Early Childhood Education with Licensure - BS
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.
Curriculum
| 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 4710 | Early Childhood Education Practicum II | 5 |
| 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 |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
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. If any dispute is not settled after full implementation of the appeals processes as defined, the student may contact the Minnesota Board of Teaching per MN Statute 122A.09, Subdivision 4c.
Fall Start
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 4810 | ||
| Total Credits | 71 | |
- 1
Taken during J-Term
Spring Start
| 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 | 1 |
| ECED 2500 | Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education 1 | 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 | 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 | |
- 1
Taken during J-Term
Summer Start
Students are advised to take CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman their first summer.
| 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 | 1 |
| HHS 4100 | Holistic Health in Communities of Practice | 4 |
| Spring Term | ||
| ECED 2500 | Technology in Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Education 1 | 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 | 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 4810 | ||
| ECED 4710 | Early Childhood Education Practicum II | 5 |
| Total Credits | 71 | |
- 1
Taken during J-Term