The curriculum in early childhood education – unified (ECE) prepares graduates to teach young children and work with their families. This program leads to careers working with young children (both those who are typically developing and those with special needs) from birth through age eight. Graduates may be employed by either public or private agencies or schools to teach in early childhood classrooms (preschool through 3rd grade) or in home-based programs. This curriculum has been approved by the Iowa Department of Education and meets the requirements for the early childhood education – unified teacher license. The program is an interdepartmental major administered by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and School of Education.
Students who enroll in the early childhood education – unified program must apply to and be accepted into the teacher education program prior to enrolling in advanced courses. All early childhood education – unified students must meet general education requirements for teacher licensure.
Additional information is also available from the student’s academic adviser. Students in early childhood education – unified must meet the performance outcome standards for teacher licensure. Standards are assessed in coursework through artifacts such as assignments, projects, or practicum participation. These standards assessments are based on the early childhood content standards for endorsement 100 in the State of Iowa. These include competencies in (1) promoting child development, learning and individual learning differences, (2) building family and community relationships, (3) observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families, (4) using developmentally and individually effective approaches to connect with children and families, (5) using content knowledge to build a meaningful curriculum, (6) professional responsibilities, and (7) early childhood field experiences. Pre-student teaching field experiences in at least three settings, and student teaching experiences in at least two different settings is required.
Curriculum in Early Childhood Education – Unified
Degree Requirements
126 total credits required
Communications and Library: 10 credits
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication ** | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition ** | 3 |
| LIB 160 | Information Literacy | 1 |
| Communication course from approved ECE list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Health: 14 credits
| MATH 195 | Mathematics for Elementary Education I * | 3 |
| MATH 196 | Mathematics for Elementary Education II * | 3 |
| H S 105 | First Aid and Emergency Care | 2 |
| Physical Sciences course from approved ECE list | 3 | |
| Biological Sciences course from approved ECE list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
*Must receive a "C-" or above
Social Sciences: 9 credits
| HD FS 102 | Individual and Family Development, Health, and Well-being | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Survey of United States History I | ||
| Survey of United States History II | ||
| Introduction to American Government | ||
| Social Sciences course from approved ECE list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Humanities: 9 credits
| Humanities courses from approved ECE list | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Human Development and Family Studies: 3.5 credits
| HD FS 103 | Professional Principles for Working with Children | .5 |
| HD FS 224 | Development in Young Children: Birth through Age 8 ** | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3.5 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Orientation: 2 credits
| HD FS 110 | Freshman Learning Community Orientation | 1 |
| HD FS 208 | Early Childhood Education Teacher Orientation | 1 |
| Total Credits | 2 | |
Professional Education core: 15 credits
| C I 201 | Learning Technologies in the PK-6 Classroom ** | 3 |
| C I 205 | Social Foundations of Education in the United States: Early Childhood and Elementary Education | 3 |
| SP ED 250 | Education of the Exceptional Learner in a Diverse Society ** | 3 |
| C I 332 | Educational Psychology of Young Learners ** | 3 |
| C I 405 | Social Justice Education and Teaching: Early Childhood and Elementary | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Preprimary Inclusive: 24 credits
