Early Childhood Education (PreK-2), B.S.E.

Education

Education Program of Study

The Early Childhood Education (PreK-2), Elementary Education (1-6), Special Education: Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8), and Special Education: Severe Disabilities (All Levels) programs lead to an initial license. Education majors place emphasis on college coursework that honors cultural, racial, linguistic, and social diversity.

Field-based experiences begin freshman year and are enhanced by strong departmental collaboration with exemplary schools and host teachers in the region. Candidates continue to hone their skills toward becoming highly qualified, classroom-ready teachers throughout their four years at Fitchburg State University. Following their freshman year, each methodology course is paired with intensive field-based experiences that include faculty-based coaching in a PreK-2 classroom. Beginning Junior year, teacher candidates enroll in a field experience, which is a uniquely guided teaching and learning experience in a PreK-2 classroom under the supervision of a MA licensed teacher and university faculty. Candidates’ time in the field increases their first semester senior year when they enroll in a semester-long professional experience preceding the practicum. During this time, they participate in a minimum of a 150-hour Integrated Partial Practicum that is linked to methods courses where candidates continue to receive specific feedback in areas of reinforcement and refinement. To assure that our teacher candidates are classroom-ready, during their final semester they complete a full-time practicum consisting of inclusion placements in a classroom under the guidance of the program supervisor and under the direction of a supervising practitioner who is certified in the area of licensure sought by the candidate. Candidates enrolled in this course fulfill the hours for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education practicum requirements. As with all of the field experiences, candidates plan and deliver instruction to diverse learners in small group and whole class settings where they will practice and demonstrate the Subject Matter Knowledge standards (SMKs) as well as the Professional Standards for Teachers (PSTs). In addition, they will implement content coursework knowledge and pedagogy obtained from their education methods courses, connecting theory to practice. Candidates will receive targeted, specific feedback in areas of reinforcement and refinement.

Early Childhood Education (PreK-2)

Early Childhood (PreK-2), Elementary Education (1-6), and Special Education: Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) and Severe Disabilities (All Levels) Initial Licensure Programs

The Education Department of Fitchburg State University fully recognizes and embraces the diversity and challenges that teachers face in today’s public and private schools. The comprehensive program of study is one which deliberately integrates and celebrates these challenges by providing an inclusive model for teacher preparation. Each course provides research-based methods to assess student needs in order to differentiate instruction. Techniques and strategies that address the needs of all learners in the inclusion classroom are emphasized. Courses have been specifically designed to provide teacher candidates with content and strategies to be knowledgeable, skillful, ethical, and caring educators in the 21st century.

Early Childhood PreK-2

Early Childhood Educators are prepared to work with young children with and without disabilities in Pre-K through grade 2 settings. They acquire a strong understanding of how young children learn developmentally and they are able to facilitate learning utilizing appropriate practices. The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure required for this program are Communication and Literacy, Early Childhood Test, and Foundations of Reading.

Requirements for the Major in Early Childhood Education (PreK-2)

The Speaking/Listening, Computer Literacy and Jr/Sr Writing Requirements are met through the Practicum experience.

The plan of study is as follows (See course descriptions for pre-practicum hours required):

• SPED 1001 - Introduction to Special Education 3 cr.
• EDUC 1005 - Developing Culturally Proficient Educators for a Democratic Society 3 cr.
• EDUC 1006 - Foundations of Inclusive Education 3 cr.
• SPED 2002 - Speech and Language Development for Diverse Learners 3 cr.
• EDUC 2009 - The Art and Science of Education 3 cr.
• EDUC 2630 - Literacy in the Pre-K to 8 Classroom 3 cr.
• EDUC 2640 - Language Arts: Theory to Practice 3 cr.
• EDUC 3015 - Advanced Assessment and Instruction in Reading 3 cr.
• SPED 3020 - Students with Emotional/Behavioral and Autism Spectrum Disorders 3 cr.
• EDUC 3023 - Developmentally Appropriate Practices and Programs for Young Children 3 cr.
• EDUC 3035 - Arts Integration 3 cr.
• EDUC 3055 - Investigations in Science & Social Studies in Early Childhood Education 3 cr.
• EDUC 3122 - Sheltered English Immersion 3 cr.
• SPED 3400 - Teaching Math for Diverse Learners 3 cr.
• SPED 3720 - Classroom Management and Behavior Support 3 cr.
• EDUC 4250 - Assessment for Instruction 3 cr.
• EDUC 4550 - Collaboration: Co-Teaching, Instruction, and Working with Families 3 cr.

Required Field Experiences

• EDUC 3016 - Field Experience I in Early Childhood Education 2 cr.
• EDUC 3017 - Field Experience II in Early Childhood Education 2 cr.
• SPED 4000 - Integrated Partial Practicum 4 cr.
• EDUC 4862 - Practicum I in Early Childhood Education 6 cr.
• EDUC 4863 - Practicum II in Early Childhood Education 6 cr.

Integrated Partial Practicum (IPP) (Senior Year)

courses taken concurrently

• EDUC 4250 - Assessment for Instruction 3 cr.
• EDUC 3035 - Arts Integration 3 cr.
• EDUC 3122 - Sheltered English Immersion 3 cr.
• SPED 4000 - Integrated Partial Practicum 4 cr.

Student Teaching (Senior Year)

courses taken concurrently

• EDUC 4550 - Collaboration: Co-Teaching, Instruction, and Working with Families 3 cr.
• EDUC 4862 - Practicum I in Early Childhood Education 6 cr. (min. 150 hr.)
• EDUC 4863 - Practicum II in Early Childhood Education 6 cr. (min. 150 hr.)

Total: 54 cr.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Requirements - total 48 credits

SMT (12 cr.)

• MATH 1500 Informal Number Theory 3 cr.*

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• BIOL 1000 - Introduction to Life Science 3 cr. or
• BIOL 1050 - Life Science for Educators 3 cr.

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• EXSS 1000 - Health and Fitness 3 cr. or
• EXSS 2060 - Exercise, Nutrition, and Heart Disease 3 cr.

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• A BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, or GEOG elective with SMT attribute 3 cr.

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• CTW (9 cr.)

• PSY 1200 - Lifespan Development 3 cr.

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• HIST 1000 - World Civilizations I 3 cr. or *
• HIST 1100 - World Civilizations II 3 cr.

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• HIST 1400 - United States History I 3 cr. or *
• HIST 1500 - United States History II 3 cr.

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• ART (15 cr.) Must meet ART, AOM, LIT, GDAN requirements.

• ART Elective
• ENGL 1100 - Writing I 3 cr.
• ENGL 1200 - Writing II 3 cr.
• ENGL 2300 - Literature and Disability 3 cr. * or
• ENGL 2900 - Children’s Literature 3 cr. *
• MUSC 2000 - Commonwealth of the Arts 3 cr. or * (AOM/GDAN)
• MUSC 2100 - Commonwealth of Ancient Arts 3 cr. or
• MUSC 2120 - Commonwealth of Asian Arts 3 cr. or
• MUSC 2130 - Commonwealth of the Modern Arts 3 cr. or
• MUSC 2210 - Commonwealth of the Renaissance Arts 3 cr.

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• Advanced LA&S (12 cr.)

  Four courses in the same LA&S discipline minimum of 6 cr. at the 2000+ level

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• Math

• MATH 1600 - Informal Mathematical Modeling 3 cr.
• MATH 1500 - Informal Number Theory 3 cr.
• MATH 2000 - Informal Geometry 3 cr.