Early Childhood Education

In the Early Childhood Education program, students can explore various careers in working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-grade children. Students will become immersed in the art of teaching and learning to better understand the education of young children. Through coursework and experience in classrooms with children, students will learn to support the development and learning of children from birth through 3rd grade.

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 Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

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:

• 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.