BS Ed: Early Childhood

---

Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education (B-3)

Ensure the Youngest Children get a Head Start

The impact of early learning experiences for children from birth through grade three is far reaching and the need for passionate qualified educators in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education is growing. The Early Childhood undergraduate program is designed for students who are interested in obtaining Missouri teacher certification in both Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. This degree prepares educators to work in the early childhood field in a variety of roles and a variety of contexts (i.e. classroom teachers in regular and inclusive settings, Center directors, and children’s organizations) and other positions that require certification within the public and private school systems.

The Early Childhood program prepares educators through a program based upon knowledge of what constitutes best practices for teaching young children within inclusive settings and supporting their families. The program addresses the areas of child development, curriculum emergence and development, developmentally appropriate practice, differentiated learning, diversity, advocacy and family partnerships. Students have opportunities to apply their acquired knowledge in a variety of field and community based experiences offered as part of their professional course work from the very first courses. These experiences take place in a variety of community agencies including United Way organizations, St. Louis educational and cultural institutions, studio schools, the University Child Development Center (UCDC), and preschools and elementary schools in the metropolitan St. Louis area.

Our teacher programs offer unique capstone experiences, two practica in “Studio Schools.” These are schools and districts where design happens, using a “differentiated staffing” plan. Specifically, teacher candidates will work in the school site as a faculty member, planning and teaching to provide in-depth support, flexibility, and intervention for pre K–12 students where it’s needed. The focus of this model is on K–12 student learning. Teacher candidates, supported by the supervisor and school site mentor, will impact Pre K–12 students in multiple, varied and wide ranging grade level, achievement and subject specific contexts. These can include small group settings, whole class lessons, enrichment and support lessons all focused learning experiences.

From your first course, “Effective Career Decision Making for Educators,” where you explore educational opportunities at all levels, to your courses directly connected to real world learning in youth serving agencies and content focused organizations and then throughout your practica as you participate in faculty roles and responsibilities, you will be excellently prepared. As a College of Education teacher candidate, you will have state of the art opportunities to make positive impacts on student learning and growth as you become a community educator for all learners.

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP)

To review this program’s national accreditation, please follow this link to review our AAQEP accreditation report.

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC SARA)

To determine if this program meets the reciprocity requirements for like state educational certification programs outside the state of Missouri, follow this link for further contact information and resources.