B.S.Ed. Early Childhood Education (PreK-4)

The Leading Teacher Program (LTP) in Grades PreK-4 (Early Childhood) Education is designed to prepare leading teachers for preschool and elementary classrooms in Pennsylvania. Teacher candidates who successfully complete the requirements for this degree will be qualified to teach in pre-school and early elementary classrooms, through fourth grade. Throughout the program, teacher candidates have the opportunity to develop professional and personal competence by participating in experiences that are both theoretical and applied in regional schools. All teacher candidates complete a set of core experiences in pedagogy and participate in guided fieldwork. Dual certification in Special Education with Early Childhood Education is an available option.

The LTP in Grades PreK-4 Education is guided by Pennsylvania state standards and by standards of national professional organizations. The Early Childhood program is approved by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Teacher candidates address professional standards in each of the early childhood and elementary school curriculum content areas through course projects and learn to implement the standards through coursework and fieldwork. All of the experiences in the LTP in Grades PreK-4 Education program reflect the themes of leadership, diversity and technology.

The LTP in Grades PreK-4 Education program consists of a minimum of 121 credits of courses and experiences organized into three major areas of study: University Bridges Common Learning Experience/ General Education (42 credits); Foundations of Education (30 credits); Professional Preparation (60 credits). The majority of the General Education and Foundations courses are completed in the first two years of study.

Curriculum

121 minimum credits

This is the curriculum for the general program. Variations dependent on content area specializations. Please contact the School of Education for information on concentrations. 

General Education/Bridges Common Learning Experience Courses

(for Gen Ed/BDRG slots)

  • English Elective (Any 200+ level English Course), 3 cr
  • Philosophy Elective (Any 200+ PHIL Course), 3 cr
  • Theology Elective (Any 200+ THEO Course), 3cr
  • MATH 103 Problem Solving, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 or 4 cr) of:
    • MATH 101 + MATH 101R
    • MATH 105
    • MATH 111
    • MATH 115 Calculus I
    • MATH 125
    • MATH 225
  • Choose 1 (3 cr)  of:
    • CHEM 107 Chemistry in the New World, 3 cr
    • PHYS 123 Core Physics, 3 cr
    • SPRG 109 Physical Science, 3 cr
  • Choose 1 (3 cr)  of:
    • BIOL 120 Core Science Biology, 3 cr
    • ENVI 126 Energy and the Environment, 3 cr
    • ENVI 191 Intro to Earth Systems Science, 3 cr

Semester 1 (16 cr)

  • BRDG 100 Research and Information Skills, 1 cr
  • BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis, 3 cr
  • EDUC 181 Cohort Experience, 0 cr
  • EQ Essential Questions Seminar, 3 cr
  • Gen Ed / BRDG, 3 cr
  • Gen Ed / BRDG, 3 cr
  • LTFL 110 Intro to Critical Education, 3 cr

Semester 2 (18 cr)

  • BDRG 102 Writing and Literature, 3 cr
  • BDRG 105 Intro to Ethical Reasoning, 3 cr
  • EDUC 110 Classroom Management, 3 cr
  • EDUC 182 Cohort Experience, 0 cr
  • Gen Ed/ BDRG, 3 cr
  • Gen Ed/BDRG, 3 cr
  • MAT 103 , Math for Elementary and Middle School Teachers, 3 cr
  • LTSP 203 Fnd of Inclsv Educ Prct Sp Ed, 3 cr
  • LTSP 293 Incl Field Experience Stage I, 0 cr

Semester 3 (18 cr)

  • English Elective / Gen Ed / BRDG, 3 cr
  • Gen Ed / BRDG, 3 cr
  • Gen Ed / BRDG, 3 cr
  • LTEC 201W ECE Theories & Practices, 3 cr
  • LTEC 291 Field experience level 2, 0 cr
  • LTFL 102 Ethics, Education & Teaching Profession, 3 cr
  • LTFL 209 Ed Psych; Development, Learning and Motivation, 3 cr

Semester 4 (18 cr)

  • EDUC 222 Math Knowledge for Teaching, 3 cr
  • English Elective / Gen Ed / BRDG, 3 cr
  • Gen Ed / BRDG, 3 cr
  • LTEC 203 Integrated Curriculum Programs in Early Childhood, 3 cr
  • LTEC 204 Children's Literature, 3 cr
  • LTFL 203 Social Justice in Community Engaged Educational Setting w/ Level 1 Field, 3 cr
  • LTFL 282 Cohort Experience, 0 cr
  • LTFL 293 Community Engaged Learning Experience, 0 cr

Semester 5, 6 and 7 

In semesters 5, 6, and 7, candidates will rotate through three focused semesters, each concentrating on a different area of curriculum for grades PreK-4. A related practicum in each of the three focused semesters places students in a K-4 setting where practices and strategies will be applied in area classrooms. 

Focused Semester Options
Science and Social Studies
  • LTEC 334 Pract for Sci. & S.S. – Lvl 3, 3 cr
  • LTEC 335 Content Knowledge & Pedagogy for Science, 3 cr
  • LTEC 336 Content Knowledge & Pedagogy for Social Studies, 3 cr
Early Literacy and Numeracy
  • LTEC 325W Foundations in Early Literacy, 3 cr
  • LTEC 326 Foundations in Early Numeracy, 3 cr
  • LTEC 327 Grades K-2 Practicum, 3 cr
Elementary Literacy and Numeracy
  • LTEC 375W ELA in Upper Elem Sch, 3 cr
  • LTEC 376 Math Ped. in Upper Elem Sch, 3 cr
  • LTEC 377 Elementary (3-4) Practicum, 3 cr  

In addition to methods courses in each curriculum area in the three focused semesters, candidates will take the following courses:

  • LTEC 304 Family, School, & Community, 3 cr
  • LTSP 345 Accommodations for Learners with Special Needs, 3 cr
  • LTET 345 Instructional Technology for PreK4 Preservice Teachers, 3 cr.
  • LTFL 215 Fundamentals of Assessment, Grades PK-4, 3 cr
  • LTEL 201 Mtg. the Needs of ELL, 3 cr
  • LTSP 355 Assessment in Special Education, 3 cr 

Semester 8 (15 cr)

  • LTEC 405 Early Childhood PK4 Capstone, 3 cr
  • LTEC 492 Student Teaching PreK-4, 12 cr

Learning Outcomes

  • Exhibits exemplary knowledge in the content and professional areas of certification.
  • Plans content-area instruction aligned to state and national standards and discipline expectations.
  • Locates and uses resources, including technological resources, to plan and implement instruction.
  • Plans and implements equitable instruction that attends to students’ developmental levels, diverse backgrounds, and academic needs.
  • Designs and uses assessment of student learning to guide improvement.
  • Demonstrates characteristics of professional ethics, respect, relational trust, and cultural competence in interactions with students, colleagues, families, and communities.