In the Early Childhood Education program, you can explore various careers in working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-grade children. You will become immersed in the culture of teaching and learning to better understand how to educate young minds full of potential. Through course work and corresponding firsthand teaching experiences, you’ll learn to support the development and learning of children from birth through 3rd grade in a caring manner.
The Professional Semester – Early Childhood
For your Early Childhood Student Teaching III (EDU 462) course, taken during your senior year, you will assume the daily teaching schedule of the cooperating teacher.
Additionally, Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Human Relations (EDU 400) is taken concurrently with Early Childhood Student Teaching. A passing score on the appropriate Content Area Assessment is required before enrollment in Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Human Relations and Early Childhood Student Teaching III.
Course work during the professional education semester is usually limited to Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Human Relations and Early Childhood Student Teaching III. If you plan to enroll in additional course work, you must submit a petition to the Department of Education in the semester prior to Student Teaching.
All of Missouri Western’s teacher education programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Early Childhood Education without Certification Option
Early Childhood Education majors lacking only EDU 400 Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Human Relations (3 credits) and EDU 462 Early Childhood Student Teaching III (9 credits) may choose a B.S.E. in Early Education Degree without certification option.
NOTE:
- Passed Education courses may not be repeated.
- Education courses must be passed at a C or higher.
- Election of the B.S.E. in Early Childhood Education without certification option must be approved by the Department Chairperson.

Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
General Studies | ||
42-47 | ||
Major Requirements | ||
EDU 150 | Psychological Development for Children & Adolescents for Educators | 3 |
EDU 202 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
EDU 203 | Participation in Teaching I | 1 |
EDU 225 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
EDU 300 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
EDU 308 | Multicultural Education | 3 |
EDU 313 | Family, Community, and Schools: Partnering for Young Children | 3 |
EDU 314 | Issues & Trends in the Education of Young Children and the Management of Programs for Young Children | 3 |
EDU 315 | Psychology and Education of the Exceptional Child | 3 |
EDU 316 | Organizing, Developing, and Managing Environments for Young Children | 3 |
EDU 325 | Introduction to Reading and Language Arts Methods | 5 |
EDU 332 | Teaching in the Integrated Areas | 3 |
EDU 333 | Science and Mathematics for Young Children | 3 |
EDU 334 | Play-Based Instruction | 3 |
EDU 344 | Early Childhood Assessment | 3 |
EDU 348 | Language Development for Educators | 3 |
EDU 351 | Mathematics Methods for Early Childhood and Elementary Educators | 3 |
EDU 360 | Assessing and Individualizing Reading | 3 |
EDU 370 | Behavior Management | 3 |
EDU 374 | Literacy Development in Early Childhood | 3 |
EDU 391 | Curriculum Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
EDU 392 | Experience in Early Childhood Education | 2 |
EDU 400 | Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Human Relations | 3 |
EDU 462 | Early Childhood Student Teaching III | 9 |
SWK 410 | Family and Child Welfare | 3 |
NOTE: In addition to the above major coursework, students may be required to take an Orientation Workshop, EDU 110. Also, upon Education Department determination, some students will be required to enroll in EDU 200 for state certification requirements.
The Professional Semester - Early Childhood
A student enrolled in Early Childhood Student Teaching will assume the daily teaching schedule of the cooperating teacher.
Early Childhood Student Teaching (EDU 462 Early Childhood Student Teaching III) is to be taken during the student’s senior year. Seminar in Early Childhood Education & Human Relations (EDU 400 Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Human Relations) is to be taken concurrently with Early Childhood Student Teaching. A passing score on the appropriate Content Area Assessment is required before enrollment in EDU 400 Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Human Relations and EDU 462 Early Childhood Student Teaching III.
Course work during the professional education semester is usually limited to EDU 400 Seminar in Early Childhood Education and Human Relations and EDU 462 Early Childhood Student Teaching III. Petition for any additional course work must be submitted to the Education Department in the semester prior to Student Teaching.
Program Graduation Requirements
- Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.50 and a major GPA of 3.0.
- Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
University Graduation Requirements
- Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
- Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses. Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
- Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
- Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments.
- Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
- Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam.
- Major: B.S.E. Early Childhood Education
- Pre-Major: B.S.E. Early Childhood Education
Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.