Early Childhood Education (Online Degree Completion for Montessori-Credentialed Students) - BS
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) major provides individuals who earned a Montessori teacher education credential, accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE), an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in ECE (ages 0-8) and receive credit for that credential. The program recognizes the teachers’ MACTE credential by awarding 25 college-level credits.
As a part of the College for Adults (CFA), this program is designed for Montessori early childhood professionals actively working in the field from around the country and the globe. This fully online bachelor’s degree program develops socially aware, critically-informed and innovative Montessori teachers who will continue to teach following Montessori philosophy combined with an awareness of and skills in anti-bias and anti-racist (ABAR) teaching strategies. By offering high-quality resources, utilizing multiple modes of virtual communication, and valuing real-life experiences, this program will engage students in deep and meaningful study.
The defining elements of the ECE program are:
- Social Justice: We provide teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills to impact societal change through early childhood education.
- Personal Transformation: We guide teacher candidates to greater understanding of themselves, children, and the world.
- Innovative Pedagogy: We equip teacher candidates with an individualized, anti-bias and anti-racist teaching approach influenced by Montessori philosophy that honors the whole child.
- Holistic Teacher Education: We recognize the demands of teaching and learning, and believe that to be an effective teacher the mind, body, and spirit must be nurtured and supported.
- Community Engagement: We commit to serving in, learning from, and collaborating with diverse communities who share a common vision of educational equity.
The ECE major encompasses integrated learning experiences that provide students with multiple opportunities to develop leadership knowledge and skills grounded in ethical and social justice principles informed by a global perspective. The program infuses all major course content with the components of ABAR.
Teachers graduating from this program will have the knowledge, confidence and commitment necessary to be societal change makers, and prepare children to effectively participate in a changing and dynamic world.
ECE is a discipline that involves intellectual, spiritual and moral commitment. A key element of our program is the inner spiritual transformation of individuals. ABAR curriculum combined with Montessori pedagogy brings a new perspective on child development and social order. This experience will alter students’ understanding of themselves, children and the world. Such a transformation involves the knowledge and skills necessary to impact societal change. The educational leaders developed in this program will be expected to lead from a position of ethical responsibility.
To be eligible for consideration for admission to the early childhood major, students must provide evidence of completion of an Early Childhood or Infant and Toddler Montessori credential.
Our students will build their leadership skills through:
- engagement with current and respected resources
- group discussion
- self-reflection
- community collaboration
- rigorous and meaningful assignments
Our students will lead by:
- creating and delivering a high quality ABAR Montessori early childhood education
- designing and utilizing a variety of assessment tools
- analyzing assessment results to inform practice and support development
- integrating renewal opportunities for themselves, their colleagues, and their students
- embodying high quality practices in their teaching
This major is offered in the College for Adults only.
ADMISSION
To be considered for admission into the Early Childhood (ages 0-8) baccalaureate program an applicant must have:
1. Completed ECED 2040W Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education with at least a “C” grade;
2. Completed ECE Program Application during ECED 2040W (includes entrance survey, essay, and resume);
3. Earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0;
4. Earned a grade of C or better in ECED 1000 Introduction to Early Childhood Education or transferred in the equivalent;
5. Met with academic advisor from the early childhood education program and created a program of study;
The applicant must continue to earn a grade of "C" or above in all early childhood education courses and required supporting courses in order to progress in the early childhood education program.
This major is offered in the College for Adults only.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite | ||
| ECED 1000 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 4 |
| ECED 2040W | Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Education Courses | ||
| ECED 2200 | The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment | 4 |
| ECED 2300 | Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards | 1 |
| ECED 2500 | Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education | 1 |
| ECED 3280 | Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials | 4 |
| ECED 3350 | Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood | 4 |
| ECED 3560 | Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas | 2 |
| ECED 3600 | Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| ECED 4840W | Bachelor Completer Capstone Project: A Critical Exploration of Early Childhood Education | 2 |
Credits Awarded for Montessori Credential | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| ECED 3340 | Child in the Family | 4 |
| INDI 3400 | Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education | 4 |
| PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 2025/2020 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Early childhood education majors fulfill the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing ECED 2040W Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education . Students fulfill the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman, CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and one other writing-intensive course in another department).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Term | ||
| PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | 4 |
| Fall Term | ||
| ECED 1000 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 4 |
| HHS 4100 | Holistic Health in Communities of Practice | 4 |
| PSYC 2025 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| ECED 2040W | Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 4 |
| ECED 2300 | Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards | 1 |
| ECED 3340 | Child in the Family | 4 |
| Fall Term | ||
| ECED 2200 | The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment | 4 |
| INDI 3400 | Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| ECED 2500 | Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education | 1 |
| ECED 3350 | Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood | 4 |
| Fall Term | ||
| ECED 3280 | Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials | 4 |
| ECED 3600 | Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| Spring Term | ||
| ECED 3560 | Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas | 2 |
| ECED 4840W | Bachelor Completer Capstone Project: A Critical Exploration of Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| Total Credits | 49 | |
Faculty
Faculty
Molly Wheeler
Program Director, Assistant Professor
Sarah Hassebroek, EdS
Associate Professor
Sarah Streyle
Assistant Professor