Early Childhood Education - Unified

Administered by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and the School of Education. Leading to the degree bachelor of science.

The curriculum in early childhood education – unified (ECE) prepares graduates to teach young children and work with their families. This curriculum has been approved by the Iowa Department of Education and meets requirements for candidates to seek a teaching endorsement in PK-3, Inclusive Settings, which permits individuals to teach general and special education for children from birth through third grade. Graduates may be employed by either public or private agencies or schools to teach in early childhood classrooms (preschool through third grade) or in home-based programs.

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. 

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 1001 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

124 total credits required

 Professional Education core: 15 credits

EDUC 201	Educational Technologies in the PK-6 Classroom **	3
EDUC 205	Social Foundations of Education in the United States: Early Childhood and Elementary Education	3
EDUC 332	Educational Psychology of Early Childhood and Elementary Education **	3
EDUC 405	Social Justice Education and Teaching: Early Childhood and Elementary	3
SP ED 250	Education of the Exceptional Learner in a Diverse Society **	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 Curriculum: Ages Birth through 2 Years **	4
HD FS 342	Guidance and Group Management in Early Childhood **	3
HD FS 343	Assessment and Curriculum: Ages 3 through 6 Years **	4
HD FS 345	Adapting Programming in Inclusive Settings **	3
HD FS 455	Curriculum and Interventions: 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

EDUC 245	Landscape of Teaching **	3
EDUC 377	The Teaching of Reading and Language Arts in the Primary Grades (K-3) **	4
EDUC 433	Teaching Social Studies in the Primary Grades **	2
EDUC 438	Teaching Mathematics in the Primary Grades **	2
EDUC 439	Teaching Science in the Primary Grades **	2
EDUC 468F	Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Primary Grades Inclusive, Literacy **	1
EDUC 468G	Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: Primary Grades Inclusive, Mathematics **	1
EDUC 468I	Pre-Student Teaching Experience III: 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
EDUC 416A	Supervised Student Teaching - Elementary: Primary grades (K-3) **	arr †
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 †
† Arranged with instructor.

**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

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
HIST 221	Survey of United States History I
HIST 222	Survey of United States History II
POL S 215	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 credits

HD FS 224	Development in Young Children: Birth through Age 8 **	3
Total Credits		3

**Must receive a "C" or above

Electives: .5 - 1.5 credits to equal 124 total credits

Total Credits: 124

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 - Unified, 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
EDUC 205	3	MATH 195	3
ENGL 150	3	SP ED 250	3
Humanities Option*	3	Social Sciences Option*	3
PSYCH 131 (recommended elective)	1	Pass Praxis Core prior to taking EDUC 245
	15		16
Sophomore
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
MATH 196	3	EDUC 245	3
ENGL 250	3	EDUC 332	3
EDUC 201	3	HD FS 224	3
Physical Sciences Option*	3	Biological Sciences Option*	3
HD FS 240	3	Communication Option*	3
		Apply to Teacher Education program
	15		15
Junior
Fall	Credits	Spring	Credits
EDUC 377B	4	EDUC 433B	2
EDUC 438B	2	EDUC 439B	2
EDUC 468FB	1	EDUC 468IB	1
EDUC 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	EDUC 416AB	8
HD FS 456	3	HD FS 417CB	8
Humanities Option*	3	HD FS 418A	.5
EDUC 405	3
H S 105	2
Electives, if needed to equal 124 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 EDUC 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)