Early Childhood Education (ECED)
Overview
Suzanne Kucharczyk
Head, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
217 Peabody Hall
479-575-6210
Email: suzannek@uark.edu
Laura K.M. Herold
Early Childhood Education Program
479-575-5162
Email: lkherold@uark.edu
Curriculum and Instruction Website
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers a program that prepares candidates for initial teacher licensure in Early Childhood Education (Birth–Second Grade).
The Early Childhood Education program prepares candidates to teach and support young children from birth through second grade in a variety of settings, including early elementary classrooms, public preschools, child development centers, and community-based programs. The curriculum offers rigorous coursework in curriculum and instruction, child development, family engagement, play-based learning, and inclusive practices. Field experiences are embedded throughout the program, connecting theory to practice at the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center and in public Pre-K through second grade classrooms. Graduates are equipped for initial licensure in both Birth-Kindergarten/Early Childhood Special Education Integrated and Preschool-Second Grade and are also prepared for careers in early childhood program leadership, advocacy, and care.
Admission to the Early Childhood Education Licensure B.S.E. is competitive and consists of a three-stage process; simply meeting the minimum admission requirements will not guarantee admission. Admission will be determined by the Early Childhood Education faculty based on the criteria listed in Stage II.
Requirements for B.S.E. in Early Childhood Education
Stage I: Pre-Early Childhood Education (PECED)
Complete 61 hours of program pre-requisites for the Early Childhood Education B.S.:
- †Complete all program courses with a "C" or better.
- Submit evidence indicating that they have met one requirement in each of the following skill areas:
- Writing: (a) 3.0 average in ENGL 10103 and ENGL 10203 within last 7 years; (b) passing ACT/SAT/Praxis Core score in Writing; or (c) Accuplacer Next Generation score of 255
- Math: (a) Earned C or higher in College Algebra or equivalent course within last 7 years, (b) passing ACT/SAT/Praxis score in Math, or (c) Accuplacer Next Generation score of 255
- Reading: (a) 3.0 Cumulative GPA, (b) passing ACT/SAT/Praxis Core score in Reading; or Accuplacer Next Generation score of 255
- Complete a background check
Stage II: Admission to the Early Childhood Education B.S.E
Admission to the Early Childhood Education Licensure Program is competitive; not all applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be admitted to the program. Applications to the Early Childhood Education (ECED) Licensure program must be submitted by January 31.
The application process includes:
- Submission of the application to teacher education through the university-wide Teacher Education Support Page (see Razorback Educator Development Hub)
- Submission of Early Childhood Education application
- Submission of transcripts for all coursework. GPA will be considered, and applicants should strive for a 3.0 GPA
- Submission of two letters of recommendation from college faculty regarding applicants' dispositions
- Current background check
Stage III: Requirements for Program Continuation and Student Teaching/Internship
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in ECED coursework
- Submission of Internship Application
- Passing score on teaching audition
- Oral interview with Early Childhood Education and internship partner school faculty
- Maintain a current background check
- Earn a CPR card
- Passing score on required Praxis licensure exams
- This B.S.E. (4-year) degree includes two semesters (fall and spring) of residency (student teaching) in a local public preschool or elementary school. Senior-level students must therefore attend full-time.
Requirements for teacher licensure vary from state to state and may differ in teacher preparation programs. Please note that Arkansas requires all applicants to successfully complete a criminal background check. Arkansas Teacher Licensure requirements can be found at teach.uark.edu.
†All program courses must have a grade of "C" or better. A grade of "B" or better must be earned in both the fall and spring semesters of CIED 41703 Residency I and CIED 42906 Advanced Residency II.
