The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares students to teach in preschools, child care centers, or child care homes, to serve as nannies in private homes, or to relate with parents and young children in other settings. Emphasis on special education also prepares the student for employment as a paraprofessional in special education preschool classrooms. Selection of sociology or psychology coursework for the elective courses can further prepare students for employment in other family- and child-related professions.
Required Program Courses: 23 hours (grade of C or
better required):
Introduction to Early Childhood Education (3 hours), Teaching/Learning
Strategies (4), Infants and Toddlers (3), Early Childhood Environments
(3), Child Health Care (3), Field Experience (4), Soc 207 Marriage
and Family (3).
General Education Note: Take General Psychology or Developmental Psychology to meet the social science requirement.
Plan of Study
1st year - College Orientation/Success (1 hour),
writing course (3), oral communication option (3), Biblical Literature
(3), humanities course (3), General Psychology or Developmental Psychology
(3), Fitness Concepts (1), Introduction to Early Childhood Education
(3), Teaching/Learning Strategies for ECE (4), Infants and Toddlers
or Child Health Care (3), Marriage and Family (3), elective courses
(6). Also meet computer and math competency requirements.
2nd year - natural science course (4), second HC Distinctive course (3), Early Childhood Environments (3), Infants and Toddlers or Child Health Care (3), Marriage and Family (3), Field Experience (4), elective courses (12).
Recommendations for pursuing teacher licensure: Introduction to Education, The Exceptional Student.
Recommendations for Early Childhood Education and Family Studies: Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Social Welfare, Cultural Anthropology, Religions of the World (for second Hesston College Distinctive)