Human Development/Early Childhood, PreK-3 Teacher Licensure (ECHED.BST)

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Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education

This program prepares candidates with an overview of early child development, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. A special emphasis is put on preparing candidates to teach in PreK to grade 3 classrooms.

Degree Checklist

For a checklist of all the courses required for this degree program and a suggested four-year sequence of study, please click on the link below.

General Education Requirements - Total Hours: 53-59

Click here for the General Education Core requirements

Specialty Area Requirements

ANTH 310 - Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to various aspects of culture including material, social, economic, aesthetics, political, religious and linguistic factors.

or

ANTH 312 - Human Geography Credit Hours: 3

This course examines cultural change and cultural regionalism, concepts and models of spatial interaction, and spatial behavior including geographical patterns of languages, religion, ethnic groups, folk and popular culture, and population geographical distribution of economic, urban and political organizations.
SPED 316 - Exceptional Child Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to special education including historical foundations, special education law and current practice. The course will introduce all current information pertinent to those who will work with students with disabilities especially those students included in the general education classroom. Issues and trends that address techniques, strategies and procedures for working with students with disabilities will be emphasized. A summary of each category of disability will be offered as well as suggestions for accessing school and community resources.

Prerequisites

None
PSYC 361 - Child Development Credit Hours: 3

A review of the principles of behavior in infancy and childhood; physical, intellectual, social, emotional and language development in the normal child.

Prerequisites

PSYC 200 & PSYC 260 or EDUC 199
ENGL 381 - Language Acquisition and Development Credit Hours: 3

An investigation of the cognitive processes of first and second language acquisition and development with special attention to the acquisition of literacy, language diversity and bilingualism.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110
ECED 342 - Observation and Assessment of Young Children Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to acquaint students with the basic assessment techniques appropriate for young children. Also covered are community and school resources instrumental in providing services and referrals.

or

EDUC 417 - Understanding/Using Student Assessment to Make Instructional Decisions Credit Hours: 2

A study of the theory, principles, and applicaton of diagnostic tests and assessments and their use as a basis for making decisions for planning instruction and student learning.

Prerequisites

Admission to the Teacher Education Program.
SOCI 220 - Marriage and the Family Credit Hours: 3

An introductory study of dating, courtship, marriage, preparation for marriage, the selection of a marriage partner, the roles of members of the family, family rituals, and patterns of interaction.

or

SOCI 320 - Sociology of the Family Credit Hours: 3

A study of the origin of the family, background of the modern American family, social changes and the family roles of members of the family, and problems of family life.

Prerequisites

SOCI 200
READ 371 - Survey of Reading Credit Hours: 3

A study of the reading process and the history and philosophy of the various models of reading instruction. Requires co-requisite enrollment in READ-371L. 

Prerequisites

ELED-340
ECED 350 - Children's Literature and Literacy Development Credit Hours: 2

This course will provide a survey of books and related materials appropriate for young children and an introduction to developmentally appropriate techniques for using literature to supplement the development of literacy skills.

Prerequisites

EDUC-199
EDUC 495 - Integration of Faith and Learning Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to integrate the fundamentals of learning and faith for the preservice educator. The student will be challenged to develop and defend a personal philosophical foundation for education from a Christian perspective.

Prerequisites

THEO-231 and ELED-340

Select Three Hours From the Following Courses:

ENGL 380 - Introduction to Linguistics Credit Hours: 3

An introduction to scientific language study including morphology, phonology, syntax, pragmatics and the nature of language.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110
HLTH 365 - Child Health and Social Behavior Credit Hours: 3

A study of the physical and psychosocial growth and development of children; includes methods of organizing and implementing health measures, determining health status through screening processes; detection of remedial defects, referral procedures, and follow-up for correction; the promotion of physical, mental, social and emotional health through environmental and special health services.
PSYC 312 - Educational Psychology Credit Hours: 3

A study of the psychological foundations for learning and the procedures by which learning is accomplished. Also covered is an evaluation of teaching methods and learning tools.
PSYC 341 - Learning and Cognition Credit Hours: 3

Explores the many types of learning from simple conditioning to more complex forms of language, intelligence, problem solving and motivation.

Prerequisites

PSYC 200
SPED 331 - Research Based Intervention for Effective Classroom Management Credit Hours: 3

Approaches to classroom management of students with disabilities and groups of children. Applied behavioral analysis is studied, including specific techniques such as task analysis, along with strategies for strengthening and reducing behaviors.

Prerequisites

EDUC-199 and EDUC-299

Enhanced General Education Requirements

MTHS 121 - Concepts of Mathematics I Credit Hours: 3

Develops the real number system (including natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers and irrational numbers) stressing properties and algorithms. Problem-solving and set theory are emphasized. Elementary algebra will be stressed with application to problem solving. Designed to equip students to teach mathematics in elementary school.This course does not satisfy the university core requirement of 3 hours of mathematics.

Prerequisites

ACT mathematics score of 18 or higher or SAT equivalent or completion of MTHS-098 or MTHS-110 with a grade of C- or better.
MTHS 122 - Concepts of Mathematics II Credit Hours: 3

Decimals, percents, elementary probability, methods of counting, statistics and the normal curve, plane and solid geometry, and the Cartesian coordinate system. Problem-solving is emphasized. This course does not satisfy the university core requirement of 3 hours of mathematics.

Prerequisites

ACT mathematics score of 18 or higher or SAT equivalent, or completion of MTHS-121 with a grade of C- or better.
GSCI 121 - Physical Science Credit Hours: 4

An introduction to methods of elementary chemistry and physics, with stress on kinetic theory, molecular phenomena, and energy relations. Requires co-requisite enrollment in GSCI-121L. Open to non-science majors only.
GSCI 122 - Earth and Space Science Credit Hours: 4

An introduction to astronomy, geology, meteorology and physical geography. Emphasis on the structure of the universe, theories of cosmology, the Milky Way, and the solar system; the shape, structure and composition of the earth; earthquakes, vulcanism, theories of plate tectonics, seafloor spreading, and continental drift; the earth in space and time; composition and structure of the earth's atmosphere; weathering erosion, sculpturing the land, topographic maps, oceanography, and glaciation; fossil fuels and alternate sources of energy, environmental pollution and conservation of natural resources. Requires co-requisite enrollment in GSCI-122L. Open to non-science majors only.