The Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Program requires 148 hours of university credits to complete all required courses; 124 Elementary Education Program and an additional 24 hours for the ECU Program. Students proceed through Foundation courses, Instructional Strategies, Assessment, and Management courses, and Student Teaching. Students demonstrate their competence at multiple points in the program through performance-based assessments. As this is a dual licensure program, upon completion of all courses and program assessments, graduates are eligible to apply for both the elementary teaching license (leveled from kindergarten through sixth grade, general education), and the early childhood unified license (leveled from birth through grade 3, and which qualifies individuals for both general education and special education positions).

Admission Requirements:

• Admission Requirements
• Application for Admission
• Admission Testing Requirements
• Attestation of Eligibility

The completed packet should be submitted to Education Support Services (ESS) the semester before beginning the Teacher Education Program.

Teacher Education Application Packet

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Program Checksheet
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 Program Checksheet

 Catalog Descriptions of Professional/Pedagogy Courses

 Field Experience Overview

Program Outline

The Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Program is designed to prepare teachers of young children (birth through grade 3). The ECU program develops reflective practitioners who possess theoretical and practical developmental, educational, communicative, collaborative, and family- and child-centered skills. The ECU Program's advisory committee provides continual guidance to the program to assure that all candidates graduate with the belief that:

• (a) all young children, birth through grade 3 (i.e., children with and without exceptionalities, at every socioeconomic level, from all cultures) are competent, creative and curious learners;
• (b) working with, understanding, and respecting families is a critical component of working with young children;
• (c) development and education are focused for each individual child in terms of the child's relation with the family, other children, teachers, the school community and society at large;
• (d) children must learn through both constructing their own knowledge and by direct instruction;
• (e) the unique needs of all young children must be met; and
• (f) programs and services provided are based on law, and scientifically- and evidence-based practices.