St. Catherine's teaching program is approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). The program fulfills requirements for teacher certification or licensure in most states.

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) major provides students with a prior Early Childhood (2.5-6 years old) MACTE credential the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in ECE (ages 0-8) with the possibility for licensure (Note Infant/Toddler MACTE programs are not eligible for this degree pathway).. As part of the College for Adults, this fully online program is designed for working adults, and 19 college-level credits are awarded for a MACTE approved Montessori Credential.  This program will develop socially aware, critically informed, and innovative Early Childhood educators who will teach with Montessori theory and Anti-Bias, Anti-Racist (ABAR) teaching strategies at the core.  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:  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 our 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 active members of society 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.

ADMISSION 

To be considered for admission into the Early Childhood (ages 0-8) baccalaureate licensure program and MACTE/AMS Montessori certificate an applicant must have:

1. Completed ECED 2040: Historical, Cultural, and Social Foundations of Early Childhood with at least a “C” grade;

2. Completed ECE Program Application during ECED 2040 (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 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

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 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 4807	Early Childhood Student Teaching	7
ECED 4705	Early Childhood Education Practicum I	5
or ECED 4710	Early Childhood Education Practicum II
Montessori Credential Credits		19
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 2025/2020	Lifespan Developmental Psychology (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.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Summer Term
PSYC 1000	General Psychology	4
Fall Term
ECED 1000	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	4
PSYC 2025	Lifespan Developmental Psychology	4
Spring Term
ECED 2300	Early Childhood Education Accreditation and Standards	1
ECED 2040W	Historical, Cultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood Education	4
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 3560	Emergent Literacy in the Content Areas	2
ECED 3350	Understanding of Diverse Family Experiences and Student Exceptionalities in Early Childhood	4
Fall Term
ECED 3600	Teaching and Learning in the Lower Elementary Classroom	3
ECED 3280	Infant and Toddler Methods and Materials	4
Spring Term
ECED 4710	Early Childhood Education Practicum II	5
ECED 4807	Early Childhood Student Teaching	7
Total Credits		55

Faculty

Undergraduate Faculty

Molly Wheeler
Program Director, Assistant Professor

Sarah Hassebroek, EdS
Associate Professor

Sarah Streyle
Assistant Professor

Elizabeth Elcombe
Assistant Professor