Early Childhood Education - B.S.E.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Early Childhood Education focuses on professional preparation and application of current theory, methods and practices for future teachers of preschool to grade five classrooms. Students form a cohort and complete the five-block sequence of courses while gaining teaching experiences linked to coursework. All students complete field and practicum experiences in diverse settings, including urban and inclusive programs, and accumulate approximately 1,200 clock hours of field experience in preschool and elementary classrooms.

Graduates of the program who pass the State of Ohio Assessment Tests are eligible for Ohio licensure in Early Childhood, which is valid for teaching children, age three through grade five, who are typically developing, at-risk, gifted or who have mild/moderate educational needs.

Graduates also have the opportunity to receive an International Baccalaureate recognition certificate concurrent with the completion of the B.S.E. degree.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this major is selective. As part of an enrollment management plan, students are admitted to the advanced study portion of the Early Childhood Education major on a selective basis. A maximum of 100 students will be admitted to advanced study each academic year. A minimum 2.750 overall high school grade point average is required. Students seeking admission to this program must meet all professional requirements for admission to advanced study and have a minimum 2.750 overall GPA in all previous undergraduate coursework. Because of the instituted enrollment management plan, meeting the above requirements does not automatically provide students admittance to the advanced study portion of the Early Childhood Education major. Faculty will select the most qualified applicants based upon the number of available student spaces, student essays and overall GPA. Students should contact the Vacca Office of Student Services, 304 White Hall, during the first year of study to inquire into the procedures associated with admission to advanced study and selective admission to the Early Childhood Education program.

Students who do not meet the GPA requirement at the time of admission for this major will be admitted to the EHHS General non-degree program until which time they have established a Kent State GPA of 2.750. They may then submit a change of program to declare this major.

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and meet all admission criteria listed above to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Co-construct curriculum as a co-worker with learners and others (parents, families, colleagues and community members) to make sound decisions for learning and teaching experiences, as opposed to being passive receivers of prescribed curriculum.
2. Synthesize conceptual understandings of children, theory, content, technology and sociocultural contexts into meaningful activities and opportunities for learning with all preschool-to-grade five students.
3. Engage in the habit of self-assessment in order to continually uncover unknown possibilities in children’s learning, classroom practice, educational theory and one’s own teaching identity in the local and global context.
4. Become committed to the children and their learning, the families and the local community while having an awareness of the global context; engage in continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning.
5. Apply skills, knowledge and dispositions to challenge “questionable” policies that limit opportunities for all children.
6. Utilize research and theory to develop varied and effective pedagogies and assessments that will positively impact all students’ learning (learning and teaching is a transdisciplinary practice).
7. Advocate as ethical leaders and moral agents striving for social justice.
8. Acknowledges and practices multiple, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multiracial, multi- social and -economic and multilingual perspectives in a global society.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Teacher candidates are only permitted to repeat a field experience course once. Please see Repeating Field Experience Courses in Teacher Education Programs policy for details.

²

A laboratory course must be selected from one of two elective lists.

Progression Requirements

Students must meet all professional requirements for admission to advanced study.

To manage enrollment and deliver high-quality programs, the faculty will select the most qualified applicants for admission based upon evaluation of academic success (overall GPA) at Kent State University; non-academic criteria and other specific program criteria.

Please be aware that reapplication may be necessary if postponing advanced study coursework or if withdrawn for one year or more.

Graduation Requirements

• A minimum C grade is required in most courses; view the program requirements to see specific courses.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. See Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type. Taking and passing the licensure tests prior to graduation is encouraged but not required.

Students must apply for State of Ohio Licensure (defined by completion of all licensure program requirements) within 12 months of program completion. After 12 months, applicants must meet state-approved program/licensure requirements that are in effect at the time of application. This means that students who apply after the 12-month deadline may have to take additional coursework if the content, methods courses, program requirements or licensure requirements have changed from the catalog in force.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus
  • Salem Campus
  • Tuscarawas Campus

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation