Early Childhood Education

Note

Course requirements for the Early Childhood Education major are subject to change in order to meet Maryland State Department of Education certification regulations and accreditation requirements.

Description

Students interested in teaching in Maryland public schools major in Early Childhood Education. Students are encouraged to meet with department advisors as soon as possible to incorporate these required courses in their program planning for the major. Upon completion of McDaniel’s approved program and the Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and upon passing all required assessments, candidates will be eligible for initial teaching certification in grades PreK-3 in Maryland.

With careful planning, students are able to complete the major in four years or in four years with a ninth semester in full-time student teaching. This program option will result in a Bachelor of Arts degree.

McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education has been awarded initial accreditation status by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

Requirements

• EDU 1141 - Teaching and Learning in a Diverse Society *
• EDU 1160 - Introduction to Special Education for Elementary and Early Childhood Educators
• EDU 2015 - Literacy Processes and Acquisition
• EDU 2115 - Literacy Processes and Acquisition Practicum
• EDU 2010 - Early Childhood Theory and Practice
• EDU 2110 - Early Childhood Theory and Practice Practicum
• EDU 2100 - Internship in an Ethnically Diverse Setting *
• EDU 3324 - Literacy Instruction and Materials
• EDU 3124 - Literacy Instruction and Materials Practicum
• EDU 3315 - Family and Community in Early Childhood *
• EDU 3115 - Family and Community in Early Childhood Integrated Practicum
• EDU 3330 - Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Instruction for Language Development and Early Literacy
• EDU 3331 - Related Arts and Cultural Studies for Early Childhood *
• EDU 4205 - Assessment for Literacy Instruction
• EDU 4210 - Teaching Mathematics in Early Childhood
• EDU 4211 - Teaching Science in Early Childhood
• EDU 4121 - Integrated Field Experience
• EDU 4420 - Creating Inclusive Classrooms #
• EDU 4430 - Early Childhood Education Final Internship

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• BIO 1111 - Principles of Biology * AND
• BIO 1101 - Principles of Biology I Lab

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• GEO 2200 - Human Geography: Cultures of the Non-Western World *

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• GSC 1112 - The Earth *

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• HIS 1109 - Survey of Modern U.S. History, 1865-2000 * OR
• HIS 2224 - Becoming American: Topics in American History *

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• MAT 1106 - Mathematical Excursions * OR
• STA 2215 - Introduction to Statistics *

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• MAT 2242 - Mathematical Structures I
• MAT 3342 - Mathematical Structures II

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• PHY 1122 - Fundamentals of Physical Science *

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• PSY 2209 - Developmental Psychology * OR
• SWK 2214 - HBSE: Infancy to Adolescence *

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  *Course may fufill a McDaniel Plan requirement. 

Total Program Hours: 97

Departmental Writing Requirement

After successfully completing EDU 4420, notated by the # symbol, students will fulfill the Departmental Writing requirement.

Professional Experience

Each student is required to complete a practicum equivalent to a full school year as required by the Maryland State Department of Education. Students must take their final methods course the semester prior to the semester they intend to complete a student teaching internship. During the student teaching semester, early childhood education students complete 14 credit hours of student teaching at the preschool or primary grade level. All coursework should be planned so that one semester of the senior year may be kept entirely free for student teaching.

Additional Requirements

• Maryland PRAXIS I/PRAXIS CORE, SAT, or ACT scores or an alternate pathway which requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA at graduation.
• Maryland required PRAXIS II scores in appropriate content area, the TRE reading assessment, and completion of the edTPA assessment.

Professional Licensure

Requirements for professional licensure in education vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs are designed to meet Maryland’s licensure requirements and may not meet requirements from other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel’s Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.

For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement.

Students who complete this program and are seeking licensure in the state of Maryland must meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this Maryland approved program. The requirements may include but are not limited to the following:

1. Passing scores on content specific exams (i.e. - Praxis)
2. Pedagogy assessment (edTPA)
3. Reading content tests
4. Teaching experience
5. Payment of application or processing fees

More information about Maryland State Department of Education requirements can be found at https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/pages/dee/certification/index.aspx

Requirements for Departmental Honors

The following criteria must be met for a student who is an Education Major to receive Departmental Honors:

•     Students must have a cumulative GPA  of 3.75
•     Students must have received all A’s in these identified courses:  PSY 2209, MAT 2242, MAT 3342 plus any other EDU prefix courses (such as methods)
•     Students must have a final grade of A in student teaching
•     Students must have the recommendation of the Education Department

BA/MS Pathway

The College offers an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathway for academically qualified McDaniel students. For more information visit BA/MS Pathways .