Program Coordinator Dr. Ritsa Mallous
Program Advisor Vacant
The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education is designed to prepare train students to be Early Childhood Educators working with children from birth through age four. The program is designed for students with a two-year degree, either an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education. The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education adheres to the state’s common course prerequisites and curriculum framework.
All Bachelor of Science degree seeking students must complete the same basic requirements as traditional baccalaureate students, including 36 hours of General Education and demonstration of foreign language competence. Students are required to consult with the Education Programs academic advisor when applying for admission.
A.A. Path
Completion of an Associate in Arts degree and the prerequisite course EDF1005: Introduction to Education with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
In addition to upper-level course work, students will complete 18 credit hours of lower-level early childhood education coursework when they begin the B.S. program.
A.S. Path
Completion of an Associate in Science degree in Early Childhood Education, including the prerequisite course, EDF 1005: Introduction to Education, with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
In addition to upper-level coursework, students will complete additional General Education coursework.
Getting Started
- Complete an SF application for admission or readmission online at www.sfcollege.edu.
- Arrange for official transcripts from high school to be sent to the Office of Records and Admissions.
- Arrange for official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended to be sent to the Office of Records and Admissions at least one month prior to the start of the term.
Qualifying for Admission
In order to qualify for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education you must:
- Have a 2.5 overall GPA.
- Have earned a minimum of an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education or an Associate in Arts from a regionally accredited educational institution. *
- Have successfully completed the following prerequisite course with a grade of C or higher:
EDF 1005 - Introduction to Education Profession
- 500-word personal statement addressing how this program will help you meet your personal and professional goals.
* Degrees and course work must meet SF accreditation standards in order to be applied toward program admission criteria. All students are required to apply for a baccalaureate admission through a separate and selective process.
Program Goals and Outcomes
- Create and implement developmentally appropriate activities and environments that promote opportunities to think.
- Implement an integrated assessment system that promotes positive child outcomes.
- Analyze developmentally and culturally appropriate curricula and practices that will facilitate all areas of development in young children.
- Collect and analyze data relevant to the emotional and social development in young children for the purpose of implementing intervention goals and strategies.
- Apply anti-biased education practices when working with children and families.
Performance Standards
After successfully completing the program, the students will be able to perform the following:
- Understand how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
- Understand individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
- Work with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
- Understand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and create learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
- Understand how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
- Understand and use multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
- Plan instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
- Understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
Foreign Language Competency and General Education
Individuals who have not completed their foreign language requirement prior to enrolling at SF must complete two semesters of college-level sequential foreign language study before finishing the BS program. Students may select their General Education classes from any eligible courses within SF’s approved General Education package. The BS program requires 36 credit hours of General Education in order to meet graduation standards.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education - Overview of Credits Required
| A.S. degree transferred credits |
|
| General Education |
15 credit hours |
| Program Core |
45 credit hours |
|
OR
|
|
| A.A. degree transferred credits |
60 credit hours |
| B.S. Program general education (A.S. degree holders only) |
36 credit hours |
| Core Courses |
57 credit hours |
| Electives |
34 credit hours |
| |
|
| Total required for program: |
120 credit hours |