Early Childhood Education (B.A.)

Program Overview

The Phase III teaching internship requires two placements, one in prekindergarten or kindergarten and one in a primary classroom. Beginning in the prerequisite phase, students have the unique opportunity to observe in the Onica Prall Child Development Laboratory School on campus, which offers preschool for children ages 3-4. The ECE program includes many field experiences and is based conceptually on the InTASC Standards and the National Association of Educators of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards as well as on the Maryland State Department's "Redesign of Teacher Education".

The early childhood education major is divided into sequential steps consisting of Prerequisite, Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. The departmental unit assessment plan features a checkpoint at each step through which students must pass before advancing to the next phase. 

The minimum requirement for a major in early childhood education is the successful completion of Phase II coursework and field experiences. Completion of the certification program is contingent upon completion of Phase III and upon meeting Maryland’s minimum passing score on the Praxis II tests specific to early childhood education and attaining a rating of "Proficient" or higher on the Exit Folio.