| University Requirements | 1 | |
| University Perspectives | ||
| Pre-Early Childhood Education (PECED) Requirements | 38 | |
Communications | ||
| Composition I (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 1013) | ||
| Composition II (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 1023) | ||
| Public Speaking (ACTS Equivalency = SPCH 1003) 1 | ||
U.S. History or Government 2 | ||
Select 3 hours from U.S. History or Government University Core | ||
Mathematics 2 | ||
| College Algebra (ACTS Equivalency = MATH 1103) (or higher level MATH) | ||
Sciences 2 | ||
Select 8 hours (two lecture/lab combinations) Sciences University Core | ||
Fine Arts and Humanities 2 | ||
Select 3 hours from Fine Arts University Core | ||
Select 3 hours Humanities University Core | ||
Social Sciences | ||
| General Psychology (ACTS Equivalency = PSYC 1103) | ||
| General Sociology (ACTS Equivalency = SOCI 1013) | ||
or HDFS 26003 | Rural Families and Communities | |
| Family Relations | ||
| Additional PECED Requirements | 23 | |
| Survey of Mathematical Structures I | ||
| Fundamentals of Nutrition | ||
| Introduction to Technology in Education | ||
| Introduction to Education | ||
| Infant and Toddler Development and Infant and Toddler Development Laboratory | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Child Guidance and Child Guidance Laboratory | ||
| Early Childhood Requirements | 54 | |
| Survey of Exceptionalities | ||
| Emergent Literacy | ||
| Primary Mathematics Methods in the K-6 Classroom | ||
| Developmental Literacy | ||
| Language and Literacy Pedagogy for Birth through Kindergarten Educators | ||
| Elementary Seminar | ||
| Assessment and Instruction | ||
| Residency I 2 | ||
| Math and Science for Young Children | ||
| Creative and Social Experience for Young Children | ||
| Advanced Residency II 2 | ||
| Understanding Cultures in the Classroom | ||
| Arkansas and the Southwest | ||
| Child Welfare: 21st Century Perspectives | ||
or SCWK 30103 | Child Advocacy I: Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Child Advocacy | |
| Teaching Students with Extensive Support Needs | ||
| ABA and Classroom Management for Teachers | ||
| Professional and Family Partnerships | ||
| General Electives | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- †
Complete all requirements with grade "C" or better unless otherwise noted.
- 1
Go to the State Minimum Core Requirements.
- 2
Must have grade of "B" or better for graduation.
Dismissal based on Unethical or Unprofessional Behaviors from Early Childhood Education B.S.E. Program
The University of Arkansas' teacher preparation programs adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession as established by the National Education Association as described in NEA Code of Ethics, Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Code of Ethics, as well as discipline-specific codes of ethics and standards found in program handbooks. Violation of these principles may result in probation, suspension, or dismissal of the internship as described:
- Any incident of ethical misconduct or concern will be documented by the faculty member(s), discussed directly with the student and their mentor, and referred to the program's coordinator or supervising faculty. It may also be reported to the Teacher Candidate Professional Review Committee.
- The Teacher Candidate Professional Review Committee evaluates the concerns and recommends a course of action, which may range from a zero score on the academic and/or internship work, a failing grade for the course, probation, up to dismissal from a teacher education program.
- Any candidate may be suspended by a Teacher Education Program Coordinator for review and may become permanent.
The Program Coordinator, in consultation with the Teacher Education Professional Review Committee and the Dean's Office for Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Education and Health Professions, has the authority and responsibility to dismiss a student from the teacher education program for unethical or unprofessional behavior and/or not recommend the student for licensure.
Students are cleared for field experiences in their first year of the program by registering with the Razorback Educator Development Hub (see program's handbook). This includes background checks for a criminal record and child maltreatment.
More detailed guidelines about the policies, supports, and other requirements are provided in the program's handbook, as well as on the Razorback Educator Development Hub website.
Students who have been dismissed on the basis of unethical or unprofessional conduct may appeal the decision following the procedures outlined under the Student Grievances and Appeals section of the Undergraduate Catalog of Studies.
Early Childhood Education B.S.E.
