Course Requirements Course Descriptions Program Description Elementary and Early Childhood Education offers the program leading to the B.S. in Education degree in Early Childhood Education. The Early Childhood undergraduate program is designed for students wishing to teach and direct programs for children from pre-kindergarten through grade three. The graduate program is designed to develop master level educators through a common core of essential knowledge and experiences drawn from current research and practice in the field of early childhood education. Through this program, candidates are able to further their competencies as educators, directors, program planners, and curriculum developers in various early childhood settings.
Students can complete additional course work to receive certification.
The Early Childhood program prepares educators through a program based upon knowledge of what constitutes best practices for teaching young children and their families. The program addresses the areas of child development, curriculum emergence and development, developmentally appropriate practice, diversity, advocacy and family partnerships. The students are given opportunities to apply their acquired knowledge in a variety of field based experiences offered as part of their professional course work. These field experiences take place in Professional Development Schools, the University Child Development Center , and preschools and elementary schools in the metropolitan St. Louis area. The sites used provide experiences with suburban and urban populations.