Faculty: Education

Focuses on teaching and developing young children from birth to age five. Students gain skills in child development, curriculum planning, teaching methods, family engagement, and educational assessment for careers in early childhood environments.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand principles of child development.
• Develop skills in curriculum planning and implementation.
• Learn effective teaching methods and strategies.
• Explore family engagement and community partnerships.
• Analyze assessment and educational evaluation techniques.
• Develop critical thinking and reflective teaching practices.
• Understand ethical and professional standards.

Core Outline:

1. Introduction to Preschool Education
2. Child Development
3. Curriculum Planning and Implementation
4. Teaching Methods and Strategies
5. Family Engagement and Community Partnerships
6. Assessment and Educational Evaluation
7. Language, Reading, and Writing Development
8. Math and Science in Early Childhood
9. Art, Music, and Physical Education
10. Special Education and Inclusion
11. Field Experience/Practicum
12. Graduation Project

Assessment Methods:

• Child development reports
• Curriculum planning projects
• Presentations on teaching methods
• Family engagement plans
• Educational assessment reports
• Language, reading, and writing projects
• Math and science lesson plans
• Art, music and physical education integration projects
• Special education strategies
• Field experience reports
• Graduation projects and presentations

Recommended Textbooks:

• "Introduction to Preschool Education"
• "Child Development"
• "Curriculum Planning and Implementation"
• "Teaching Methods and Educational Strategies"
• "Family Engagement and Community Partnerships"
• "Assessment and Educational Evaluation"
• "Language, Reading, and Writing Development"
• "Math and Science in Early Childhood"
• "Art, Music, and Physical Education"
• "Special Education and Inclusion"

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge in education and child development.

Duration of Specialization:

Typically 4 years to earn a bachelor's degree.

Certification:

• Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential
• State-specific teaching licenses for early childhood education

Target Audience:

Aspiring early childhood educators, preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers, and child care providers seeking to work in early childhood education. This specialization equips students with the skills needed to excel in preschool teaching, support careers in teaching, curriculum development, and family engagement.