Early Childhood (Birth-grade 2)
Program Requirements
Ph.D., Ed. D. Ed.M. and Professional Certification Programs in Elementary Education
Programs in early childhood and childhood education deal with children from the preschool through the middle-school years. Students may choose to emphasize elementary teaching (K-6), early education (birth-age 8), or a specific elementary curriculum field, such as language arts or mathematics.
Study in early childhood education is associated with the Fisher-Price Endowed Early Childhood Research Center, which is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. The Center has superb facilities for ninety preschoolers and affords students the opportunity to integrate coursework with observation and participation in classroom practice and research.
Laboratories, centers, and projects provide a rich variety of support services to these programs. The Curriculum Center houses an extensive collection of textbooks, manuals, syllabi, and many other print materials. The Instructional Software Preview Lab has large holdings of Apple II, Macintosh, and IBM-compatible instructional software and utility programs for educators.
If desired, applicants may choose a concentration within the master's program in elementary education or a straight Ed.M. program in Elementary Education.
Course Work
(see course descriptions)
Professional Certification/Ed.M. in Early Childhood Education (children from Birth to Grade 2)
- LAI 502 Infant and Toddler Education Programs
- LAI 504 Early Childhood Education Program Planning and Leadership
- LAI 509 Arts in Early Childhood Education
- LAI 526 Agencies and Services for Children
- LAI 529 Computers in Early and Primary Education
Electives
Student must select four courses from among the following or other advisor-approved courses from GSE and/or CAS:
- LAI 511 Diversity in Early Childhood/Childhood Education
- LAI 527 Learning Mathematics: Early Childhood
- LAI 549 Early Childhood Development and Learning
- LAI 571 Issues in Early Childhood Special Education
- Capstone Event
All students must complete a project or thesis.
Professional Certification/Ed.M. in Childhood Education (no Specialization/Emphasis)
- LAI 521 Improving Social Studies Instruction, Elementary
- LAI 530 Improving Elementary Science Education
- LAI 540 Improving Elementary Mathematics Instruction
- LAI 551 Childhood Literacy Methods
- LAI 560 Language Arts Methods
- LAI 565 Literature for Children and Young People
- LAI 600 Elementary School Curriculum Integration & Assessment
- LAI 662 Elementary Education Research
Required if student already has an initial certificate in early childhood, middle childhood, or adolescence education.
- CEP 541 Psychological Development of the Child
- LAI 574 Teaching Exceptional Learners in the Regular Education Classroom
- Student must complete 2 elective elementary teaching methods courses--6 credits (with advisor's approval)
Required if student already has an initial certificate in childhood education.
- Student must complete 12 hours of elective courses, consistent with the student's undergraduate major, from the College of Arts and Sciences (with advisor's approval)
Capstone Event
- All students must complete a project or thesis.
Professional Certification/Ed.M. with Reading (Literacy) Emphasis
- LAI 556 Classroom-Based Literacy Assessment
- LAI 559 Classroom Practicum in Teaching Literacy
- LAI 560 Language Arts Methods
- LAI 565 Literature for Children and Young People (or other reading course)
- LAI 662 Elementary Education Research
Student must select 2 of the following 3 courses:
- LAI 550 Literacy Acquisition and Instruction
- LAI 551 Childhood Literacy Methods
- LAI 552 Middle Childhood-Adolescent Literacy Methods
Required if student already has an initial certificate in early childhood, middle childhood, or adolescence education.
- CEP 541 Psychological Development of the Child
- LAI 574 Teaching Exceptional Learners in the Regular Education Classroom
- Student must complete 2 elective elementary teaching methods courses--6 credits (with advisor's approval)
Required if student already has an initial certificate in childhood education.
- Student must complete 12 credits of elective courses, consistent with the student's undergraduate major, from the College of Arts and Sciences (with advisor's approval)
Capstone Event
- All students must complete a project or thesis.
Professional Certification/Ed.M. with Mathematics Emphasis
- LAI 529 Computers in Early and Primary Education
- LAI 530 Improving Elementary Science Instruction
- LAI 540 Improving Elementary Mathematics Instruction
- LAI 542 Enrichment Topics in Elementary Mathematics
- LAI 547 Assessing Mathematics
- LAI 600 Elementary School Curriculum Integration/Assessment
- LAI 662 Elementary Education Research
Student must select one of the following:
- LAI 521 Improving Social Studies Instruction, Elementary
- LAI 550 Literacy Acquisition and Instruction
- LAI 551 Childhood Literacy Methods
Required if student already has an initial certificate in early childhood, middle childhood, or adolescence education.
