Developing whole persons.
- Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (formerly Child Development and Education)
The Education Program of UA&P provides a solid preparation for a career in education by grounding in four areas of learning: foundational subjects, psychology, specialization subjects, and research. These four areas of learning are studied from and integrated by a perspective that views the family as the first school and parents as the primary educators of their children.
The full program offers a strong liberal arts curriculum and rigorous courses in early childhood education (the first eight years of childhood). The Early Childhood Education specialization forms early childhood educators and specialists who can effectively blend theory and practice to create positive learning opportunities and experiences that promote the total development of young children.
Undergraduates attend six field study courses intended to provide them with practical learning experiences related to different components of teaching-learning processes in actual school settings. The experiences begin with field observation and gradually build up toward Practice Teaching in early childhood education (preschool setting and the primary grades).
The program also prepares students to be eligible to take the Professional Licensure Examination for Teachers and pursue a master’s degree in related fields such as Special Education, Reading, Developmental Psychology, Early Childhood Education, and Family Life and Child Development.
Curriculum
- Theories and Approaches to Early Childhood Education
- Infants and Toddlers Development Program
- Basic Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition
- Play in Child Development
- The Child’s Learning Environment
- Trends and Issues in Preschool Education
- Family and Development Psychology III: Introduction to Home and Family Life
- Philosophy of Education
- Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Program
- Child Development and Education 1: Practice and Strategies in Teaching Language, Arts, Literature, and Social Studies
- Child Development and Education 2: Math, Science and Health for Early Education
- Child Development and Education 3: Music and Movement, Arts and Crafts, Blocks and Dramatic Play for the Early Education Classroom
- Developmental Variations: Introduction to Special Education (SPED)
- Guidance and Counseling in Preschool Education
- Parents Education
- Organizational and Management of Early Childhood Programs
- Inclusive Education (SPED)
- Preschool Materials Development
- Home-School Collaboration
- Professional Education Courses
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Educational Technology 1 & 2
- Field Study 1 to 6
- Facilitating Learning
- Curriculum Development
- Principles of Teaching 1 & 2
- Developmental Reading 1 & 2
- The Teaching Profession
- Practice Teaching 1 & 2
- Special Topic 1: Media Literacy
- Special Topic 2: Legal Foundations of Education and Child’s Rights
- Special Topic 3: Character Education for Young Children
An intense 10-month apprenticeship (planned, supervised, and guided by the Field Experiences in Education Department or FEED) gives students an excellent opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills, and talents as future educators in preschools and primary schools. Students are assigned a mentor who can help them grow as a person and gain the ability to apply school learning to real-world educational settings.
Faculty
Graduates
Graduates of the program work as preschool and primary school teachers, administrators, or owners; as child education program designers, managers, or consultants; and as specialists or policy advocates on child-related issues.