2021-2022 Academic Catalog

A.S. in Early Childhood Education

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Program Description

The Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education degree program is a hands-on program that builds students' understanding of early childhood learning and pedagogy. 

Delivery Mode

Traditional (on campus)

Accreditation

This undergraduate degree program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Cal U's education programs have also been accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954, and we are continuing with the successor organization, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). 

Curriculum

Course Credits
General Education Courses 31
Building a Sense of Community
UNI 100  First-Year Seminar
1
Composition
ENG 101  English Composition I
3
Mathematics and Quantitative Literacy
MAT 120  Elementary Topics I
3
Health and Wellness
CHD 250  Health and Physical Education Methods for PreK-Grade 4
3
Technological Literacy
EDU 333  Educational Technology
3
Humanities
ESP 210  Special Education Foundations and Collaboration
3
Natural Sciences
PHS 120  Basic Physical Science with Lab
3 or 4
Ethics and Multicultural Awareness Emphasis Course
CHD 350  Family and Community Collaboration
3
General Education Options
  • MAT 130  Elementary Topics in Math II
  • British/American Literature Course (see approved list)
  • HIS 101  U.S. History to 1877  OR  HIS 102  U.S. History since 1877
9
   
Required Major Courses 21
CHD 200  Introduction to PreK to Grade 8 Education 3
ELE 220  Instruction and Assessment in PreK 3
ELE 221  Instruction and Assessment in K-4 3
CHD 312  Instruction: Leadership in Child. Ed. 3
ELE 300  Emerging Literacy 3
ELE 310  Teaching Math/Science PreK 3
ELE 410  PreK Field Experience 3
   
Required Related Courses 9
ESP 311  Assessment Positive Behavior Int. 3
PSY 205  Child Psychology 3
PSY 208  Educational Psychology 3
   
Total 60

Additional requirements not counted toward the General Education requirements and included in this program are:

  • Special Experience Course (1 course required): ELE 410 PreK Field Experience
  • Writing-Intensive Component Course (1 course required): ELE 410 PreK Field Experience
  • Laboratory Course (1 course required): PHS 120 Basic Physical Science with Lab

Program Notes: 

  • CHE 200 and ELE 220 require current clearances and minimum 2.0 GPA to register for courses.
  • All other EDU, ELE, ESP and CHD courses require current clearances and minimum 2.5 GPA to register for courses.
  • Pre-requisites for ELE 221 and all 300-level courses are ELE 200 and ELE 220.
  • Current clearances are required prior to enrolling in program courses.
  • Approved American/British literature courses: ENG 107, 125, 127, 148, 150, 155, 160, 203, 301, 302, 337, 338 and HON 250. (HON 250 has a pre-requisite of HON 150; the 300-level ENG courses have pre-requisites of ENG 101 and 102.)

General Education Program Notes: 

General education courses listed above are required for the associate's degree. However, students may wish to take additional courses, listed below, to apply to a bachelor's degree program in Pre-K-4 education with certification.

  • Public Speaking: EDU 350
  • Fine Arts: MUS 372, ART 372, THE 372
  • Social Sciences: GEO 102, POS 102, ECO 102