Academic Catalog

BS in Early Childhood Education with Licensure

Meets requirements of an educational program that qualifies the student to apply for an Early Childhood license (birth-8) in the State of Minnesota.

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) major provides individuals with the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in ECE along with the possibility of licensure.  As part of the College for Adults, this program is designed for working adults. As such, the majority of courses are held online, with concentrated face-to-face sessions scheduled during the summer semesters.  This program will develop socially aware, critically informed, and innovative Early Childhood educators who will teach with a foundation of Montessori theory and Anti-Bias, 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 of Early Childhood Education.

The defining elements of the ECE program are:

  • Social Justice:  Provide teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills to impact societal change through early childhood education.
  • Montessori Philosophy: Develop ethical and influential leaders informed by the philosophy of Maria Montessori and her vision of peace and justice.
  • Personal Transformation: Guide teacher candidates to a greater understanding of themselves, children, and the world.
  • Innovative Pedagogy: 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:  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:  Commit to serving in, learning from, and collaborating with diverse communities that share a common vision of educational equity.

The ECE major provides students with multiple opportunities to develop leadership knowledge and skills grounded in ethical and social justice principles informed by a global perspective through integrated learning experiences.  The program infuses all major course content with the components of ABAR pedagogy, and a strong focus on equity and justice.

Teachers graduating from this program will have the knowledge, confidence, and commitment necessary to be an active change maker 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 the adult.  ABAR curriculum combined with Montessori pedagogy brings a new perspective on child development and social order.  This experience will affect students’ understanding of themselves, children, and the world.  Such transformation involves the knowledge and skills necessary to impact societal change.  The educators graduating from this program will be expected to lead from a position of ethical responsibility.

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-infused 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.
  • Learning  and applying self-reflective practices to examine personal and societal biases and their impact on educational practice

This major is offered in the College for Adults only.


Teacher Candidates with a 3-6 Montessori certification are eligible to enroll in the licensure program. Montessori credits from a MACTE accredited institution may transfer in for course credit.
Teacher Candidates in this program have the option to add on the AMS (American Montessori Society) 2.5-6 years old Early Childhood credential to their program.

This major is offered in the College for Adults only.

Students who are not pursuing licensure in the state of Minnesota are exempt from ECED 3650, and will take ECED 4840W instead of student teaching.

Prerequisite Courses
ECED 1000Introduction to Early Childhood Education4
ECED 2040WHistorical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education4
Total Credits8
Required Courses
ECED 2200The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment4
ECED 2300Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards1
ECED 2400Effective Practice in Early Childhood Education4
ECED 2500Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education1
ECED 2550Emergent Multilingualism2
ECED 2600Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education1
ECED 3280Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials4
ECED 3340Child in the Family4
ECED 3350Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood4
ECED 3402Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education2
ECED 3560Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas2
ECED 3600Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom3
ECED 4105Early Childhood Practical Life and Dramatic Play 32
ECED 4155Early Childhood Sensorial 32
ECED 4265Creative Expression in Early Childhood 32
ECED 4275Early Childhood Science 32
ECED 4365Early Childhood Mathematics 32
ECED 4375Early Childhood Language Arts and Reading2
ECED 4385Early Childhood Social and Cultural Studies 32
ECED 4650Emergent Literacy: Lang Comp2
Choose One From:2-12
ECED 3650
& ECED 4810
Early Childhood Education Student Teaching Seminar
and Early Childhood Student Teaching
ECED 4840W
Bachelor Completer Capstone Project: A Critical Exploration of Early Childhood Education 2
Total Credits50-60
1

Waived for students who are not pursuing licensure in the state of Minnesota.

2

Students who are not pursuing licensure in the state of Minnesota will take ECED 4840W in place of student teaching.

3

Students holding a MACTE-approved Montessori credential do not need to take these methods classes. They do, however, need to take ECED 4375.

Required Supporting Courses
HHS 4100Holistic Health in Communities of Practice4
PSYC 1000General Psychology4
PSYC 2020/2025Lifespan Developmental Psychology4
Total Credits12

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).

All Minnesota teacher candidates are required to take and pass a series of exams that measure basic academic skills and content knowledge and pedagogy for the age group and course content they will be licensed to teach. During the 14-week student teaching experience, students will complete the edTPA, a national performance assessment required by the State of Minnesota.

Appeals/Grievance Policy

Candidates in the teacher education programs at St. Catherine University are expected to follow the grievance and appeals procedures outlined at the University, found in the current University catalog. Candidates seeking to appeal decisions related to retention in the teacher education program and recommendation for licensure must follow these established procedures.

