PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential

Program: PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential

Traditional Program

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PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential

Program Description

The PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential program is primarily designed for students who desire to teach in classrooms typical of elementary schools and to provide effective instruction for diverse learners in prekindergarten to third grade (PK-3). Due to the expansion of transitional kindergarten (TK) and the recognition that early childhood represents a unique and foundational period of rapid development, growth, and learning for children ages 3 through 8, the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential focuses on developmentally appropriate practices for young children, considering each child’s cognitive, social, emotional, linguistic, cultural experiences, assets, and abilities. There are two pathways toward earning a preliminary ECE credential: Traditional Program, and Intern Program. The Traditional Program is a postbaccalaureate ECE credential program option for either full-time or part-time candidates. Full-time candidates may complete the program in three academic semesters. Most candidates, however, complete the program in four or more semesters. Application for student teaching must be submitted one semester prior to the semester in which the candidate wants to begin student teaching.

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU, and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., Social Security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements is available from the respective department or program. See Notice to Students: Licensure and Certification for more information.

Program Requirements

A. Admission Requirements

General credential program admission requirements.
Subject Matter Requirement.

B. Required Prior to EED 560EC (PK-TK) Practicum I, EED 560ECU (K-3) Practicum I, and EED 561EC Practicum II

Current Tuberculosis Clearance.
Certificate of Clearance.
Submission of student teaching application by deadline date (see Credential section for details).

C. Required Coursework

1. Required Prior to or Concurrent with EED 560EC (PK-TK) or EED 560ECU (K-3) Practicum I

EED 520 Reading Instruction for Diverse Learners (3)
EED 555 Early Cognition and Curriculum Across Content Areas (3)
EED 565M Mathematics Curriculum and Methods (3)
EPC 430 Development and Learning in Early Childhood Education (3)

2. Required Concurrent with EED 560EC (PK-TK) or EED 560ECU (K-3) Practicum I

EED 559D Clinical Practice Seminar: Early Childhood Education (2)

3. Required Prior to EED 561EC

EED 559D Clinical Practice Seminar: Early Childhood Education (2)

EED 560EC ECE Practicum: Halfday Lower Grades (8)
or EED 560ECU ECE Practicum: Halfday Upper Grades (8)

EPC 634 Language and Concept Development in Multicultural-Multilingual Early Childhood Settings (3)

EPC 642 Assessment and Evaluation in Early Childhood Education (3)
or SPED 520EC Assessment and Evaluation in Early Childhood Special Education (3)

EPC 683 Collaboration with Families in Educational Settings (3)
or SPED 535 Collaboration with Families in Early Childhood Special Education (3)

SPED 402EC Positive Behavior Support in Early Childhood (3)

SPED 431 Developmental Differences and Early Childhood Inclusion (3)

Cumulative GPA of 3.0 in credential program coursework and an overall GPA of at least 2.75. A grade of “C” or better in all program courses.

4. Required Concurrent with EED 561EC—Practicum II

EED 559G Clinical Practice Seminar II: Early Childhood Education (1)

5. Supervised Practicum and Seminars

EED 559D Clinical Practice Seminar: Early Childhood Education (2)

EED 559G Clinical Practice Seminar II: Early Childhood Education (1)

EED 560EC ECE Practicum: Halfday Lower Grades (8)
or EED 560ECU ECE Practicum: Halfday Upper Grades (8)

EED 561EC ECE Practicum II: Fullday (5)

D. Other Program Requirements for Credential Recommendation

Successful completion of the Teaching Performance Assessment and goals for the Individual Development Plan (completed in EED 559G Practicum Seminar).
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 in credential program coursework and an overall GPA of at least 2.75 since admission to the program.
A grade of “C” or better in all credential program coursework.
CPR Certification—Infant, Child, Adult (online CPR training is not acceptable).
Passage of Literacy Performance Assessment (LPA).
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.