Department of Elementary Education, Woodring College of Education
124 credits (major and professional program)
Introduction
The program in early childhood education consists of an academic major in Early Childhood Education and a sequence of professional certification courses that lead to teacher licensure Pre-K through third grade. Upon completion of the program, candidates can work in childcare centers, preschools, Head Start programs, and primary grades in public schools. The course work offers a combination of theory, methods, and field experiences in a variety of early childhood education.
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree with teacher certification and an endorsement in early childhood education (P-3) must complete the General University Requirements, the Early Childhood Education (P-3) Major, and the professional education coursework.
Why Consider an Early Childhood Education P-3 Option Major?
The Early Childhood Education (P-3) major has several unique program features:
- Students attend classes with other early childhood education students as a cohort group throughout the program.
- Students gain experience in teaching children in three age groups (infant/toddlers, pre-primary and primary) and in a variety of settings.
- Students are taught to understand and respect intercultural/familial diversity as they learn to develop partnerships with families.
- Students learn to use inquiry tools and process for developing meaningful and integrated learning experiences for young children.
| Sample Careers |
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Elementary Education Teacher (P-3) | Head Start | Childcare
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How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):
Admission to both Western Washington University and Early Childhood Education are required before a student may begin taking courses in the professional sequence. Requirements for consideration of an application include:
- completion of a minimum of 45 credits
- cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher for the last 45 credits
- Meet the West-B basic skills requirement. This may be met by: a) passing the West-B exam, b) SAT minimum scores, or c) ACT minimum scores. See the Woodring admissions website: wce.wwu.edu/admissions/west-b-requirement and the West-B website: www.west.nesinc.com
- completion of an English composition course with grade of B- or higher
Enrollment restrictions apply in all teacher education programs. Meeting the above criteria makes the applicant eligible for admission, but does not guarantee admission. Applications from students who meet all the criteria are evaluated to determine those most qualified. All applicants are then rank-ordered, and a final list created based on available openings. For further information, visit Teacher Education Admissions, Miller Hall 150, 360-650-3313 or visit the website at wce.wwu.edu/admission. Retention in the program requires continuous demonstration of competence in standard oral and written English in all course work. Retention also requires maintenance of a 2.75 quarterly GPA for each quarter upon admission to Early Childhood Education. Courses required for a state teaching endorsement and for the professional sequence must be completed with grades of C (2.0) or better.
Student Advisement
Prospective Early Childhood students are invited to meet with an advisor for more information about the program. The office is in Miller Hall 300 and the phone number is (360) 650-3336. Once admitted to the program, students are assigned a faculty advisor with whom they will stay in contact throughout their program.
See the Elementary Education section of this catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.
Grade Requirements
Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in the early childhood education professional program and in all courses required for the endorsement.
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