The early childhood major is a program for students interested in working with children in pre-kindergarten through third grade. This program leads to PK–3 certification in South Carolina. The early childhood major combines observations of young children, instructional methodology, program planning for PK–3 children, and information about the child’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development. Beginning in Fall 2020, all early childhood majors are required to pass the PRAXIS Subject Assessments required for certification in their area of student teaching in order to be placed in a student teaching setting. Teacher candidates should verify the test code numbers of the South Carolina requirement PRAXIS requirements, because the codes are subject to change.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Candidates will analyze child development and learning.
- Candidates will examine family and community relationships.
- Candidates will observe, document, and assess to support young children and families.
- Candidates will employ developmentally effective approaches.
- Candidates will use content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum.
Required Courses
Teacher candidates may take courses only in Benchmark I before being admitted to the Teacher Education Program. See the departmental web page for a list of Benchmark courses and other important information.
Majors in early childhood must also complete two sequential, incremental clinicals. In the first clinical, EDU 101 they observe and work with an individual child in grades 1–2 on reading instruction. In the second clinical, EDU 102, the students work in an early childhood setting and plan, organize, and implement instruction with groups of young children. The students’ transcripts will reflect the completion of these clinicals.
Course Selection
Choose one from the following: