Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Liberal Studies
Degrees offered
Campuses
The NDMU College of Adult Undergraduate Studies (CAUS) prepares interested students to become certified to teach children in pre-kindergarten through grade three. NDMU invites students to consider preparing for a career as an early childhood education teacher. Being a certified early childhood educator allows the professional to teach in a public or private school setting where they work with children who are in pre-kindergarten up to and including grade three. Teaching at this level requires close attention to the developmental needs of young children and how to appropriately support their learning process. As with any teaching assignment, the educator must be equipped to effectively plan lessons to engage these young learners in activities stimulating their fine and gross motor skills as well as their kinesthetic, auditory, and visual senses. Early Childhood Education Program of Study focuses on the academic, social, and cognitive skills that develop in children during their formative years.
Most early childhood educators work throughout the school day in a classroom setting with a single group of students for whom all content areas must be taught, i.e., English language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science instruction. Regardless of age and grade-level placement, NDMU will prepare all graduates to be highly qualified for any teaching situation by providing multiple opportunities for them to learn and teach in a variety of settings under outstanding mentor teachers. In fact, NDMU is the only teacher preparation program in Maryland that affords students the opportunity to observe pre-school age children on its main campus in LeClerc Hall in a program called 'A Child's Place', a school for children age 3 through kindergarten.
Degree candidates must complete the general education classes listed in Engage and Empower as well as liberal arts requirements designated by MSDE.
Elementary & Early Childhood Core Curriculum
EDU-252 Clinical Field Experience: Elementary (Students who work full time in an Early Childhood setting can apply to waive this experience.)
EDU-300 Technology for Instruction & Management
EDU-303 Elementary School Reading Materials
EDU-307 Social Studies in the Elementary School
EDU-309 Instruction in Reading
EDU-310 Mathematics in the Elementary School
EDU-312 Science in the Elementary School
EDU-315 Curriculum/Methods and Materials for the Young Child
EDU-319 Human Development and Learning
EDU-338 English Language Learners for the Classroom Teacher
EDU-357 Processes and Acquisition of Reading
EDU-400 edTPA for Education
EDU-402 American Education in Historical Perspective
EDU-410 Internship: Teaching in Early Childhood Education
EDU-411 Internship: Teaching in the Elementary School
EDU-460 Assessment of Reading
SPE-326 Special Education for the Classroom Teacher
Liberal Arts courses in the Major are exclusive of those required for General Education
Literature (6)
American literature
World literature
History (3)
U.S. History (if World History was selected for general education) or Non-U.S. History (if American History was selected for general education)
Mathematics (9)
Natural Sciences (8/9)*
Biological science with lab
Physical science with lab
Social sciences (6)
Geography
Economics, Psychology, Political Science OR Sociology
Fine arts (3)
Art (if Music was selected for general education) OR Music (if Art was selected for general education)
*Traditional undergraduate students take three four-credit science courses; College of Adult Undergraduate Studies students take four three-credit science courses.
Courses
EDU-252 Clinical Field Experience: Elementary
Offers a direct instructional field experience in an assigned area elementary public school for three weeks, all day. Includes instruction in school organization, curriculum, characteristics and diverse needs of children, and issues in teaching and learning. Classroom observation and participation seminars. [ 3 credits ]
EDU-300 Technology for Instruction & Management
EDU-303 Elementary School Reading Materials
EDU-307 Social Studies in the Elementary School
Provides a conceptual and analytical approach to teaching and learning social studies in the elementary school. Emphasis on integration of content and process through use of experimental, activity and inquiry approaches to meet the needs of diverse learners. Includes information related to selecting instructional resources, developing curriculum materials and integrating concepts, skills and values. Requires construction of learning materials and peer teaching. [4 credits]
EDU-309 Instruction in Reading
Increases the participant's familiarity with a representative array of research-based instructional techniques and strategies in reading. Participants will learn age-appropriate instructional routines and strategies in the five major components of reading instruction (phonological and phonemic awareness; phonics, spelling and word study; fluency development; vocabulary; and comprehension). Throughout the course candidates will demonstrate their knowledge of the instructional routines and strategies by role-play, live demonstration, critiquing models, using the Common Core Reading Standards and reviewing the research in support of those approaches. [3 credits]
EDU-310 Mathematics in the Elementary School
Integrates mathematical concepts with the methods employed to teach mathematics in the elementary school. Emphasis on National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards and implementation of the Common Core Mathematics standards in instruction. Focus on a hands-on approach using manipulatives. Includes preparation of lesson plans and microteaching experiences. [4 credits]
EDU-312 Science in the Elementary School
Integration of basic concepts of physical, life, earth and space sciences. Emphasis on discovery of concepts through demonstrations and investigations. Addresses the three domains of
science education: knowledge, skills and attitudes. Attention given to National Standards, the Common Core Science Standards and the use of indicators in planning, instruction and assessing. Includes preparation of a science unit and microteaching experience. Permission required. [4 credits]
EDU-315 Curriculum/Methods and Materials For the Young Child
Presents curriculum, methods and materials for early childhood programs, preschool through primary grades. Family and community involvement strategies. Instruction in planning, implementation and assessment of interdisciplinary activities to stimulate cognitive, linguistic, social and motor development to meet the diverse needs of learners. [4 credits]
EDU-319 Human Development and Learning
Explores selected aspects of human development related to learning and instruction. Major psychological concepts and learning theories will be examined and applied to the context of eduction. Emphasis will be placed on understanding cognitive and affective domains of development as well as behavior management, motivation, individual differences in learning and instructional practices. Includes reflection, classroom activities, educational philosophy and classroom instruction. [ 3 credits ]
EDU-338 English Language Learners for the Classroom Teacher
Equips mainstream classroom teachers with the knowledge and skills required to address the linguistic needs of students whose language is one other than English. After reviewing recent demographic trends and legal mandates as they pertain to English Language Learners (ELLs) in public schools, this course analyzes factors that influence the challenges of ELLs in K-12, including prior education, first language literacy skills, English proficiency, and cultural issues. Special emphasis will be placed on the linguistic demands of the K-12 curriculum and effective pedagogical approaches for ELLs. [ 3 credits ]
EDU-357 Procurement & Acquisition of Reading
EDU-400 edTPA for Educators
This course is designed for education students going through their internship. It prepares them for the submission of the required national teaching portfolio. Students are mentored through the process by School of Education faculty mentors. [ variable credit 1-3 ]
EDU-402 American Education in Historical Perspective
EDU-410 Internship: Teaching in Early Childhood Education
Incorporates full-time observation and supervised student teaching required. Internship fee required. [variable credits: 2-5 credits]
NOTE: Student Teaching Internships may start earlier than the official term start dates. Please refer to the information received at the internship orientation or contact the Education Department. Students preparing for dual certification neroll in designated alternative sections of appropriate internships for 105 credits each. Consult program advisor before registering.
EDU-411 Internship: Teaching in the Elementary School
Provides full-time observation and supervised internship experiences in diverse Baltimore area professional development schools. Seminars on various topics in education such as analysis of teaching in elementary schools, school and family relationships, and interviewing and employment practices. Permission required. Teaching internship fee required. [5-11 credits] NOTE: Student Teaching Internships may start earlier than the official term start dates. Please refer to the information received at the internship orientation or contact the Education Department.