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Early Childhood Education

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Human Developmnt/Child StudiesUG

General

Requirements

Major Dependent Concentration(s)

Program Requirements

Oakland University’s Early Childhood Education, B.S. can lead to a Michigan Department of Education teaching certificate in Birth - Kindergarten/Pre-K - Grade Three. This program qualifies you to teach in a variety of early childhood general and special education settings including but not limited to Birth - Grade Three in school settings, community based early childhood programs, and early intervention and early childhood special education programs. This degree provides coaching and mentoring experiences with local schools and community agencies. The focus is on whole child development including cognitive, socio-emotional, language and physical domains. Emphasis is given to the role of play, diversity & inclusion, and the role of family and culture in supporting young children. During this program, you will develop outstanding teaching skills, learn to address the needs of children and their families, use authentic assessment to evaluate children’s work, and learn developmentally appropriate pedagogical approaches while interacting with young children.

Admission to the Early Childhood Education, B.S.

Admission to major standing is required before beginning the professional sequence. Students using this catalog to meet major requirements may also use any course subsequently approved as satisfying requirements and published in a later catalog.

Students who wish to pursue a B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education are admitted with pre-early childhood education status. 

Minimum criteria for admission to the Early Childhood Education, B.S. include:

  1. A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 2.80 or higher at Oakland University

  2. Complete course with a minimum grade of B

  3. Complete or place out of course with a minimum grade of C

  4. Complete course with a minimum grade of B

  5. Read and sign, acknowledging a duty to uphold the Michigan Code of Educational Ethics

  6. Submission of a completed major standing application to the SEHS Advising Office.

Students can apply for major standing once they are registered for course.

Major standing will be approved pending successful completion of all requirements.

After admission, students meet for course selection with Academic Advisers in the SEHS Advising Office

Requirements for the Major in Early Childhood Education, B.S.

General Education Requirements

In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their general education courses.

Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundation, Exploration, Integration, Writing, and U.S. Diversity. For details, refer to the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.

To Earn the Early Childhood Education, B.S. Degree, Students Must:

  • Complete a minimum of 120 credits

  • Meet University General Education Requirements 

  • Earn a minimum grade of C in each General Education course

  • Earn a minimum grade of B in course Composition II

  • Complete the Pre-Professional and Professional Education coursework with B or better in each course unless otherwise noted

Pre-Professional Courses

  • course Careers in Teaching (1)

  • course Teaching, Learning, and Schools (3)

  • course Science for the Elementary Teacher (3)

  • course Social Studies for the Elementary Teacher (3)

  • course Mathematics for Elementary Education I (3)

    • (with a minimum grade of C)

  • course Mathematics for Elementary Education II (4)

    • (with a minimum grade of C)

  • course Literature for Children (3)

Professional Education Courses

  • course Child Development Birth to Age 8: Typical and Atypical (3)

  • course  Learning Through Play (3)

  • course Infant and Toddler Development and Programs (3)

  • course  Early Language and Literacy Birth to Age 4: Content and Pedagogy (3)

  • course Seminar 1 - Core Teaching Practices (3)

  • course Emergent Literacy (3)

  • course Early Intervention (EI) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) (3)

  • course Math for Young Children: Content and Pedagogy (3)

  • course Building Children’s Resilience: From Trauma Informed to Trauma-sensitive Approaches to ECE (3)

  • course Seminar 2 - Professionalism and Collaboration (3)

  • course Culturally Responsive Education: The Role of Family, Culture & Community (3)

  • course Social Studies for Young Children: Content and Pedagogy (3)

  • course Science for Young Children: Content and Pedagogy (3)

  • course Math: Teaching Pre-Kindergarten to Third Grade (3)

  • course Seminar 3: Social-Emotional Learning and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (3)

  • course Seminar 4: Reflective Practice and Well-Being (3)

  • course Internship in BKPK 3 (9)

Field Placement

In the Early Childhood Education program, clinical field placements are required in all reading and seminar classes (listed below). Oakland University’s SEHS Office of School and Field Services provides clinical field placements for SEHS teacher education programs. The placements involve experiences in culturally and economically diverse school districts. Students who have met all academic, programmatic, and professional requirements are guaranteed the ability to apply for their next for a clinical field placement within 45 days of completing the prior semester. Before the initial placement, students will be required to disclose specific misdemeanor and felony charges and convictions. Prior to student teaching internship students are required to complete a fingerprint background. School districts may require additional background checks. Results of background checks may exclude students from being able to participate in a clinical field placement including the student teaching intern ship. Oakland University requires that students interview and be accepted by a local school district. Students will need to postpone their student teaching internship to the following school semester if they are not accepted after their third interview with a school district.

The following Elementary Early Childhood Education program courses have placements with required minimum hours:

In addition, for the course course students will have a 300-hour student teaching internship in a local early childhood setting which may include an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classroom or an inclusive early childhood classroom that includes children receiving special education services.

Internship

course Internship in BKPK3 must be taken in the final semester of the degree program.

Application for the internship, course, must be made 1 full academic year in advance of the intended enrollment. Students must check the School and Field Services website for the date of the required seminar meeting.

Admission criteria for the internship are:
a) satisfactory grade-point average and minimum required grades
b) completion of all professional education coursework and field placements; and
c) students must have passed the MTTC (Michigan Test for Teacher Certification) Early Childhood Education exam. Students will be required to be fingerprinted and have a state police and FBI background check at their own expense.

A minimum grade of C in course is required for graduation and a minimum grade of B for recommendation for certification. Students who do not earn the minimum grade for certification can earn a B. S. in Early Childhood Education without certification

Program Notes

In order to be recommended for a Michigan Teaching Certificate, in addition to the B. S. requirements, candidates must successfully complete their assigned Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification and be in compliance with all legal requirements for Michigan certification. Please visit the Human Development and Child Studies website for details.

Teacher Education Expectations Statement

Students participating in a community college articulation agreement, please visit this website for details about requirements: https://www.oakland.edu/registrar/transfers/articulation-agreement.

Applicable Minors

All Minors are applicable to this major with the exception of the following Minor(s): Child Welfare, International Orientation for EGR/CS, and Sustainability Engineering.