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

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 University Core 39 Requirements BS: 41 credit hours/BA: 44 credit hours

Within USI’s 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.

Additional Content Courses (6 hours)

• MATH 103 - Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I Credits: 3

• Choose one of:

• HIST 111 - World Civilizations I, Beginnings to 1500 Credits: 3
• HIST 112 - World Civilizations II, 1500-Present Credits: 3

Early Childhood Education Requirements (54 hours)

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

• EDUC 203 - Introduction to Children’s Literature Credits: 3
• EDUC 241 - Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
• EDUC 242 - Explorations in Early Childhood Education: Growth and Development Credits: 3
• EDUC 246 - Language and Literacy in the Early Years Credits: 3
• EDUC 255 - Growth and Development: Infants and Toddlers Credits: 3
• EDUC 256 - Guidance of Young Children Credits: 3
• EDUC 261 - Special Needs: Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
• EDUC 344 - Family, School, Community Partnerships Credits: 3
• EDUC 351 - Music, Movement, Play, and Expressive Arts Credits: 3
• EDUC 355 - Practicum in Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
• EDUC 356 - Teaching Methods in Integrated Content Areas (Preschool-Primary) Credits: 3
• EDUC 386 - Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction Credits: 3
• EDUC 398 - Reading Methods Credits: 3
• EDUC 431 - Supervised Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education Credits: 3-9
• EDUC 437 - Classroom Management through Data-based Decision Making Credits: 3
• EDUC 458 - Seminar in Professional Education Credits: 3

Content Area Minor (24 hours)

The early childhood education major requires completion of a content area teaching minors.  The requirements listed above total 101 credits, leaving 19 hours to devote to a minor.  Any content area teaching minor approved by an advisor may fulfill this requirement.  However, only the minors listed below can be completed within 120 credit hours.

• Mathematics Teaching Minor (Elementary)
• Reading Teaching Minor
• Science Teaching Minor
• Social Studies Teaching Minor

Check with your advisor for other possibilities.