Early Childhood Education
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Early Childhood Education Degree Map
Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree
Outcomes & Careers
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$46k
Preschool & Kindergarten Teacher
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a preschool and kindergarten teacher is $46,310.
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$68k
Elementary Teacher
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for an elementary school teacher is $68,000.
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$74k
Special Education Teacher
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for a special education teacher is $74,310.
As an early childhood education major, you’ll learn to meet the rigor of teacher education in a supportive environment with faculty who have extensive classroom experience themselves. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours.
Early Childhood Education students must be admitted to the Educator Preparation Program prior to enrolling in upper division (300 level or above) education courses.
Professional Education Courses:
- BS118 Process Science Elementary Teachers (1)
- CE330 Classroom Management and Environmental Organization (3)
- CE340 Family School Collaboration (3)
- CE364 Methods of Teaching Math, Science, Social Studies in EC / El Ed (2)
- CE365 Observation, Assessment and Data Analysis in EC / El Ed (3)
- CE366 Curriculum, Theory & Program Management in Early Childhood (2)
- CE368 Early Childhood Field Experience (2)
- CE370 Language Acquisition of the Young Child (3)
- CE480 Early Childhood Student Teaching (12)
- CE530 Foundations of Early Childhood Special Education (3)
- CF124 Child Health, Nutrition, Safety (3)
- CF213 Family Community Resources (3)
- CF233 Creative Thought & Expression in Children (3)
- CF285 Learning Theory/Infant Toddlers (3)
- ED280 Introduction to Education as a Profession (3)
- ED506 Education Law and Society (3)
- EF400 Student Teaching Seminar (1)
- EL274 Diversity in American Schools (3)
- EL300 Instructional and Assistive Technology in a Universally Designed Learning Environment (3)
- EL314 Literacy Field Experience (3)
- EL316 Emergent and Early Literacy Instruction (3)
- EL317 Literacy Methods for Elementary Teachers (3)
- EL354 Meeting the Needs of Struggling Readers (3)
- EL355 Content & Disciplinary Literacy (3)
- EL410 Differentiated Instruction (3)
- EL430 Advanced Field Experience (3)
- EN140 Rhetoric & Critical Thinking (3)
- EX390 Psychology of the Exceptional Child (3)
- LI243 Children’s Literature (3)
- MA128 Numbers and Operations for Educators (4)*
- MA228 Geometry for Educators (4)
- PY/CF120 The Child (3)
A grade of ‘C’ or better is required in education courses. A grade of ‘B’ is required in ED280.
Additional Requirements:
- BS218 Biological Science (3)
- EC101 Economic Problems and Policies (3)
- EN100 English Composition (3)
- PH218 Physical Science (3)
- PS103 US Political Systems (3)
- SC105 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (3)
- UI308 Cultural/Physical Landscapes (3)
- US105 American History I (3)
NOTE: All Pre-Education courses are pre-requisite to all Education courses.
*Students who score less than 22 on the ACT math subscore must also take MA018 lab.
“Critical Courses” are italicized and bolded. Data shows that students who have completed this course in the first two years and have earned the noted grade are most likely to complete this program of study.
- 42 credit hours completed
- One of the following: 1) Composite/Superscore of 20 or higher on the ACT exam; 2) Composite score of 1040 or higher on the SAT exam; 3) Passing scores on all sections of the Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA); or 4) A 4-year degree from an accredited college/university
- The following course requirements met:
- A grade of C or above in CF/PY120 The Child or PY222 Development of the Adolescent.
- A grade of B or above in ED280 Introduction to Education as a Profession or ME222 Principles of Teaching Music.
- International Students must also meet the following requirements:
- C1 (CEFR) level
- IELTS minimum score of 7.0 or TOEFL minimum score of 95
- Note: This policy is for non-United States citizens who are not native English speakers. Students from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are exempt from English proficiency verification
- 3.0 professional education GPA
- Pass the following Missouri Content Assessments: 064 Early Childhood Education, 073-074 Elementary Education Multi-Content
- Successfully complete all required course work and field experiences
- Early – explore the role of educators before you commit to the degree
- Mid-level – early childhood majors do field experiences with infants/toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary aged students; field experiences are connected to education coursework
- Student Teaching – semester long, co-teaching capstone experience in an
early childhood classroom (PreK – 3rd grade)
Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.
- Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
- Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
- Written Communication – 6 hours
- Oral Communication – 3 hours
- Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
- Mathematics – 3 hours
- Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
- Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
- Civics examination
Freshman Year
Fall Semester (14 Hours)
- UI100 (1)
- EN100 (3)
- BS118 (1)
- PS103 (3)
- SC105 (3)
- US105 (3)
Spring Semester (16 Hours)
- BS218 (3)
- ED280 (3)
- EN140 (3)
- MA128 (4)
- PY/CF120 (3)
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester (16 Hours)
- CF124 (3)
- EC101 (3)
- EL274 (3)
- MA228 (4)
- PH218 (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)
- CF213 (3)
- CF233 (3)
- CF285 (3)
- LI243 (3)
- UI308 (3)
Milestone: Passing score MoGEA or ACT
Junior Year
Fall Semester (15 Hours)
Literacy Block
- CE370 (3)
- EL300 (3)
- EL314 (3)
- EL316 (3)
- EL317 (3)
Spring Semester (18 Hours)
Content Block
- CE330 (3)
- CE364 (2)
- CE365 (3)
- CE366 (2)
- CE368 (2)
- EL355 (3)
- EX390 (3)
Milestone: Maintain 3.0 GPA in content courses and 3.0 GPA in professional education courses
Senior Year
Fall Semester (18 Hours)
Advanced Block
- CE340 (3)
- CE530 (3)
- ED506 (3)
- EL354 (3)
- EL410 (3)
- EL430 (3)
Spring Semester (13 Hours)
Student Teaching Block
- CE480 (12)
- EF400 (1)
Milestone: Passing score MO Content Exams and MEES; 3.0 GPA in content courses.
What will it cost?
Become a Redhawk.
Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.
Get Funding for Your Education
Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.
Accreditations
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Learn to Teach
The Will to Do
Technology in the Classroom
Southeast has started an EDvolution®. It’s our tech-ready promise to prepare majors to use and integrate instructional technology in the classroom, so students can do so seamlessly in their classrooms as beginning teachers. All students in Educator Preparation Programs must have a device, i.e. laptop, or iPad, for use during the program.
- Tech for You: become a better student with technology
- Tech for Us: learn how to teach with technology
- Tech for Them: use technology in your field experiences
Tomorrow’s Teachers Learning Community
As an elementary, early, and special education major, you can choose to participate in Tomorrow’s Teachers Learning Community. This is Special Interest Housing comprised of groups of students with a shared academic interest either on the same floor or within the same residence hall. These communities provide students an opportunity to challenge and shape their personal and professional identities. They build community with programming designed by faculty and staff from their academic area and Residence Life staff. It gives you the opportunity to know, support, and collaborate with others to help in your academic and personal success.
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701