Early Childhood Education Bachelor's Degree Program 

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education provides students with an advanced understanding of early childhood theory and practices. The program provides students with the pedagogical knowledge they need to work in early childhood settings. The program is structured to provide a professional education with a comprehensive curriculum for students to work in non-certified administrative or teaching positions. It is guided by constructivist-based developmentally appropriate teaching philosophy and practices for children ages birth-age 8.

All prerequisite and major requirements must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher.

Students must complete the following prerequisite requirements for all concentrations.

• PSY 101: Psychology
• SOC 101: Sociology

• ECE 101: Introduction to Early Childhood Education 3 credits
• ECE 247: Child Development: Birth - Age 8 3 credits
• ECE 176: Health, Safety, and Nutrition: Birth - Age 8 3 credits
• Diversity and Ethics in Early Care and Education 3 credits
• ECE 210: Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Programs 3 credits
• Early Language and Literacy 3 credits
• The Exceptional Learner 3 credits
• SOC 350: Children, School, and the Community 3 credits
• PSY 301: Psychology of Play 3 credits

Note: Core requirements must be taken by all students in this degree program. Additional track requirements are listed below.

Students who graduate with a major in Early Childhood Education will be able to:

1. Develop curriculum and lesson plans that reflect understanding of developmentally appropriate practices and promote child development and learning (NAEYC, Standard 1).
2. Establish partnerships with families in order to foster the growth and development of each child (NAEYC, Standard 2).
3. Utilize a variety of assessment tools to observe and document children’s development for the purpose of informing instruction to meet the needs of each learner (NAEYC, Standard 3).
4. Use content knowledge to design effective approaches and strategies for working with families to positively influence child development and learning (NAEYC, Standard 4).
5. Design a safe, healthy, supportive, inclusionary, and culturally pluralistic learning environment for young children (NAEYC, Standard 1, 2, 4).
6. Use content knowledge to build a meaningful curriculum that is student-centered and takes into account the active and multimodal nature of young children’s learning (NAEYC, Standard 5).
7. Engage in reflective practice (NAEYC, Standard 6); design a culminating research project by identifying a topic, collecting and analyzing data, and providing recommendations to the field for the purpose making positive changes to practice and becoming more reflective as practitioners (NAEYC, Standard 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

Please note: Students may be subject to a criminal background check and drug screening prior to being placed in any internship.

This track is for teachers or prospective teachers that desire to work in any Connecticut state-funded Early Childhood Program. Two 6-credit field experience/practicum courses are required for this option. Students completing this option will qualify for the ECTC, Track B for Bachelor Degree recipients. The ECTC is a Connecticut-based early childhood credential and is awarded by the Office of Early Childhood at the completion of the degree.

• ECE 215: Behavior Management in Early Childhood 3 credits
• ECE 222: Curriculum for Young Children: Methods and Techniques 3 credits
• ECE 261: Infant/Toddler Care: Methods and Techniques 3 credits
• ECE 299: Early Childhood Education Practicum
  or
  ECE 399: Child Studies Practicum 6 credits
• ECE 304: Advanced Language & Literacy: Infant and Toddlers 3 credits
• ECE 330: Math, Science, and Tech for the Young Child 3 credits
• ECE 335: Advanced Methods in ECE/Special Ed-Pre K-K 3 credits
• ECE 494: Early Childhood Teacher Credential (Major) Capstone 6 credits
• Total30 credits

This track is for students who currently work as program directors or assistant directors or for teachers or other professionals that would like to advance to program director positions. By taking courses in this track, students will understand the many facets of leadership that encompass the early childhood director’s job. Students will gain an understanding of early childhood curriculum and how to work with families, as well as the human resource and fiscal responsibilities of program directors. Students will take a 6-credit Culminating Practicum and Capstone Course for this concentration where they will work under the guidance of a mentor leader. Students who already qualify as National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) administrators, or directors that have at least four years of administrative experience, will take a 3-credit course and document their experiences in the form of an individualized professional portfolio. Course instructors will work with students to create a practicum experience that is respective of the student’s time, current work obligations, as well as prior experiences in early childhood administrative or leadership roles. Students will also earn their Connecticut Director Credential at the standard level.

• ECE 222: Curriculum for Young Children: Methods and Techniques 3 credits
• ECE 250: Administration & Supervision of Early Childhood Programs 3 credits
• ECE 261: Infant/Toddler Care: Methods and Techniques 3 credits
• Finance in Programs for Young Children 3 credits
• ECE 325: Personnel Management in Programs for Children 3 credits
• ECE 351: Advanced Leadership in Early Childhood Education 3 credits
• Culminating Practicum and Capstone in Program Administration and Leadership.
  *Students with approved NAEYC administrator credential will take the 3-credit practicum course.3 or 6 credits
• Total21 or 24 credits

This track is designed for students who desire to work with infants/toddlers or currently serve as teachers or assistant teachers in infant/toddler classrooms. A 6-credit student teaching practicum is required. Students enrolled in this concentration may work in private early childhood centers, family child care homes, or military child development centers. The purpose of this track is to ensure those working with the 0-3 population are knowledgeable of best practices in the care and education of this unique population of children.

• ECE 215: Behavior Management in Early Childhood 3 credits
• ECE 261: Infant/Toddler Care: Methods and Techniques 3 credits
• ECE 304: Advanced Language & Literacy: Infants and Toddlers 3 credits
• Child Studies Practicum 6 credits
• Child Studies Capstone 3 credits
• ECE or approved SOC/PSY Upper Level Electives 3 credits
• Total21 credits

This track is designed for students who desire to work as preschool teachers or currently serve as teachers or assistant teachers in private or non-funded preschool classrooms. Students enrolled in this concentration may work in private early childhood centers, family child care homes, or military child development centers. A 6-credit student teaching practicum is required. The purpose of this track is to prepare teachers to work with children ages 3-5 so they understand developmentally appropriate practices in preschool education.

• ECE 215: Behavior Management in Early Childhood 3 credits
• ECE 222: Curriculum for Young Children: Methods and Techniques 3 credits
• ECE 335: Advanced Methods in ECE/Special Ed-Pre K-K 3 credits
• Student Teaching Practicum 6 credits
• Child Studies Capstone 3 credits
• ECE or approved SOC/PSY Upper Level Electives 3 credits
• Total21 credits

This track is designed for students who work or desire to work in Montessori Programs. Students may specialize in Montessori infant and toddler or early childhood education. The practicum experience is embedded within the Montessori training and is therefore not required as an additional practicum for this concentration.

• The American Montessori Society (AMS) and the American Montessori International (AMI) credentials have been approved through the Connecticut Assessment Program. Credit awards are based on credential. 21-27 credits
• ECE 222: Curriculum for Young Children: Methods and Techniques 3 credits
• ECE 499: Child Studies Capstone 3 credits
• Total21 credits

Note: The ECE 499: Child Studies Capstone course must be completed at Charter Oak State College.