- CEP 541 Psychological Development of the Child
- LAI 574 Teaching Exceptional Learners in the Regular Education Classroom
- Student must complete 2 elective elementary teaching methods courses--6 credits (with advisor's approval)
Required if student already has an initial certificate in childhood education.
- Student must complete 12 credits of elective courses, consistent with the student's undergraduate major, from the College of Arts and Sciences (with advisor's approval)
Capstone Event
- All students must complete a project or thesis.
Professional Certification/Ed.M. with Science Emphasis
- LAI 530 Improving Elementary Science Instruction
- LAI 531 Science Curriculum: Current Approaches
- LAI 533 Science Instruction Topics
- LAI 534 Measurement and Evaluation of Science Instruction
- LAI 540 Improving Elementary Mathematics Instruction
- LAI 600 Elementary School Curriculum Integration/Assessment
- LAI 662 Elementary Education Research
Student must select one of the following:
- LAI 550 Literacy Acquisition and Instruction
- LAI 551 Childhood Literacy Methods
Required if student already has an initial certificate in early childhood, middle childhood, or adolescence education.
- CEP 541 Psychological Development of the Child
- LAI 574 Teaching Exceptional Learners in the Regular Education Classroom
- Student must complete 2 elective elementary teaching methods courses--6 credits (with advisor's approval)
Required if student already has an initial certificate in childhood education.
- Student must complete 12 credits of elective courses, consistent with the student's undergraduate major, from the College of Arts and Sciences (with advisor's approval)
Capstone Event
- All students must complete a project or thesis.
Professional Certification/Ed.M. with Social Studies Emphasis
- LAI 523 Social Studies Curriculum
- LAI 600 Elementary School Curriculum Integration/Assessment
- LAI 622 Enrichment Topics in Elementary Mathematics
- LAI 662 Elementary Education Research
Student must select one of the following:
- LAI 520 Social Studies Education Introduction
- LAI 521 Improving Social Studies Instruction, Elementary
Student must select three of the following:
- LAI 521 Improving Social Studies Instruction, Elementary
- LAI 530 Improving Elementary Science Instruction
- LAI 540 Improving Elementary Mathematics Instruction
- LAI 550 Literacy Acquisition and Instruction
- LAI 551 Childhood Literacy Methods
Required if student already has an initial certificate in early childhood, middle childhood, or adolescence education.
- CEP 541 Psychological Development of the Child
- LAI 574 Teaching Exceptional Learners in the Regular Education Classroom
- Student must complete 2 elective elementary teaching methods courses--6 credits (with advisor's approval)
Required if student already has an initial certificate in childhood education.
- Student must complete 12 credits of elective courses, consistent with the student's undergraduate major, from the College of Arts and Sciences (with advisor's approval)
Capstone Event
- All students must complete a project or thesis.
An example of course requirements for students pursuing an Ed.M. in Elementary Education follows:
Foundations- 6 Credit Hrs.
- CEP 560-561 Psychology of Learning and Instruction (must be taken
in Fall/Spring sequence)
OR - CEP 541 (Fall) or 560 (Spring) and CEP 502 (Fall) Use and Interpretation of Tests
Major Area (Select 6)- 18 Credit Hrs.
- LAI 520/521 Improving Instruction in Elementary School Social Studies
*Anyone with a previous social studies methods course, graduate or undergraduate, should take - LAI 520. TEI students only take LAI 521.
- LAI 530 Improving Instruction in Elementary School Science
- LAI 540 Improving Instruction in Elementary School Mathematics
- LAI 551 Improving Instruction in Elementary Reading
(or LAI 550 Improving Instruction Primary Reading) - LAI 560 Improving Instruction in Elementary School Language Arts
- LAI 565 Literature for Children and Young People
- LAI 600 Elementary School Curriculum Organization
Electives (3-9 Credit Hrs.)
- Selected According to interests of the student with approval of the advisor.
Thesis or Project (0-6 Credit Hrs)
- LAI 700 Individual Guidance of the Project
- LAI 701 Individual Guidance of the Thesis
- LAI 703 Independent StudyMinimum Total Semester Hours 33 Credit Hrs.
