UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2026-2027

Program: PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential

Intern Program

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 Intern Program is a postbaccalaureate ECE credential program open to qualified students who are employed on an internship credential as full-time teachers in self-contained classrooms in nearby school districts.

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

  1. General credential program admission requirements.
  2. Verification of a full-time teaching position in a self-contained preschool or elementary (grades TK-3) classroom (general education) within the CSUN geographic region for supervision.
  3. Intern program application submitted to Multiple Subject/ECE Intern program office.
  4. Preservice requirement to be completed at time of application to the ECE Intern program:
    1. English Language Learner (ELL) preservice component: 40 hours.
    2. Additional preservice requirement: 120 hours.
  5. Subject Matter Requirement.

B. Required Coursework

1. Required in First Semester of Enrollment and Concurrent with EED 550BEC (1) Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE (5)

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

2. Required Prior to or Concurrent with EED 550BEC (2) Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE (5)

EED 565M Mathematics Curriculum and Methods (3)
EPC 634 Language and Concept Development in Multicultural-Multilingual Early Childhood Settings (3)
SPED 402EC Positive Behavior Support in Early Childhood (3)

3. Required Prior to or Concurrent with EED 550BEC (3) Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE (5)

EED 559D Practicum Seminar (2)

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

SPED 431 Developmental Differences and Early Childhood Inclusion (3)

4. Required Prior to EED 551CEC Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE: Final

EED 561EC ECE Practicum II: Fullday (5)

5. Required Prior to or Concurrent with EED 551CEC Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE: Final

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

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

6. Supervised Practicum and Seminars

EED 550BEC (1) Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE (5)
EED 550BEC (2) Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE (5)
EED 550BEC (3) Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE (5)
EED 551CEC Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE: Final (5)
EED 559D Clinical Practice Seminar: Early Childhood Education (2)
EED 559G Clinical Practice Seminar II: Early Childhood Education (1)

Prior to first time taking EED 550BEC: Pre/Corequisite: EPC 430, EED 520, EED 555.

Prior to second time taking EED 550BEC: Pre/Corequisite: EPC 430, EED 520, EED 555, EED 565M, EPC 634, SPED 402EC.

Prior to third time taking EED 550BEC: Pre/Corequisite: EPC 430, EED 520, EED 555, EED 559D, EED 565M, EPC 634, EPC 683/SPED 535, SPED 402EC, SPED 431.

The application for the Practicum (EED 561EC) must be submitted by the deadline date (see Credential Section for details).

The application for Supervised Clinical Practice must be submitted one semester prior to the semester in which candidates want to begin their final practicum (EED 551CEC). Information about deadline dates for submission of applications for Supervised Clinical Practice is mailed to interns in the middle of the semester before the final semester of Supervised Clinical Practice.

C. Other Program Requirements for Credential Recommendation

  1. Successful completion of the Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) and goals for the Individual Development Plan (completed in EED 559G Practicum Seminar).
  2. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 in credential program coursework and an overall GPA of at least 2.75.
  3. A grade of “C” or better in all credential program coursework.
  4. U.S. Constitution requirement.
  5. CPR Certification—Infant, Child, Adult (online CPR training is not acceptable).
  6. Passage of Literacy Performance Assessment (LPA).
  7. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
  8. Forty (40) hours of practicum/alternative experiences that include English language learners/inclusive students/emergent learners/different grade levels.
  9. EED 550DEC: Supervised Clinical Practice for ECE Program Completion (3) will be required for any Intern who has not yet passed the LPA and TPA requirements in order to maintain Program enrollment.
  10. A maximum of 9 units can be taken prior to admission to the PK-3 Credential Program.

D. Required ECE Intern Program Coursework Sequence

Two-Year Sequence for Part-Time Candidates:

Semester 1: EED 520; EED 550BEC; EED 555, EPC 430

Semester 2: EED 550BEC; EED 565M; EPC 634; SPED 402EC

Summer Semester: EED 561EC

Semester 3: EED 550BEC; EED 559D; EPC 683 or SPED 535; SPED 431

Semester 4: EED 551CEC; EED 559G; EPC 642 or SPED 520EC

Total Units Required for the Credential: 55

More information

For more information about this program, please contact eed@csun.edu.

Contact

Department of Elementary Education
Chair: Greg Knotts
Education (ED) 1206
(818) 677-2621

Program Learning Outcomes

Students receiving a PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential will be able to:

  1. Engage and support all students in learning.
  2. Create and maintain effective environments for student learning.
  3. Understand and organize subject matter for student learning.
  4. Plan instruction and design learning experiences for all students.
  5. Assess student learning.
  6. Develop as a professional educator.
  7. Plan effective literacy instruction for all students.
  8. Plan effective mathematics instruction in a PK-3 setting.