Eight-Semester Degree Program
Because this program requires admission to progress, it does not qualify for the university's Eight-Semester Degree Program; however, students who qualify for admission to the program can finish a degree in four years by following the suggested order of classes below.
| First Year | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| UNIV 10051 University Perspectives | 1 | |
| ENGL 10103 Composition I (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 1013) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 1.1) | 3 | |
| MATH 11003 College Algebra (ACTS Equivalency = MATH 1103) (or higher level MATH (Satisfies General Education Outcome 2.1) | 3 | |
| PSYC 20003 General Psychology (ACTS Equivalency = PSYC 1103) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.3) | 3 | |
| CIED 10103 Introduction to Education | 3 | |
| SPCH 10003 Public Speaking (ACTS Equivalency = SPCH 1003) (Satisfies General Education Outcomes 1.2 and 5.1) | 3 | |
| ENGL 10203 Composition II (ACTS Equivalency = ENGL 1023) (Satisfies General Education Outcome 1.1) | 3 | |
| NUTR 12103 Fundamentals of Nutrition | 3 | |
| HDFS 24103 Family Relations (Satisfies General Education Outcomes 3.3, 4.1, and 4.2) | 3 | |
| SOCI 10103 General Sociology (ACTS Equivalency = SOCI 1013) or HDFS 26003 Rural Families and Communities | 3 | |
| HDFS 24033 Infant and Toddler Development & HDFS 24031 Infant and Toddler Development Laboratory | 4 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 16 |
| Second Year | Units | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| CIED 10003 Introduction to Technology in Education | 3 | |
| MATH 22103 Survey of Mathematical Structures I | 3 | |
| Science University Core Elective (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.4) | 4 | |
| Humanities University Core Elective (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.2)2 | 3 | |
| HDFS 24303 Child Development | 3 | |
| U.S. History or Government University Core Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 1 | |
| Fine Arts University Core Elective (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.1)1 | 3 | |
| HDFS 24703 Child Guidance & HDFS 24701 Child Guidance Laboratory | 4 | |
| Science University Core Elective (Satisfies General Education Outcome 3.4) | 4 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 15 |
| Third Year | Units | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| CIED 44003 Understanding Cultures in the Classroom | 3 | |
| SCWK 36303 Child Welfare: 21st Century Perspectives or SCWK 30103 Child Advocacy I: Perspectives on Child Maltreatment and Child Advocacy | 3 | |
| CIED 42103 Math and Science for Young Children | 3 | |
| CIED 33303 Language and Literacy Pedagogy for Birth through Kindergarten Educators | 3 | |
| CIED 30203 Survey of Exceptionalities | 3 | |
| CIED 31103 Emergent Literacy | 3 | |
| CIED 31203 Primary Mathematics Methods in the K-6 Classroom | 3 | |
| SPED 44103 ABA and Classroom Management for Teachers | 3 | |
| CIED 41303 Assessment and Instruction (Satisfies General Education Outcome 6.1) | 3 | |
| CIED 42203 Creative and Social Experience for Young Children | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Fourth Year | Units | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| CIED 41703 Residency I | 3 | |
| CIED 40003 Elementary Seminar | 3 | |
| CIED 34503 Developmental Literacy | 3 | |
| HIST 33803 Arkansas and the Southwest | 3 | |
| SPED 44603 Teaching Students with Extensive Support Needs | 3 | |
| CIED 42906 Advanced Residency II | 6 | |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| SPED 47803 Professional and Family Partnerships | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 12 |
| Total Units in Sequence: | 120 | |
- 1
The Fine Arts Elective courses which satisfy General Education Outcome 3.1 include: ARCH 10003, ARHS 10003, COMM 10003, DANC 10003, LARC 10003, MUSC 10003, MUSC 100H3, MUSC 10103, MUSC 101H3, MUSC 13303, THTR 10003, THTR 10103 or THTR 101H3.
- 2
The Humanities Elective courses which satisfy General Education Outcome 3.2 include: AAST 20203, ANTH 10303, ARCH 10103, CLST 10003, CLST 100H3, CLST 10103, COMM 12303, DANC 10003, ENGL 12103, GNST 20003, HUMN 22103, LALS 20103, MRST 20103, MUSY 20003, MUSY 200H3, PHIL 20003, PHIL 200H3, PHIL 21003, PHIL 23003, THTR 10003, THTR 10103, THTR 101H3, ENGL 11103, ENGL 11203, or Intermediate-level world language.