Science * | 3 |
| EDUC 3524/5524 | Teaching Methods ll: Teaching Elementary and Middle-Level Social Studies * | 3 |
| EDUC 3602/5602 | Teaching Internship ll: Elementary Methods | 3 |
| EDUC 4132 | Early Childhood Teaching | 12 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
- *
A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required for all Methods courses.
Students should plan their coursework so that all Early Childhood courses are taken before student teaching. Students must have a cumulative, UNI, and major GPA of 2.50 to student teach.
Students should apply for their student teaching one year in advance.
Educator Essentials
| Required: * | ||
| Select one of the following in each category: | ||
| Category 1: The Learner | 3 | |
| Reflections on Learning | ||
| Development and Learning in Sociocultural Contexts | ||
| Creativity and Higher Order Thinking in the Classroom | ||
| Rethinking the Learning Society: Education and Its Future(s) | ||
| Category 2: Social Contexts of Learning | 3 | |
| Social & Cultural Foundations of Education | ||
| A Modern History of Education in the United States | ||
| Education Policy and Politics of Education | ||
| Language Today | ||
| Category 3: Education for All | 3 | |
| Adapted Physical Education | ||
| Education, Power, and Change | ||
| Social Movements and Education | ||
| Interdisciplinary and Intersectional Study of Education for All | ||
| Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners in Classrooms | ||
| Content Area Strategies for English Language Learners | ||
| Category 4: The Classroom Environment | 3 | |
| Deeper Motivation and the Highly Engaged Classroom | ||
| Level Up: Gamified Learning Environments | ||
| Early Childhood Curriculum Development and Organization | ||
| Playful Learning and Project-Based Experiences: Techniques for Ed and Recreational Environments | ||
| Critical Perspectives on Technology and Education | ||
| Category 5: Effective Pedagogy | 3 | |
| Expressive Learning Assessment | ||
| Technology, Pedagogy, and Learning in the Digital Age | ||
| Assessment for Learning | ||
| Effective Teaching through Differentiation, Technology and Assessment | ||
| Category 6: The Professional Educator | 3 | |
| Child, Family, School and Community Relationships | ||
| Teacher Leadership & Educational Change | ||
| Collaborative Partnerships for Educators | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- *
A grade of C (2.00) or higher is required in each Educator Essentials course.
Early Childhood majors are encouraged to take EDPSYCH 2068 to satisfy category 1 of Educator Essentials, SPIE 3150 to satisfy category 3 of Educator Essentials, ELEMECML 4151 to satisfy category 4 of Educator Essentials, and ELEMECML 3149 to satisfy category 6 of Educator Essentials.
Four-Year Plan
Early Childhood Education Teaching, B.A.
This is a sample plan of study with a suggested sequencing of classes for the major. University electives may be applied to earn additional academic majors, minors, or certificates. Students should regularly meet with their academic advisor to plan their specific semester schedule to include UNIFI/General Education program and/or university elective hours required.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hour | |
| MATH 1204 | Mathematical Reasoning | 3 |
| SCI ED 1200 | Inquiry into Life Science | 3 |
| TEACHING 2020 | Introduction to Teaching: Exploring Options | 1 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDPSYCH 2068 | Development and Learning in Sociocultural Contexts | 3 |
| SCI ED 1300 | Inquiry into Physical Science | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| LITED 1044 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| MATH 2204 | Mathematical Reasoning for Elementary Teachers II | 3 |
| SCI ED 1100 | Inquiry into Earth and Space Science | 3 |
| SPIE 3150 | Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners in Classrooms | 3 |
| Educator Essentials Course | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDPSYCH 3109/5109 | Development and Assessment of Young Children | 3 |
| LITED 3115 | Methods of Teaching Early Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 2301 | Teaching Methods l: Infant/Toddler Curriculum and Early Intervention | 3 |
| EDUC 2401 | Teaching Internship l: Infants/Toddlers | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECIE 3149 | Child, Family, School and Community Relationships | 3 |
| ECIE 4151 | Early Childhood Curriculum Development and Organization | 3 |
| ECIE 4162/5162 | Administration and Advocacy of Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| MATH 3204 | Mathematical Reasoning for Elementary Teachers III | 3 |
| SPIE 4148/5148 | Assessment of Young Children and Families with Exceptionalities | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 3523/5523 | Teaching Methods ll: Teaching Elementary Science | 3 |
| EDUC 3524/5524 | Teaching Methods ll: Teaching Elementary and Middle-Level Social Studies | 3 |
| EDUC 3602/5602 | Teaching Internship ll: Elementary Methods | 3 |
| LITED 3119/5119 | Language Development and Emergent Literacy | 3 |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 4 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECIE 4192/5192 | Field Experience and Seminar in Early Childhood | 2 |
| ECIE 4130/5130 | Guidance and Instruction in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| MATH 3203 | Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School | 3 |
| Educator Essentials Course | 3 | |
| UNIFI/General Education or University Electives | 5 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| EDUC 4132 | Early Childhood Teaching | 12 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
Early Childhood Education Teaching, B.A.
Teacher candidates:
- Promote child development, learning, and individual learning differences, using characteristics of learners and content knowledge.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of special education, drawing upon historical, philosophical, and social foundations of early childhood education. (UNI SLO - Content Knowledge)
- Build family and collaborative community relationships through communication, using developmentally and individually effective approaches to connect with children and families.
- Observe, document, and assess support needs of young children and families
- Assess, diagnose, and evaluate children according to legal provisions in an unbiased manner with early childhood assessments (e.g., child observation, documentation, and data collection) and instruments for individuals with disabilities to positively influence the development of each child. (UNI SLO - Critical Thinking)
- Use methods and strategies to implement appropriate curricular and instructional practices based on knowledge of individual children, the family, community, and curricular goals and content. (UNI SLO - Communication)
- Adhere to ethical, collaborative, and professional responsibilities.
- Engage in 40 hours of early childhood field experiences, including observation and practice in a PK special education program and various preschool settings, plus 20 hours of teaching experience in infant and toddler environments.
- Use individual positive behavioral support, change, and classroom management theories appropriate to young children.
Policies
Iowa law requires that all teacher education students pursuing endorsements in 102 K-6 Teacher Elementary Classroom, 1001 Birth-Grade 3 Inclusive Settings, 148 K-8 Reading, 260 K-8 Instructional Strategist l, or 103 PK-K Teacher Pre Kindergarten-Kindergarten must complete the Foundations of Reading test administered by Pearson.