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.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prerequisite Courses
ECED 1000	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 2040W	Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education	4
Total Credits		8

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
ECED 2200	The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment	4
ECED 2300	Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards	1
ECED 2400	Effective Practice in Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 2500	Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education	1
ECED 2600	Health, Wellness and Nutrition 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 4105	Early Childhood Practical Life and Dramatic Play	2
ECED 4155	Early Childhood Sensorial	2
ECED 4265	Creative Expression in Early Childhood	2
ECED 4275	Early Childhood Science	2
ECED 4365	Early Childhood Mathematics	2
ECED 4375	Early Childhood Language Arts and Reading	2
ECED 4385	Early Childhood Social and Cultural Studies	2
ECED 4807	Early Childhood Student Teaching	7
ECED 4705	Early Childhood Education Practicum I	5
or ECED 4710	Early Childhood Education Practicum II
Total Credits		50

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Supporting Courses
ECED 3340	Child in the Family	4
HHS 4100	Holistic Health in Communities of Practice	4
INDI 3400	Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education	4
PSYC 1000	General Psychology	4
PSYC 2025	Lifespan Developmental Psychology (PSYC 2020, or PSYC 2026 and PSYC 2027)	4
Total Credits		20

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.

Fall Start

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Fall Term
ECED 1000	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
HHS 4100	Holistic Health in Communities of Practice	4
Spring Term
ECED 2300	Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards	1
PSYC 1000	General Psychology	4
ECED 2040W	Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education	4
Summer Term
ECED 2400	Effective Practice in Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 4105	Early Childhood Practical Life and Dramatic Play	2
ECED 4265	Creative Expression in Early Childhood	2
Fall Term
ECED 2200	The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment	4
INDI 3400	Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education	4
PSYC 2025	Lifespan Developmental Psychology	4
Spring Term
ECED 2500	Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education	1
ECED 3340	Child in the Family	4
Summer Term
ECED 4155	Early Childhood Sensorial	2
ECED 4375	Early Childhood Language Arts and Reading	2
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 2600	Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education	1
ECED 3560	Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas	2
Summer Term
ECED 4275	Early Childhood Science	2
ECED 4365	Early Childhood Mathematics	2
ECED 4385	Early Childhood Social and Cultural Studies	2
Fall Term
ECED 4705	Early Childhood Education Practicum I	5
ECED 4807	Early Childhood Student Teaching	7
Total Credits		78

Spring Start

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Spring Term
ECED 1000	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 2040W	Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education	4
Summer Term
ECED 2400	Effective Practice in Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 4105	Early Childhood Practical Life and Dramatic Play	2
ECED 4265	Creative Expression in Early Childhood	2
Fall Term
ECED 2200	The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment	4
HHS 4100	Holistic Health in Communities of Practice	4
PSYC 1000	General Psychology	4
Spring Term
ECED 2300	Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards	1
ECED 2500	Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education	1
PSYC 2025	Lifespan Developmental Psychology	4
ECED 3350	Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood	4
Summer Term
ECED 4155	Early Childhood Sensorial	2
ECED 4375	Early Childhood Language Arts and Reading	2
Fall Term
ECED 3280	Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials	4
INDI 3400	Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 3600	Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom	3
Spring Term
ECED 3340	Child in the Family	4
ECED 2600	Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education	1
ECED 3560	Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas	2
Summer Term
ECED 4275	Early Childhood Science	2
ECED 4365	Early Childhood Mathematics	2
ECED 4385	Early Childhood Social and Cultural Studies	2
Fall Term
ECED 4710	Early Childhood Education Practicum II	5
ECED 4807	Early Childhood Student Teaching	7
Total Credits		78

Summer Start

Students are advised to take CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman their first summer.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Summer Term
ECED 1000	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
PSYC 1000	General Psychology	4
Fall Term
ECED 2040W	Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 2300	Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards	1
HHS 4100	Holistic Health in Communities of Practice	4
Spring Term
ECED 2500	Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education	1
PSYC 2025	Lifespan Developmental Psychology	4
Summer Term
ECED 2400	Effective Practice in Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 4105	Early Childhood Practical Life and Dramatic Play	2
ECED 4265	Creative Expression in Early Childhood	2
Fall Term
INDI 3400	Implementing Critical Literacy in Early Childhood Education	4
ECED 2200	The Art of Early Childhood Classroom Guidance and Assessment	4
ECED 3280	Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials	4
Spring Term
ECED 2600	Health, Wellness and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education	1
ECED 3350	Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood	4
Summer Term
ECED 4155	Early Childhood Sensorial	2
ECED 4375	Early Childhood Language Arts and Reading	2
Fall Term
ECED 3600	Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom	3
Spring Term
ECED 3340	Child in the Family	4
ECED 3560	Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas	2
Summer Term
ECED 4365	Early Childhood Mathematics	2
ECED 4275	Early Childhood Science	2
ECED 4385	Early Childhood Social and Cultural Studies	2
Fall Term
ECED 4705	Early Childhood Education Practicum I	5
ECED 4807	Early Childhood Student Teaching	7
Total Credits		78

¹

Taken during J-Term

Faculty

Undergraduate Faculty

Molly Wheeler
Program Director, Assistant Professor

Sarah Hassebroek, EdS
Associate Professor

Sarah Streyle
Assistant Professor

Elizabeth Elcombe
Assistant Professor

Olivia Christensen, PhD
Adjunct Professor

Teresa Ripple, EdD
Assoc. Professor Emerita