Early Childhood Education Major, BA

This major is intended to prepare students to become birth through grade 3 teaching specialists. Students enrolling in any course with a field experience must have a current WSP and FBI fingerprint and background clearance on file with CWU. Please check with the CWU teacher certification office regarding clearance.

Teacher Endorsement
This major partially satisfies the criteria with endorsement in P-3 Early Childhood Education, qualifying students to teach early childhood education at the preschool and primary (grades K-3) level. Successful completion of EDEC 492 Seminar and EDEC 493 Practicum (minimum of 12 credits) is expected before student teaching. Students who successfully complete the Early Childhood Education Major and Secondary Education Program (an alternative to the Professional Education Program) are eligible to apply for Washington State teacher certification. In addition to completing graduation requirements, teacher certification candidates must meet all Washington State teacher certification requirements. See an education advisor as soon as possible to develop a course of study. 

Non-Certification Option (no Teaching Endorsement)
A student may complete the Early Childhood Education major without gaining entry to the Teacher Certification Program or completing either the Professional Education Program or Secondary Education major. Under such circumstances a teacher certification endorsement in early childhood will not be granted. This option exists for those individuals who wish to work with young children in birth-age 8 settings that do not require teacher certification. While full application to the Teacher Certification Program is not required, students enrolling in any Early Childhood Education Program class that has a field experience, must have current WSP/FBI fingerprint and background clearance. Please check with the CWU Teacher Certification Office regarding clearance. As it is less than a 60-credit major it does require a minor or second major.

Graduation Requirements
Students must maintain a Plan GPA of 3.0. No grade lower than a C in any course applied to the major.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• demonstrate discipline-specific content knowledge, teaching methods, and learning strategies. [Academic Content Knowledge]
• respond to principles of child development, cultural and community relevance, as well as individual interests and abilities to support and/or differentiate learning. [Individual, Family, and Community]
• promote positive relationships through socio-emotional learning and student engagement to establish healthy learning communities. [Learning Community and Environment]
• employ teaching cycle: evaluate student needs, plan instruction, deliver instruction, assess learning, reflect on effectiveness. [Assessment, Planning, and Instruction]
• engage professionally as an educational team member. [Professional Attributes]