 
 

Fall Start

Fall Term
ECED 1000Introduction to Early Childhood Education4
HHS 4100Holistic Health in Communities of Practice4
Spring Term
PSYC 1000General Psychology4
ECED 2040WHistorical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education4
Summer Term
ECED 2400Effective Practice in Early Childhood Education4
ECED 4105Early Childhood Practical Life and Dramatic Play2
ECED 4265Creative Expression in Early Childhood2
Fall Term
ECED 2200The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment4
ECED 3402Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education2
PSYC 2020/2025Lifespan Developmental Psychology4
Spring Term
ECED 2300Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards1
ECED 2500Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education1
ECED 2550Emergent Multilingualism2
ECED 3340Child in the Family4
Summer Term
ECED 4155Early Childhood Sensorial2
ECED 4375Early Childhood Language Arts and Reading2
ECED 4365Early Childhood Mathematics2
Fall Term
ECED 3600Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom3
ECED 3560Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas2
Spring Term
ECED 3350Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood4
ECED 2600Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education1
ECED 4650Emergent Literacy: Lang Comp2
Summer Term
ECED 4275Early Childhood Science2
ECED 4385Early Childhood Social and Cultural Studies2
Fall Term
ECED 3280Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials4
Spring Term
ECED 3650Early Childhood Education Student Teaching Seminar2
ECED 4810Early Childhood Student Teaching10
Total Credits80

Spring Start

Spring Term
ECED 1000Introduction to Early Childhood Education4
ECED 2040WHistorical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education4
Summer Term
PSYC 1000General Psychology4
Fall Term
HHS 4100Holistic Health in Communities of Practice4
ECED 2200The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment4
Spring Term
PSYC 2020Lifespan Developmental Psychology4
or PSYC 2025 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
ECED 2300Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards1
Summer Term
ECED 2400Effective Practice in Early Childhood Education4
ECED 4105Early Childhood Practical Life and Dramatic Play2
ECED 4265Creative Expression in Early Childhood2
Fall Term
ECED 3280Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials4
ECED 3402Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education2
Spring Term
ECED 2500Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education1
ECED 2550Emergent Multilingualism2
ECED 3340Child in the Family4
Summer Term
ECED 4155Early Childhood Sensorial2
ECED 4365Early Childhood Mathematics2
ECED 4375Early Childhood Language Arts and Reading2
Fall Term
ECED 3560Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas2
ECED 3600Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom3
Spring Term
ECED 2600Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education1
ECED 3350Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood4
ECED 4650Emergent Literacy: Lang Comp2
Summer Term
ECED 4275Early Childhood Science2
ECED 4385Early Childhood Social and Cultural Studies2
Fall Term
ECED 3650Early Childhood Education Student Teaching Seminar2
ECED 4810Early Childhood Student Teaching10
Total Credits80

Summer Start

Summer Term
PSYC 1000General Psychology4
ECED 1000Introduction to Early Childhood Education4
Fall Term
HHS 4100Holistic Health in Communities of Practice4
ECED 2040WHistorical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education4
Spring Term
PSYC 2020Lifespan Developmental Psychology4
or PSYC 2025 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
ECED 2500Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education1
ECED 2300Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards1
Summer Term
ECED 4265Creative Expression in Early Childhood2
ECED 4105Early Childhood Practical Life and Dramatic Play2
ECED 2400Effective Practice in Early Childhood Education4
Fall Term
ECED 2200The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment4
ECED 3402Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education2
Spring Term
ECED 3340Child in the Family4
ECED 2600Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education1
Summer Term
ECED 4155Early Childhood Sensorial2
ECED 4365Early Childhood Mathematics2
ECED 4375Early Childhood Language Arts and Reading2
Fall Term
ECED 3560Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas2
ECED 3600Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom3
Spring Term
ECED 2550Emergent Multilingualism2
ECED 3350Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood4
ECED 4650Emergent Literacy: Lang Comp2
Summer Term
ECED 4275Early Childhood Science2
ECED 4385Early Childhood Social and Cultural Studies2
Fall Term
ECED 3280Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials4
Spring Term
ECED 3650Early Childhood Education Student Teaching Seminar2
ECED 4810Early Childhood Student Teaching10
Total Credits80

Faculty

Undergraduate Faculty

Molly Wheeler, MAED
Program Director, Assistant Professor

Sarah Hassebroek, EdS
Associate Professor

Sarah Streyle, MAED
Assistant Professor

Dr. Jasmine Williams, PhD
Assistant Professor