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Are you excited about educating young children outside of a formal classroom setting? If so, then UMSL’s BES with the Early Childhood emphasis is designed exactly for you. In UMSL’s BES program, students gain skill and insights that can be applied as innovative educators, as managers and directors, as program planners, and as curriculum developers. Students will find employment opportunities in both public and private institutions with missions that focus on the youngest learners or in any organization interested in young children and their learning. As part of the BES program, students have the opportunity to earn specific credentials, as needed, and to pursue academic minors related to their individual career goals. Traditional state teacher certification is not required for this emphasis area.
The Early Childhood BES program is based on current research of best practices for effective teaching of young children and their families outside of the classroom setting. The program addresses child development theories and practice, curriculum emergence and development in informal education, developmentally appropriate practice, diversity, advocacy, and family partnerships for education.
UMSL BES students have opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in a variety of field and community based experiences offered as part of their professional course work throughout the program. These internship experiences take place in a variety of settings in the St. Louis region. Internships at signature organizations such as the Saint Louis Science Center. Beyond Housing, the St. Louis ARC, and Kids Play offer authentic work site experiences with suburban, urban and special populations. Built into the BES program is the flexibility for students to have a tailor-made culminating experience related to their professional goals and future career needs.
Community College Student Makes Seamless Transition to a CareerStudents in UMSL’s BES program with the Early Childhood emphasis have some of their courses in common with other BES students, and specific courses in early childhood. The program includes 24 credit hours in Early Childhood for the specific courses, see the emphasis area for Early Childhood in the Requirements below.
Students follow the University's General Education Requirements, Mathematical Skills, Advanced Expository Writing, American History and Government, and Cultural Diversity Requirements. Due to prerequisites of required courses all students must take PSYCH 1003 and POL SCI 1100. Students pursuing the Exercise Science emphasis area must take BIOL 1012, BIOL 1013, and MATH 1030.
| TCH ED 1001 | Early Clinical Experience: Community Agency | 1 |
| TCH ED 2000 | Becoming a Professional Educator | 1 |
| EDUC 2002 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| EDUC 2222 | Interpretation: Connecting Audiences and Meaning | 3 |
| ED PSY 2212 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| or CNS ED 3200 | Interpersonal Skills in Helping Relationships | |
| PHY ED 2136 | Facilities Management | 3 |
| EDUC 3170 | Grant Proposal Writing for Educators | 3 |
| ED FND 3251 | Black Americans in Education | 3 |
| THEATR 3362 | Storytelling | 3 |
| MKTG 3721 | Introduction to Digital Marketing Strategies | 3 |
| ED TECH 4302 | Educational Technology Instruction in Educational Agencies | 3 |
| or ED TECH 4436 | Computer-Mediated Teaching and Learning in Education | |
| ED FND 4330 | History of American Education through the Lens of Social Justice | 3 |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
| Required Courses | ||
| ECH ED 3302 | Introduction to Inclusive Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECH ED 3303 | Curriculum and Practice Laboratory: Infant/Toddler | 1 |
| ECH ED 3304 | Curriculum and Practice Laboratory: Preschool | 1 |
| ECH ED 3313 | Curriculum and Practice: Infant/Toddler | 2 |
| ECH ED 3314 | Curriculum And Practice: Preschool Education | 2 |
| ECH ED 3332 | Literacy, Learning and Instruction For The Young Child | 3 |
| ECH ED 3350 | Family and Professional Partnerships within School/Community | 3 |
| ECH ED 4317 | Implementation, Evaluation, and Assessment in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| SPEC ED 3318 | Inclusive Classrooms | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
| Clinical Experiences | ||
| EDUC 4989 | Internship I | 3 |
| EDUC 4990 | Internship II | 6 |
| EDUC 4991 | Internship III | 6 |
| Suggested Courses | ||
| MEDIA ST 2211 | Introduction to Digital Multimedia Production | 3 |
| MEDIA ST 2222 | Convergence and Digital Media | 3 |
| MGMT 3600 | Management and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| or SOC 3600 | Management and Organizational Behavior | |
| SOC WK 2000 | Social Work and Social Issues | 3 |
| HLTH PE 3380 | Introduction to Nutrition for Health and Performance | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
The Explorers with their harvest corn from the COE's community garden. Nature experiences are a featured part of the Early Childhood Education curriculum in the Child Development Center.
