Early Childhood Education Preschool to Fourth Grade PK-4 (BA)

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education: Preschool through Fourth Grade (PK-4) is based on the fundamental principles of human development, enabling students to think, critically analyze, and evaluate learning processes.

Graduates know and understand the philosophical, psychological, and sociological foundations that underlie education and guide pedagogical practice, as well as the processes of constructing cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning throughout the different stages of human development. They are capable of integrating pedagogical practices, instructional strategies, evaluation, measurement, and assessment processes, as well as applying research to their educational work, integrating technological resources, and developing effective communication skills. This knowledge paves the way for creating a harmonious physical and social environment that accommodates the diversity of social groups and the individual needs and interests of students.

Graduates apply the laws, regulations, and procedures of the educational system in the educational environment, as well as the ethical, legal, and social implications of their professional performance. They motivate and promote the implications and importance of the integration of parents and other sectors of society in the educational work of the school community.

Likewise, they will be able to demonstrate respect and tolerance for diversity and individual differences present in the educational setting with a positive and committed attitude within the academic environment, without losing sight of their leadership role and social responsibility.

They will use the appropriate curricular framework and adhere to the standards of excellence relevant to the curriculum.

This program is designed to meet the Pennsylvania state requirements for teaching in primary grades from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade.

PEM Graduate Competency Profile

The Program is designed to develop general competencies, linked to the core courses, that will allow the student to:

Knowledge

Know and understand:

1. The philosophical, psychological, and sociological foundations that serve as the basis for education and guide pedagogical practice.
2. The processes of constructing cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning throughout the different stages of human development.
3. The importance of creating a harmonious physical and social environment that accommodates the diversity of social groups and the individual needs and interests of students.
4. The laws, regulations, and procedures of the education system, as well as the ethical, legal, and social implications of their professional performance.
5. The implications and importance of integrating parents and other sectors of society into the educational work of the school community.

Skills

1. Integrate the theoretical principles that underpin education into pedagogical practice.
2. Plan student learning by integrating scientifically based teaching strategies into instructional design.
3. Use a variety of teaching strategies to facilitate effective learning of the complex concepts, skills, and attitudes of the subject matter taught.
4. Apply the complementary processes of evaluation, assessment, and measurement to determine the effectiveness of teaching and learning processes and to make decisions conducive to improving learning for all students.
5. Apply research and technological advances as resources to expand knowledge and innovate and improve pedagogical practice.
6. Use existing computer and educational resources to integrate technology into their teaching area or discipline.
7. Use a variety of educational and technological resources to facilitate learning for diverse student populations.
8. Use communication skills effectively to develop students' understanding of learning.

Attitudes

1. Demonstrate respect and tolerance for students' individual and cultural differences in the educational setting.
2. Demonstrate a positive attitude and a connection between professional development and students' academic needs.
3. Demonstrate a critical and creative attitude toward managing information available from different sources related to the teaching discipline and the field of education.
4. Assume leadership roles and professional responsibility in different educational settings and community contexts to promote student learning and holistic development.

 

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education: Preschool through Fourth Grade PK-4

General Education Requirements	51 credits
Core Requirements	41 credits
Concentration Requirements	37 credits
Elective courses	3 credits
Total	132 credits

General Education Requirements - 51 credits

Fifty-one (51) credits of General Education Requirements are required for this Program, as explained in the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees section. In addition to GEHS 2010, students will take GEHS 4020 and 4030 from the Historical and Social Context category. Students will take GEPE 4040 and GEPE 3010 or 3020 to fulfill the six credits required in the Philosophical and Aesthetic Thought category. Students in this Program are exempt from taking GEMA 1000 from the Basic Mathematical Skills category. Instead, they will take GEMA 1001 and GEMA 1002.

Core Requirements - 41 credits

EDUC 1080	Field Experiences in The Educational Scenario I	1
EDUC 2021	History and Philosophy of Education	3
EDUC 2022	Society and Education	3
EDUC 2031	Developmental Psychology	3
EDUC 2032	Learning Psychology	3
EDUC 2060	Integration of Technology in Education	2
EDUC 2870	The Exceptional Student Population	4
EDUC 2890	Field Experiences in The Educational Scenarios Ii	2
EDUC 3013	Teaching Strategies	2
EDUC 3015	Clinical Experiences in The Educational Scenario I	3
EDUC 4011	Evaluation and Assessment	3
EDUC 4012	Classroom Research	2
EDUC 4013	Clinical Experiences in the Educational Scenario II	4
EDUC 4050	Curriculum Design	2
EDUC 4551	Integration of Basic Knowledge and Communication Skills	1
EDUC 4552	Integration of Professional Skills	1
HIST 3010	Historical Process of the United States of America	3

Concentration Requirements - 37 credits

EDUC 2020	Health, Nutrition and First-Aid	3
EDUC 3074	Curriculum, Teaching, and Assessment of Mathematics in Primary Grades (PK-4)	3
EDUC 3082	Curriculum, Teaching, and Assessment of Social Studies in Primary Grades (PK-4)	3
EDUC 3090	Children’s Literature	3
EDUC 3124	Psycho-Philosophical Influences on Curricular Models for Early Childhood Education and Primary Grades (PK-4)	4
EDUC 3130	Fine Arts in The Educational Process	3
EDUC 3140	Language and Reading	3
EDUC 3150	The Kindergarten in The School Program	3
EDUC 3170	Parents as Educators	3
EDUC 3234	Primary Grades Literacy (PK-4)	3
EDUC 3267	Curriculum, Teaching, and Assessment of Natural Sciences in the Primary Grades (PK-4)	3
EDUC 4110	Children’s Play as a Learning Process	3

Elective courses - 3 credits