Academic Program
Early Childhood Education
Bachelor's Degree
According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), ?The demand for early childhood care and education programs continues to increase, not only in response to the growing demand for out-of-home child care, but also in recognition of the critical importance of educational experiences during the early years" (www.naeyc.org). This bachelor degree program in early childhood education prepares professionals who can provide high-quality educational experiences for their community’s youngest children.
This program is designed to build on associate degree competencies to enhance professionals’ ability to design and implement developmentally appropriate learning environments for children ages birth-5. Students are usually practitioners working in preschools and other child-care and educational settings.
Graduates will be able to facilitate positive transitions of children with disabilities and special needs, to nurture early language development and early reading and writing and other growth in other domains, to build early resiliency and self-regulation and to develop as early childhood stakeholder leaders.
Freshman Admission Requirements
All incoming freshmen entering in the 2010 -11 academic year must meet one of the following requirements:
- Graduate in top 10% of their high school class with a 2.7 high school GPA and test score of 17 ACT or 820 SAT
- Score 22 ACT or 1020 SAT with a 2.7 high school GPA
- Graduate in top 60% of their high school class with a 2.7 high school GPA and test score of 20 ACT or 980 SAT
Additionally, incoming freshmen must meet Ohio articulation requirements including:
- College-preparatory English (4 units)
- College-preparatory Math (3 units)
- Science (2 units)
- Social Science (2 units)
- Foreign Language (2 units same language)
- Fine Arts (1 unit)
- Additional units from above (2 units)
Transfer Admission Requirements
All transfer students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Application Information
Program Code: 18BSED4-ECEB5-DL
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines are as follows: fall quarter - August 1; winter quarter - November 15; spring quarter - February 1; summer quarter - May 1.
Students applying for admission after closing dates may be referred to Raymond Walters College or Clermont College.
UC operates on a quarter system, with 10-week grading periods beginning late September, early January, late March and mid-June. While midyear admission is possible, fall is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin that quarter.
Program Requirements
Duration
Full-time program duration: 4 years
Majoring Details
The birth-5 major is part of the early childhood education program in the Teacher Education Division located in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. The main goal of the program is to provide each student with ethical and thorough understanding of early childhood theory (birth - age 5) and its application to the educational setting.
Each course teaches the relevant early childhood theory and developmentally appropriate practice. Classes are taught by faculty with experience as preschool teachers and directors, so assignments allow professionals to apply their new knowledge in their own classrooms and reflect on their own teaching practice.
The bachelor's degree requires a combination of general education courses along with early childhood courses. All degree requirements may be met online; no on-campus visit is necessary.
Almost all courses have at least one fieldwork assignment that requires access to children. For that reason, this degree option is highly desirable for working practitioners who can complete most fieldwork assignments as a part of their job duties. Likewise, the student teaching practicum and internship may be completed in the teacher’s own classroom, subject to approval by the program supervising faculty. Students videotape their own teaching and are mentored by a UC faculty and an on-site mentor who has been approved by program faculty. Students must log significant time in a preschool classroom during the internship. A video camera is necessary, because video assignments must be completed and subsequently mailed to the ECLC offices for faculty review.
The successful completion of student teaching and all degree requirements may lead to faculty’s recommendation for Ohio’s pre-K license. (The minimum GPA for recommendation for an Ohio pre-K teaching license is a 2.5, with grades of "C" or higher in all required education courses.) This license is for preschool only. Students will not be licensed to teach kindergarten or elementary school. Out-of-state students should consult with their own state’s department of education to determine reciprocity, if out-of-state licensure is desirable.
Because most students have completed an associate degree prior to admission to the bachelor birth-5 option, transfer credit must be reviewed and applied to degree requirements. Transfer credit is awarded from regionally accredited institutions only if it is equivalent to degree requirements. Application of all transfer credit is not guaranteed, even if it is acceptable to the university’s transfer center. To maximize the number of transfer credits awarded, the associate degree credit will be compared to the entire four-year degree. Students may be awarded credit for first-year, second-year or even third-year courses.
Students may begin the program at any quarter during the academic year. Each student is assigned an advisor who can assist with an academic plan based on the student’s transfer credit and career goals. Completion of the program will vary depending on each student’s course load and work schedule; most students are employed full time and enroll in two courses per quarter.
Significant student support is offered through the Early Childhood Learning Community (ECLC), a distance education support office in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, a student must:
- Complete all required course work and program requirements.
- Attain at least a 2.8 grade point average.
- Be in good academic standing; that is, not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
- Meet the college's residency requirement of 45 credit hours.
