Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Bulletin: 2026-2027 Undergraduate Bulletin Program: Early Childhood Education Major, B.A./B.S. Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Early Childhood Education Major, B.A./B.S.

Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education >> Teacher Education department 

The student who desires to become a licensed early childhood educator will complete the following minimum course of study that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and the Indiana instructional license in the area of early childhood (P-3). A Bachelor of Arts degree may be earned when the appropriate amount of credit in a foreign language is completed, but the total number of credits may exceed 120 hours.

Teaching Major Grade & GPA Requirement

Students completing a teaching major must earn at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA, a 2.75 major GPA, and a grade of C or better in all courses applied toward degree requirements.

Early Childhood Education Core 39 Requirements: BS (40 hours) or BA (43 hours)

Within Core 39, early childhood education majors are required to complete specific courses as indicated in the chart below to meet content requirements for licensure in early childhood education.

Foundations (14 hours)

Composition I ENG 101 - Rhetoric and Composition I: Literacy and the Self 
Composition II ENG 201 - Rhetoric and Composition II: Literacy and the World 
Communication (choose one) CMST 101 - Introduction to Public Speaking or
CMST 107 - Introduction to Interpersonal Communication 
Mathematics Any Core 39 approved Foundations Mathematics course
Physical Activity and Wellness KIN 192 - Concepts in Wellness and Fitness 
First Year Experience USI 101 - Soar to Success 

Civic and Cultural Awareness (12 hours) - 4 Categories of Ways of Knowing

Historical Inquiry HIST 203 - History for Educators 
Scientific & Mathematical Inquiry MATH 233 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers III  
(Note: MATH 223 is a prerequisite)
Social Inquiry EDUC 221 - Access and Opportunity in Education 
Creative & Aesthetic Expression
or World Languages & Culture
Choose one course from either category
(must be a unique prefix)

Bachelor of Science (14 hours) or Bachelor of Arts (17 hours)

World Language & Culture GEOG 330 - World Geography 
Natural Science with Lab BIOL 108 - Biology for Educators AND
CHEM 108 - Chemistry for Educators AND
GEOL 108 - Earth-Space Science for Educators AND
PHYS 108 - Physics for Educators 
Social Science Choose one course
Students may pursue a BA degree by completing modern language courses (ARAB/CHIN/FREN/GERM/JPN/LATN/SPAN) 101, 102, 203, and 204. For the BA degree, the social science elective may be omitted. However, GEOG 330 and the 8 hours of science are still required.

Embedded Experiences (may be core, major and/or elective courses)

Diversity EDUC 221 - Access and Opportunity in Education 
Global GEOG 330 - World Geography 
Writing
 
EDUC 221 - Access and Opportunity in Education  AND
EDUC 458 - Seminar in Professional Education 
 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Additional Content Course (3 hours)

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
MATH 103 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3

Early Childhood Education Requirements (66 hours)

In addition to Core 39 and content requirements, candidates are required to complete the following professional education courses:

Course NameCredits:Term TakenGradeGen Ed
EDUC 203 - Introduction to Children’s Literature
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
MATH 223 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 3
EDUC 241 - Early Childhood Education
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 242 - Explorations in Early Childhood Education: Growth and Development
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 246 - Foundations of Literacy
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 255 - Growth and Development: Infants and Toddlers
Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 3
EDUC 256 - Guidance of Young Children
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 261 - Special Needs: Early Childhood Education
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 344 - Family, School, Community Partnerships
Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 3
EDUC 351 - Music, Movement, Play, and Expressive Arts
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 355 - Practicum in Early Childhood Education
Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 3
EDUC 356 - Teaching Methods in Integrated Content Areas (Preschool-Primary)
Term(s) Offered: Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 378 - Introduction to Phonemic Awareness
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 386 - Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction
Term(s) Offered: Fall
Credits: 3
MATH 392 - The Teaching of Elementary School Mathematics
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 398 - Reading Methods
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 493 - Language, Comprehension, and Writing
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3
EDUC 431 - Supervised Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education  (9 hrs required)
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3-9
EDUC 437 - Classroom Management through Data-based Decision Making
Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Credits: 3
EDUC 458 - Seminar in Professional Education

USI Core 39: Embedded Experience-Writing


Term(s) Offered: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3

Content Area Minor

The early childhood education major requires completion of a content area teaching minors. Any content area teaching minor approved by an advisor may fulfill this requirement. However, only Mathematics Teaching Minor, Elementary School can be completed within 120 credit hours. Other available options that may exceed 120 credit hours include:

  • Science Teaching Minor for Elementary Education (123 hours)
  • Reading - Teaching Minor (122 hours)
  • Social Science Teaching Minor for Elementary Education or Junior High/Middle School (129 hours)

Check with your advisor for other possibilities.

Notes: