Elementary and Early Childhood Education and Special Education, B.A.

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Total minimum number of credits required for a double major in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and Special Educationleading to the B.A. degree - 136

Mission of the Elementary and Early Childhood Program

The mission of the Elementary and Early Childhood Program is to prepare highly effective teachers who have the knowledge, skills,and competencies to prepare PreK-4 students to achieve academic success, and who are prepared to serve a diverse group of children and families in a variety of educational settings.

Wilkes offers an option of a part-time, fully online completion degree pathway within the elementary and early childhood program for transfer students entering with an Associate’s degree or at least 55 transferrable credits. This pathway is designed for the working adult to continue their education part-time in an online environment and follows the same course sequence as the traditional program.Elementary and Early Childhood Education is a major leading to pre-kindergarten through fourth grade (PK-4) certification. This program incorporates an 18-credit minor in Reading.

Elementary and Early Childhood Education majors take methods of teaching courses in reading, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, physical education and health, as well as courses in educational theory and practice, assessment, and classroom management. Students must fulfill all of the following requirements:

complete all course work, field experiences, clearances, appropriate tests of basic skills, and student teaching;
complete the following General Education Curriculum requirements, which include:

First Year Foundations

FYF 101 - First-Year Foundations Credits: 3

Oral Communications

Fulfilled by OPO courses in Education major

English Composition and Literature

7 credits, completed within the first 48 credit hours as required by the PDE:

Mathematics

6 credits, completed within first 48 credit hours as required by the PDE

Computer Literacy

CS 115 - Computers and Applications Credits: 3

Foreign Language or Philosophy

PHL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy Credits: 3 (Foreign Language is highly recommended)
PHL 110 - Introduction to Ethical Problems Credits: 3 (Foreign Language is highly recommended)

History

3 credits:

Science

6 credits in two different areas and at least one course that includes a laboratory component:

Psychology

PSY 101 - General Psychology Credits: 3

Social Sciences

3 credits in one of the following areas:

Visual and Performing Arts

3 credits in one of the following areas:

1. Complete the Following Education Courses

(All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted). Students must follow the requirements for all coursework as set forth in the Student Acknowledgement of Grade Point Average (GPA) and Test of Basic Skills (TBS) Policy of the Wilkes University Education Department

ED 190 - Effective Teaching with Field Experience Credits: 3 (40-hours of field experience)
ED 191 - Integrating Technology into The Classroom Credits: 3 (C.I. course).
EDSP 210 - Teaching Students with Special Needs Credits: 3 (Honors designation available)
ED 220 - Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners Credits: 3 (Honors designation available)
EDSP 225 - Teaching Students with High Incidence Disabilities with Field Experience Credits: 3 (30-hours of field experience)
EDSP 250 - Health, Pe, Adapted Phys. Ed, & Safety Credits: 3
EDSP 263 - Infants, Toddlers, and Young Children with Special Needs Credits: 3 (30-hours of field experience)
ED 264 - Child Development and Cognition – Classroom Application Credits: 3 (30- hours of field experience)

NOTE:

Students must meet all the requirements for and be admitted to the Teacher Education Program to proceed to all 300-level Education courses.

Students should regularly consult with their academic advisors and the Education Department for any changes or considerations. The Education Department maintains specific advising checklists and policy documents to help guide students in their respective programs.

ED 321 - Literacy Foundations I Credits: 3 (30 hours of field experience)
ED 322 - Literacy Foundations II Credits: 3
ED 323 - Differentiated Reading Credits: 3
ED 324 - Children’s Literature Credits: 3 (Honors designation available)
ED 325 - Applied Reading Strategies Credits: 3 (15 hours of field experience; Prerequisite: ED 321 )
ED 330 - Mathematics in Early Childhood and Elementary Education Credits: 3
ED 341 - Language Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education Credits: 3 (OPO course)
ED 344 - Assessment in Early Childhood and Elementary Education Credits: 3 (This course is replaced by EDSP 300 , Assessment in Special Education, for students completing dual certification in PK-4 and Special Education.)
ED 345 - Assessment in Education Credits: 3 (Honors designation available)
ED 350 - The Arts in Early Childhood and Elementary Education Credits: 3
ED 360 - Social Studies in Early Childhood and Elementary Education Credits: 3
EDSP 363 - Family, School, & Community Credits: 3 (This course is omitted for students completing dual certification in PK-4 and Special Education)
ED 370 - Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education Credits: 3
ED 380 - Content Area Literacy Credits: 3
EDSP 388 - Inclusionary Practices Credits: 3 (taken in conjunction with ED 390 ) (Honors designation available)
ED 390 - Student Teaching With Seminar [Pk-4], [4-8], [7-12], and [K-12] Credits: 12 (12 credits; OPO course)