- File formal application for the degree by the posted quarter of graduation deadline.
Accreditation
The early childhood education birth-5 program is accredited by the following:
- Higher Learning Commission
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
- Ohio Department of Education
Student Success Factors
Students who are successful demonstrate a passion for the field of early childhood education and a desire to master new challenges. Students must pass a background check, if not required by their employer. Early childhood professionals must respect diverse children and families and be able to communicate effectively with children, parents, co-workers and supervisors. Computer skills are essential.Career Possibilities
Graduates of this major pursue careers such as:
- Head Start teacher
- Preschool teacher
- Infant/toddler specialist
- MRDD consultant trainer
- Program administrator in an early childhood setting
Core Curriculum
This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this major. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.
If you are currently enrolled at UC, you can audit your degree online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the course applicability system (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.
| Course Name | Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prep. Math (if needed) | MATH-104 | |
| Prep. English (if needed) | ENGL-099 | |
| English Composition I, II, III | 15ENGL-101, 102, 289 | 9 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Science Electives | 12 | |
| Learning ECE Online | ECE-190 | 4 |
| Math Electives | 12 | |
| Child Development I, II | ECE-276, 277 | 6 |
| Health, Safety, and Nutrition | ECE-278 | 3 |
| Families and Culture | ECE-261 | 3 |
| Human Learning | EDST-275 | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Schooling & Teaching in America | EDST-201 | 4 |
| Literature Elective | 3 | |
| Observation, Planning, and Assessment | ECE-262 | 3 |
| Classroom Organization and Management | ECE-231 | 3 |
| Language Arts and Literacy I, II | ECE-235, 236 | 6 |
| Foundations & Teaching in Special Education | SPED-250 | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Computer Tools for Teachers | CI-247 | 4 |
| Creative Arts in ECE | ECE-256 | 3 |
| Integrated Preschool Curriculum | ECE-257 | 3 |
| Infant-Toddler Programming | ECE-251 | 3 |
| Math and Science in ECE | ECE-234 | 3 |
| Preschool Student Teaching A | ECE-241 | 3 |
| Preschool Student Teaching B | ECE-242 | 3 |
| Preschool Internship | ECE-243 | 6 |
| Administration in ECE | ECE-264 | 3 |
| Developmental Concerns in ECE | ECE-400 | 3 |
| Families in ECSE | ECE-402 | 3 |
| Play and Development | ECE-411 | 3 |
| Accommodations and Adaptations in ECE (Birth-5) | ECE-403 | 3 |
| Assessment and Evaluation in ECE | ECE-507 | 3 |
| Selfhood in Infants and Toddlers | ECE-412 | 3 |
| Infant Practicum | ECE-450 | 3 |
| Toddler Practicum | ECE-451 | 3 |
| Language Development in Early Childhood Special Education | ECE-460 | 3 |
| Social Development - Self-Regulation | ECE-290 | 3 |
| Social Inequalities | EDST-426 | 3 |
| Reading Through Children's Literature (Birth - 5) | ECE-481 | 3 |
| Collaboration and Case Management | ECE-406 | 3 |
| Leadership in ECE | ECE-525 | 3 |
| Challenging Behaviors in ECE | ECE-530 | 3 |
Responsive Environments for Infants & Toddlers | ECE-414 | 3 |
| Stories of Teaching (Birth-5) | ECE-494 | 3 |
| Electives | 15 | |
| TOTAL | 181 |
Focus Areas
There is no minor offered in early childhood education, birth-5. Two certificates are available:
Opportunities
This educational opportunity is only available online. The Early Childhood Learning Community (ECLC) supports over 600 students from every U.S. state and several foreign countries.ECLC has become a worldwide model for online education in the field of early childhood; conferences sponsored by national organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) have featured ECLC as a model for effective online practices. In addition, several articles have been published about the student support system and the student teaching experience.
The online nature of this program has required an individualized approach to student support. Each student receives toll-free phone assistance prior to enrollment. After a student decides to enroll, an orientation specialist leads each student through a program orientation and a technology orientation, so students learn Blackboard before they begin online courses. Each student is also assigned an advisor who is available via e-mail and phone for admission and registration advice and consultation.
Students are required to meet the program’s transfer criteria for admittance into the bachelor’s degree: a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the associate degree level. Students not meeting that requirement may request admittance into the associate degree program until the required transfer GPA is reached.
ECLC’s Web site may be accessed at www.eclc.uc.edu for additional information on deadlines, registration and a complete list of articulation agreements.