Early Childhood Education Major

The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education is a non-certification major that prepares students to work as lead teachers or administrators in licensed early childhood programs.  These centers might include Head Start, School-Readiness Programs, licensed Family Child Care Homes, and some school-based programs. Students in this program are not eligible to teach in certified positions within public schools. However, graduates of this program can apply for teacher certification programs. Academic advisors are available to support students in understanding the differences between certification and noncertification programs. 

Key Assessment Requirements: To graduate from the program, students must demonstrate competency in each of the Professional Standards and Competencies for Early Childhood Educators by submitting six key assessments in the following areas:

• Child Growth and Development
• Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections
• Child Observation, Documentation and Assessment
• Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices
• Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum
• Professionalism as an Early Childhood Education 

Credits accepted for Transfer: When a student transfers in credit for a Charter Oak State College required course that has a key assessment, the student is still responsible for demonstrating competencies. Students can complete additional courses for elective credit to fulfill this requirement, or they may be advised to transfer to the Child Studies major.

Field Experience Requirements: Courses within the Early Childhood major require students to observe, practice, or observe and practice by working directly with children. Prior to graduation, students are responsible for completing field experiences as follows:

• Age Groups: Students must have experience in at least two different age groups.
  • Infant and Toddler
  • Preschool
  • School Age
• Settings:  Students must have experience in at least two different settings:
  • Home-Based
  • Center-Based
  • Public Schools
  • Head Start or other State-funded programs (School Readiness, Universal Pre-K, etc.) 

Due to the nature of online education, students may also be required to videotape their experiences in practice where student evaluations must be completed by a course instructor.

All major and concentration requirements must be completed with a grade of 'C' or higher. Students earning a grade of C- may earn credit for the course. However, the credits cannot be used towards the major requirement. 

In order to earn a Bachelor's degree at Charter Oak, all Major, General Education, Liberal Arts and Electives, Upper Level credit, and academic residency requirements must be met. Total credits earned must be a minimum of 120 credits.

A final grade of 'C' must be earned for the student to pass each of the key assessments.
Background checks are required for all internship placements.

Major Requirements

Note: Core requirements must be taken by all students in this degree program. Additional concentration requirements are listed below.

Prerequisites:

Students must complete the following prerequisite requirements for all concentrations:

• PSY 101: Psychology
• SOC 101: Sociology

Concentrations:

Early Childhood Education reflects ages Birth-Age 8.  While this program covers child development birth-age 8, the primary focus for teaching methods is for work with children ages birth-age 5.

Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Major must choose one of the three concentration tracks below:

1. Teaching Concentration

This concentration is for those who teach or would like to teach in community-based early childhood programs, including child day care centers or family child care homes. Two 6-credit field experience/practicum courses are required for this option. Practicum experiences must be in two different settings. 

The following additional Early Childhood Education courses are required for students enrolled in this concentration.

*Courses must be taken at Charter Oak.

2. Program Administration and Leadership Concentration

This concentration is for students who currently work as program directors or assistant directors, or for teachers or other professionals that would like to advance to program director positions. By taking courses in this concentration, students will qualify to work as NAEYC Administrators in accredited early childhood programs serving children ages birth-age 8.

In this concentration, students will study the many facets of leadership that encompass the work of the early childhood program administrator. Students will gain an understanding of early childhood curriculum and how to work with families, as well as the human resource and financial responsibilities of program directors. One 3-credit culminating practicum and one 3-credit Capstone course is required for this concentration where students work under the guidance of a mentor leader with experience in NAEYC accreditation for programs serving young children. Students who already qualify as NAEYC administrator’s, or directors that have at least four years of administrative experience, will be able to document their experience to have the practicum requirement waived.  Academic Advisors will work with students to create a practicum experience that is respective of the student’s time, current work obligations, as well as prior experiences in early childhood administrative or leadership roles. The following additional Early Childhood Education courses are required for students enrolled in this concentration. 

*Students without approved NAEYC administrator experience will take the 3-credit practicum course.

*Courses must be taken at Charter Oak.

      3. Montessori

This concentration is designed for students who work in Montessori Programs. Students may specialize in either Infant and Toddler or Early Childhood Education training. All students in the Montessori track must take the core courses required for all early childhood education majors.  However, 30 hours of transfer credit from the Montessori Credential must be recorded on the official transcript. Students in this concentration may not transfer the equivalency of courses from other colleges unless they are approved as Montessori specific.

In addition, students in the Montessori concentration must take additional courses related to the major.

Montessori training is not offered at Charter Oak State College. Students in this concentration transfer the AMS or AMI Credential for which college credit is provided. Credits for Montessori training differs based on the Montessori credential earned and are awarded based on credential approvals from the CT Credit Assessment Program reviews of each Montessori credential. The following additional Early Childhood Education courses are required for students enrolled in this concentration.

Note: Capstone Courses must be completed at Charter Oak State College. Practicum courses must also be completed at Charter Oak State College unless the course transfers in from another institution or as part of a credentialing program. 

*Courses must be taken at Charter Oak.

**This course generally transfers in with verification of the AMS credential. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a major in Early Childhood Education will: 

• understand child development and how children learn and use this knowledge to design developmentally appropriate experiences for young children (Standard 1);
• know and understand the value and diversity of families, collaborate with families as partners, and use community resources to support young children's learning and development (Standard 2);
• understand the purposes and uses of assessment, how to observe & document children’s development, and how to use this information to inform work with young children (Standard 3);
• demonstrate positive dispositions for working with young children and their families and understand how to use teaching strategies that meet the needs of individual learners, are inclusive, linguistically relevant and supportive of anti-bias teaching practices as well as principles of universal design for learning (Standard 4);
• understand content knowledge related to the academic disciplines and how to use child development to support children's learning in each content area.  (Standard 5); and
• identify as reflective practitioners in the early childhood field, follow ethical principles, communicate effectively as a professional and engage in continuous, collaborative learning (Standard 6).