| HD FS 240 | Literature for Children ** | 3 |
| HD FS 340 | Assessment and Curricula: Ages Birth through 2 Years ** | 4 |
| HD FS 342 | Guidance and Group Management in Early Childhood ** | 3 |
| HD FS 343 | Assessment and Programming: Ages 3 through 6 Years ** | 4 |
| HD FS 345 | Adapting Programming in Inclusive Settings ** | 3 |
| HD FS 455 | Curricula for Ages 3 through 6 Years ** | 4 |
| HD FS 456 | Working with Families in Early Intervention ** | 3 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Primary Inclusive: 21 credits
| C I 245 | Strategies in Teaching ** | 3 |
| C I 377 | The Teaching of Reading and Language Arts in the Primary Grades (K-3) ** | 4 |
| C I 433 | Teaching Social Studies in the Primary Grades ** | 2 |
| C I 438 | Teaching Mathematics in the Primary Grades ** | 2 |
| C I 439 | Teaching Science in the Primary Grades ** | 2 |
| C I 468F | Pre-Student Teaching Experience II: Primary Grades Inclusive, Literacy ** | 1 |
| C I 468G | Pre-Student Teaching Experience II: Primary Grades Inclusive, Mathematics ** | 1 |
| C I 468I | Pre-Student Teaching Experience II: Primary Grades Inclusive, Science ** | 1 |
| SP ED 405 | Assessment and Instructional Methods in Inclusive Primary Settings (K-3) | 4 |
| SP ED 458 | Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Mild/Moderate Disabilities in Primary Grades (K-3) | 1 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Student Teaching**: 16.5 credits
| 8 credits: | 8 | |
| Supervised Student Teaching - Elementary: Primary grades (K-3) ** | ||
| HD FS 417C | Supervised Student Teaching: Early Childhood Special Education Programs. ** | 8 |
| HD FS 418A | Professional Practice Reflection/Discussion: Teaching | .5 |
| Total Credits | 16.5 | |
**Must receive a "C" or above
Electives: 1-3 credits to equal 126 total credits
Total Credits: 126
U.S. Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement: Students in early childhood education – unified fulfill the U.S. Diversity with SP ED 250 or HD FS 240. International Perspectives Requirements are met by choosing three credits of coursework from university-approved Humanities or Social Sciences included on the ECE approved options sheet.
Early Childhood Education, B.S.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HD FS 102 | 3 | HD FS 208 | 1 |
| HD FS 110 | 1 | Humanities Option* | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | HIST 221, 222, or POL S 215 | 3 |
| C I 205 | 3 | MATH 195 | 3 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | SP ED 250 | 3 |
| Humanities Option* | 3 | Social Sciences Option* | 3 |
| PSYCH 131recommended elective | 1 | Pass Praxis Core prior to taking C I 245 | |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 196 | 3 | C I 245 | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | 3 | C I 332 | 3 |
| C I 201 | 3 | HD FS 224 | 3 |
| Physical Sciences Option* | 3 | Biological Sciences Option* | 3 |
| HD FS 240 | 3 | Communication Option* | 3 |
| HD FS 103 | 0.5 | Apply to Teacher Education program | |
| 15.5 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C I 377B | 4 | C I 433B | 2 |
| C I 438B | 2 | C I 439B | 2 |
| C I 468FB | 1 | C I 468IB | 1 |
| C I 468GB | 1 | SP ED 405B | 4 |
| HD FS 340 or 343 | 4 | SP ED 458B | 1 |
| HD FS 342 or 345 | 3 | HD FS 340 or 343 | 4 |
| Finalize Degree Audit | HD FS 342 or 345 | 3 | |
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HD FS 455 | 4 | C I 416AB | 8 |
| HD FS 456 | 3 | HD FS 417CB | 8 |
| Humanities Option* | 3 | HD FS 418A | .5 |
| C I 405 | 3 | ||
| H S 105 | 2 | ||
| Electives, if needed to equal 126 total credits | 1-3 | ||
| Take Praxis II prior to Licensing | |||
| Apply to graduate | |||
| Apply to student teaching | |||
| 16-18 | 16.5 | ||
This sheet provides a guide to the sequence of HD FS and C I courses; courses adhere to a prescribed sequence of semesters. Your academic advisor will help you develop an individual long range plan. B=Block of courses listed together in the semester must be taken concurrently as sequenced *=See approved ECE list of courses for options in Biological Sciences, Humanities, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences ISU requires a 3 credit U.S. Diversity course (satisfied by SP ED 250 or HD FS 240) and a 3 credit international perspective course (usually met through a University approved humanities or social science options from the ECE options list) |