The Birth-Kindergarten Education program offers students the choice of three concentrations, the Birth through Kindergarten Education Teacher Licensure Concentration, the Birth through Kindergarten Business Optional Concentration, and the Early Intervention and Preschool Concentration. The Birth-Kindergarten Education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the NC State Board of Education.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Birth-Kindergarten Education Program to prepare prospective educators with the knowledge, skills, and disposition to work with typical and atypical children, ages birth through five years, in a variety of settings, such as public schools, developmental centers, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, day-care agencies, infant, and nursery schools, and other agencies serving children and families. Consistent with the guidelines from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and NCATE, the program is designed to prepare professionals committed to working in collaboration with families and other partners serving children and families.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, the student will:
- Promote child development and learning for all young children with and without disabilities, including those at-risk.
- Demonstrate an understanding of assessment processes, including their goals, benefits and uses.
- Conduct appropriate on-going formal and informal assessments to facilitate children’s learning and development.
- Work collaboratively with family and community partnerships.
- Provide a safe and appropriate learning environment in which children experience positive and nurturing relationships with caring adults.
- Demonstrate preparedness for teaching and learning by creating an integrated curriculum and responsive environment.
- Recognize and respect individual differences in program planning and implementation.
Major Requirements
The course of study for the Birth-Kindergarten Education program has an interdisciplinary focus and includes course work from birth-kindergarten education, special education, education, psychology, sociology, and physical education. The program of study includes courses in general education, professional education, specialty area, and interdisciplinary core courses. For admission into teacher education, Birth-Kindergarten Education majors must complete the general education core curriculum and all other requirements during the first two years of enrollment.
Majors in the Birth-Kindergarten Education (BKE) Program are encouraged to become active in professional organizations to give them a focus outside the classroom. Suggested organizations include the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Association of Childhood Education International (ACEI), National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI), and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC.
Specialized Admission Requirements for the Birth-Kindergarten Teacher Licensure Major
Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Students wishing to pursue any of the Teacher Education programs must be formally admitted to the teacher education program at WSSU at the end of the sophomore year if they plan to complete the program on schedule. The criteria for admission into Teacher Education include but are not limited to:
- Official ETS passing test scores on PRAXIS I (Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) or acceptable ACT/SAT scores.
- Candidate’s signed statement of commitment regarding dispositions expected from all teacher education candidates.
- Official transcript(s) of all postsecondary education
- Three professional references, one of which must be from a faculty member in the candidate’s program of study.
- Writing an acceptable essay or presenting other approved evidence of sound writing skills
- Completing a satisfactory virtual introduction (videotape)
- Completion of general education student credit hours (Exit of General Education)
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and at least a grade of C in all General Education courses in English, Mathematics, and Speech.
- Recommendation of the Teacher Education Advisement and Partnership (TEAP) Center.
Admission to teacher education program is a prerequisite for taking all 4000-level courses and selected 3000-level courses in certain program areas. Applications for admission into teacher education programs are due by the last day of classes each term. Admission decisions are made at monthly meetings of the Professional Education Council during the fall and spring semesters.
Progression Requirements (Teacher Licensure Program)
All students must maintain a 2.5 GPA and earn a grade of “C” or better in all major courses.
In the BKE Teacher Licensure program, All BKE and education courses above the 3000 level require admission to Teacher Education and completion of the requirements listed in the admissions requirements. Some of the courses have prerequisites and students should make sure they have met the requirements before enrolling in the course(s).
Students take the PRAXIS II—-test during student teaching.
Birth through Kindergarten Education Programs of Study
Program Summary
Total Number of Semester Hours……………………………………………120-126 credit hrs
General Education Requirements…………………………………………… 60 credit hrs
Foundational Courses …………………………………………………………….12 credit hrs
Breadth Courses ……………………….…………………………………………..24 credit hrs
Depth Courses …………………………………………………..…………………24-30 credit hrs
PREREQUISITES TO THE MAJOR (GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES) (12hrs)
EDU 2334: Education, Culture and Society
EDU 2322: Promoting Social Justice through Education OR EDU/SPE: 3322 Parent School Community Relations
ESL 2305: Language, Culture, and Cross-Cultural Interaction
BKE 2320: Child Development (takes the place of BKE 2323 and BKE 2325)
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES (12 hrs)
BKE 2321: Foundations of Early Childhood Education
BKE 2322: Cultural and Individual Variations in Children and Families
PED 2340: Motor Development
SPE 3300: Exceptional Children in the Regular Classroom
BREADTH COURSES (24 hrs)
SPE 3323: Language and Communication Disorders
SOC/SOW 3306: Child Welfare
BKE 3329: Early Language and Literacy II
BKE 3343: Working with Parents/Teaming with Systems
BKE 3342: Guidance and Classroom Management
BKE 3339: Child and Family Assessment
BKE 4344: Curriculum Development for Preschool Classrooms
EDU 4339: Integrating Media & Technology in P-12 Settings
DEPTH COURSES (24 - 30 hrs)
Concentration 1: Teacher Licensure (30hrs)
BKE 3345: Prevention and Early Intervention
BKE 4334: Creative Expressions of Young Children
EDU 4338: Psychological Foundations of Education
BKE 4312: Mathematics and Science for Young Children
BKE 4336: Classroom Management and Preclinical
BKE 4338: Family Studies Practicum
STUDENT TEACHING
EDU 4333 Student Teaching Seminar
EDU 4981: Observing Student Teaching
Concentration 2: Early Intervention and Preschool (Non-Teacher Licensure) (24hrs)
PSY 2310: Psychology of the Exceptional Child OR SPE 2310: Introduction to Exceptional Individuals (GE)
BKE 2326: Early Language and Literacy I
BKE 3341: Infant & Toddler Screening and Assessment
BKE 3345: Prevention and Early Intervention
INTERNSHIP
BKE 4335: Administration and Leadership in ECE
BKE 4935: Internship in ECE
Concentration 3: Administration and Leadership (Non-Teacher Licensure) (30hrs)
MGT 1304: Introduction to Business (GE)
BLA 2325: Business Law I (GE)
ECO 2311: Principles of Microeconomics (GE)
ACC 2316: Principles of Financial Accounting
MGT 3321: Principles of Management
MKT 3331: Principles of Marketing
INTERNSHIP
BKE 4335: Administration and Leadership in ECE
BKE 4935: Internship in ECE
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