Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Education


Academic Information

This degree allows teacher candidates the opportunity to earn dual certification in both early childhood (EC) and early childhood special education (ECSE) at the bachelor’s level. Certification in both EC and ECSE will better prepare candidates to meet the needs of ALL young children birth to age eight in strategic and evidence-based ways across multiple settings. This degree leads to Arizona state certification in early childhood and early childhood special education.

This program is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education

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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Education


Careers

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education?

No job is more challenging, rewarding, or important than teaching small children. As an educator with dual credentials in early childhood and early childhood special education, you'll help shape the character-and future-of every child in your classroom. If you want to work with children birth to eight, this degree will prepare you to succeed.

For more than a century, Northern Arizona University has produced leaders for America schools. Our graduates have a 98 percent pass rate on the Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment exam. The College of Education is technologically advanced, culturally responsive, and student-focused. Small class sizes guarantee that you will receive lots of individual attention. The program includes multiple opportunities to have classroom experience.

Note: In addition to being admitted to the university, you must also meet the additional admission requirements and apply for admission to the Professional Education Programs.

Career opportunities that might be pursued:
  • Early Intervention
  • Preschool Education
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Early Childhood Special Education

With further education, one of these paths is possible:
  • Preschool teacher
  • Primary school teacher
  • Childcare specialist
  • Special Educator

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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Education


University Requirements

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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Education


Overview

In addition to University Requirements:

Candidates in this program are required to demonstrate content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and skills, professional knowledge, and professional dispositions to be eligible to enter student teaching or internship placements. Content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge or skills, professional dispositions are demonstrated through candidate performance on key assessments embedded in the following course(s): 

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Major GPA 2.5
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 155
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching Required
University Honors Program Optional
Progression Plan Link View Progression Plan
Licensing or Certification

This program may lead to licensure or certification.

Purpose Statement

The Bachelor of Science in Education, Dual Certification in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education leads to Arizona teacher dual certification, providing candidates with the necessary foundation to teach young children age’s birth to 8. This nationally recognized program emphasizes sound pedagogical practices while stressing the skills, knowledge, and dispositions necessary to enter the field of education with confidence. Candidates engage in a purposeful program of study grounded in theory and infused with practical experiences in schools. Candidates complete foundational coursework in mathematics, educational foundations, political science, bilingual and multi-cultural education, educational psychology, special education, and curriculum and instruction. Throughout the program of study, students participate in rich practica experiences and the degree culminates with student teaching in kindergarten through grade three placements.
 
Throughout the program of study, candidates demonstrate outcomes aligned to standards affiliated with the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium, and the International Society for Educational Technology (ISTE). Nationally recognized by NAEYC and CEC, the program is designed to: promote child development and learning; build family and community relationships; use a variety of assessment strategies to support young children and families; promote developmentally effective teaching and learning approaches, use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum, and identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession.
 
Candidates who complete this program will be prepared to join the next wave of early childhood educators—people who will dramatically shape and influence the lives of children in educational venues, as well as non-profits, state and national agencies, and other venues.

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) are included.
 
Grounded in a strong child development knowledge base this degree program enables candidates to use their understanding of young children's characteristics and needs, and multiple interacting influences on children's development and learning.  This knowledge prepares the candidates to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.

Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that successful early childhood education depends upon partnerships with children’s families and communities. They know about, understand, and value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities. They use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children’s development and learning.Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early childhood professionals. They know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. They know about and use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to influence the development of every child in a positive manner.Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on children’s ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. They understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families. Candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child’s development and learning.Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs use their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for each and every young child. Candidates understand the importance of developmental domains and academic (or content) disciplines in early childhood curriculum. They know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Candidates use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for every young child.Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.
Graduates of this program will be able to conduct themselves in a professional manner that is collaborative and reflective and will pursue excellence in the profession by:Field experiences and clinical practice are planned and sequenced so that candidates develop the knowledge, skills and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood – in at least two of the three early childhood age groups (birth – age 3, 3 through 5, 5 through 8 years) and in the variety of settings that offer early education (early school grades, child care centers and homes, Head Start programs).

 

More Information

Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Education


Details

Additional Admission Requirements
Major Requirements
Teacher Preparation
General Electives
Additional Information
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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Education

Department of Teaching and Learning

Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education, Bachelor of Science in Education


Campus Availability

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