Birth – Kindergarten Major, BS

The Birth through Kindergarten Program offers an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Birth through Kindergarten Education. The program offers students the choice of two concentrations, the Birth through Kindergarten Education Teacher Licensure Concentration and the Birth through Kindergarten Administration and Leadership in Early Childhood Education Concentration.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Birth-Kindergarten Education Program to prepare prospective educators 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. Consistent with the guidelines from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the program is designed to prepare professionals committed to working in partnership with children and families. The mission of the Birth-Kindergarten Program is consistent with the missions of Winston-Salem State University, the School of Education, and the Department of Education.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will:

1. Promote child development and learning for all young children with and without disabilities, including those at-risk.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of assessment processes, including their goals, benefits and uses.
3. Be able to build family and community partnerships.
4. Demonstrate preparedness for teaching and learning by connecting with all young children with and without disabilities, including those at-risk and their families.
5. Demonstrate preparedness for teaching and learning by conducting appropriate, on-going formal and informal assessments.
6. Demonstrate preparedness for teaching and learning by creating an integrated curriculum and responsive environment.
7. Support the learning of all young children with and without disabilities, including those at-risk.
8. Recognize and respect individual differences in program planning and implementation.
9. Demonstrate respectful, reciprocal relationships with families and communities.
10. Be prepared to assume the role as an active professional.

The course of study for the Birth-Kindergarten Education Program has an interdisciplinary focus and includes course work from birth-kindergarten education, special education, elementary education, nursing, psychology, and sociology. Students are required to complete a minimum of 123 semester hours to receive the Bachelor of Science degree, comprising: 40 semester hours of general education core courses, 27 semester hours of professional core courses, 27 semester hours of specialty area courses, and 29 semester hours of interdisciplinary core courses.

Majors in the Birth-Kindergarten Education 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, Association of Childhood Education International, National Black Child Development Institute, and the Council for Exceptional Children.