Early Childhood
The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood is paired with elementary teacher certification to qualify you to teach all subjects in grades K-5; with the option to become certified to teach early childhood upon meeting the endorsement requirements. Within the basic elementary education degree curriculum, it enables students to meet State requirements for a Michigan Elementary Standard Teaching Certificate and the Early Childhood Endorsement (ZS) as well as to gain special competencies in the area of early childhood. It prepares individuals for careers in childcare centers, working with young children and their families, birth through kindergarten, as well as in the elementary grades 1-5. The program includes a concentrated study of the young child in infant/toddler, preschool, and early school contexts with extensive opportunities for field experiences in a variety of settings.
Dearborn Discovery Core
Please see the Dearborn Discovery Core (General Education) webpage or additional information.
Foundational Studies
Writing and Communication (GEWO) – 6 Credits
Upper-Level Writing Intensive (GEWI) – 3 Credits
Quantitative Thinking and Problem Solving (GEQT) – 3 Credits
Critical and Creative Thinking (GECC) – 3 Credits
Areas of Inquiry
Natural Science (GENS) – 7 Credits
- Lecture/Lab Science Course
- Additional Science Course
Social and Behavioral Analysis (GESB) – 9 Credits
Humanities and the Arts (GEHA) – 6 Credits
Intersections (GEIN) – 6 Credits
Capstone
Capstone (GECE) – 3 Credits
Core Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Language Arts | ||
| COMP 105 | Writing & Rhetoric I | 3 |
| EXPS 298 | Exploring Writing to Communicate, Learn, & Teach | 3 |
| LING 280 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| LIBR 465 | Literature for Children | 3 |
| or EDA 236 | Literacy in Grades 3-9 | |
| Social Studies | ||
| EXPS 282 | History & Civics Elem Schools | 3 |
| EXPS 283 | Geography & Econ Elem Schools | 3 |
| or EDM 292 | The world around us: Integrated world geography for upper elementary teachers | |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 385 | Math for Elemen Teachers I | 3 |
| MATH 386 | Math for Elem Teachers II | 3 |
| MATH 387 | Math for Elem Teachers III (Not required for the Early Childhood major.) | 3 |
| Science Studies | ||
| NSCI 231 | Inquiry: Physical Science 1 | 3 |
| NSCI 232 | Inquiry:Earth/Planet Science 1 | 3 |
| NSCI 233 | Inquiry: Life Science 1 | 3 |
| EXPS 420 | Science Capstone | 3 |
Not required for the Early Childhood major. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 39 | |
- 1
Two of the three NSCI core courses may be transferred to UM-Dearborn. A) an introductory physical science will satisfy NSCI 231, B) an introductory earth/planetary science will satisfy NSCI 232, and C) an introductory life science course will satisfy NSCI 233.
BIOL 240/BIOL 242 and NSCI 120/NSCI 121 cannot be used for science credit.
Pre-Professional Requirements
Pre-professional courses are generally completed in the freshman and sophomore year.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDA 205 | Introduction to Education | 3 |
| or EDA 200 | Social Justice & Community Based Education | |
| EDA 419 | Early Literacy/Language Devel | 3 |
| or EDA 219 | Early Literacy: PreKindergarten to Grade 3 | |
Required for Early Childhood and Special Education Majors only | ||
| EDC 240 | Psych of Child Development | 3 |
| EDF 450 | Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children and Families | 3 |
| EDT 211 | Design Tech-Based Learn Solutn | 3 |
| EXPS 250 | Elem Ed Vis & Perf Arts | 3 |
| EXPS 407 | Inquiry-based Math and Science | 3 |
Required for Early Childhood Majors only | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
Major Requirements
A minimum of 34 semester hours from the following:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDC 414 | Early Child Ed Special Needs | 3 |
| EDC 439 | Child Maltreatment and Trauma | 3 |
| EDC 442 | EC: Fam/Sch/Comm Collaboration | 3 |
| EDC 445 | Develop Assess of Young Child | 3 |
| EDD 406 | Teach Strategies Early Child | 3 |
| EDD 410 | Practicum in Early Child Ed | 1 |
| EDD 411 | Directed Tchg: Early Childhood | 4 |
| EDD 412 | Seminar in Early Childhood Ed | 2 |
| EDC 431 | Constructivist Education | 3 |
| EDC 440 | The Child: Birth to Three | 3 |
| EDD 446 | Intervention Strat EC Spec Ed | 3 |
| EDC 446 | Cog/Memory Dev in Children | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 34 | |
Major Notes:
- With the approval of the Early Childhood Program Coordinator, a maximum of six credit hours of freshman and sophomore level transfer courses in early childhood will be considered for general credit toward the early childhood major.
- An overall GPA of 2.75 or better is required for the major.
- At least 15 semester hours in UM-Dearborn courses required for a major.
- A grade of S is required in EDD 411.
Program Notes:
- Minimum GPA's are required for program completion: 2.75 cumulative, 2.75 in major, 2.75 in optional minor(s), and 2.75 in Professional Studies.
- Advising Policy: The student is responsible for complying with requirements described in the Undergraduate Catalog as well as on the Four Phase Checklist. Students are expected to meet with their College of Education, Health, and Human Services advisor at least once per year and in the term prior to graduation.
- Courses taken on a PASS/FAIL basis will NOT be accepted toward program completion.
- The minimum number of semester hours required to graduate is 128.
- CEHHS recommends successful program completers for State of Michigan Certification, however, it is ultimately up to the State of Michigan to issue certificates. Certain offenses on a criminal record can keep individuals from obtaining teacher certification. Please refer to The Revised School Code, Act 451 of 1976, section 380.1539b.
- Students must meet Dearborn Discovery Core requirements.