Bachelor of Arts with Major in Early Childhood Education

Lead Faculty: Dr. John Carta-Falsa

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education (BAECE) has been designed to include the competencies and guidelines as established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); the Child Development Associates National Competency Standards (CDA); and the National Head Start Association (NHSA). The completion of the BAECE degree program meets the educational requirements needed for the Child Development Associates National Credentialing program and meets the requirements of the State of California Child Development Permits.

Non-residents of California; military personnel or their dependents; and international students should contact the Department of Education of the state in which they reside or intend to reside, or the Ministry of Education of the country in which they live, to determine specific requirements for employment. State or country specific coursework, in addition to the BAECE degree program, may be required to obtain a permit, license or credential necessary for employment. Candidates assume the responsibility for determining and meeting these requirements.

The program is based on a conceptual framework of current theory, contemporary perspectives and sound research findings. Focus is on knowledge, attitudes, skills, practice, reflection and field experiences needed to become efficient, competent, and effective professionals in the field of early childhood education. Emphasis is on designing appropriate learning environments, individual and adaptive curricula, and instructional strategies and techniques to maximize learning outcomes. Topics demonstrated, both in writing and discussion, provide a broad-based foundation of child development in the areas of familial and socio-cultural influences on learning and brain development, parent empowerment, peer cooperation and collaboration, early cognition, emerging literacy (listening, speaking, reading and writing), ongoing participant observation and appropriate developmental screening assessments, child advocacy, law and ethics, and, most important, play as pedagogy.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will be able to:

• Identify essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas including academic Subject and resources to deepen their understanding.
• Demonstrate communication skills in utilizing complex characteristics of children’s families and communities.
• Create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging that demonstrate understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs, and multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning.
• Use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible manner in partnership with families and other professionals to positively influence children’s development and learning.
• Design, implement and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for all children.
• Use a wide array of effective approaches, strategies, and tools to positively influence children’s development and learning.
• Design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for all young children.
• Know and apply appropriate ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice.
• Create positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children.

Requirements

Degree Requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as articulated below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at National University and 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level. In the absence of transfer credit, additional general electives may be necessary to satisfy total units for the degree.

Refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information regarding admission and evaluation.

Preparation for the Major (4 courses; 18 quarter units)
PSY 100 - Introduction to Psychology*
ECE 201 - The Growing Child: Zero to 8
ECE 210 - Child, Family, School & Comm.
   (Prerequisites: PSY 100 and ECE 201)
HED 220 Health, Nutrition & Safety
   (Prerequisites: PSY 100 and ECE 201)
*May be used to meet a general education requirement.

Core Requirements for the Major (10 courses; 45 quarter hours)
ECE 330 Early Cognition
(Prerequisites: ECE 201, ECE 210, HED 220 and ECE 310)
ECE 310 - Diversity: Development & Ed.
ECE 464 Ethical and Legal Issues
(Prerequisite: HED 220)
ECE 410 - Early Language and Literacy
   (Prerequisite: ECE 330)
ECE 415 - Designing Emergent Curriculum
   (Prerequisite: ECE 330)
ECE 420 - Nature, Numbers and Technology
   (Prerequisite: ECE 330)
ECE 430 Play as Pedagogy
   (Prerequisite: ECE 330)
ECE 440 - Observing, Assessing & Planning
   (Prerequisites: ECE 330, ECE 415, and ECE 430)
ECE 445 Strategies: Guiding Behaviors
   (Prerequisites: ECE 330, ECE?415, and ECE 430)
ECE 450 - Academic Seminar/Field Experience
   (Prerequisite: Student must have successfully completed all major courses with an average grade of “C” (2.0) or better in the core and have approval from his/her faculty mentor.)

Upper-Division Electives or Concentration Requirements
(6 courses; 27 quarter units)

Candidates may choose one concentration or a combination of approved elective courses within the concentrations. In addition, students may choose ECE 312, ECE 314 and ECE 490 in combination of approved elective courses within either concentration

ECE 312 - Infant and Toddler Care
   (Prerequisites: ECE 330 and ECE 430)
ECE 314 - Experiences: Infant and Toddlers
   (Prerequisite: ECE 312)
ECE 465 - Crisis, Traumas, and Abuse
ECE 490 - Guided Study  (1.5 – 4.5 quarter units)

Concentration in Teacher Education (354)
Faculty Advisor: John Carta-Falsa * (858) 642-8380 * jcartafa@nu.edu

Candidates must successfully complete the following courses for a Concentration in Teacher Education in Early Childhood Education. It is recommended that students take these classes after completing the upper-division major requirements and when they are within six (6) months of completing their degree program.

This concentration allows currently enrolled students who are completing their last six courses to register for three prerequisites – HED 602, EDX 1201X, and, EXC 625 – for the California teaching credential program as electives.

Students must complete graduate level coursework taken as part of the BAECE degree with a grade of “B” or better. This coursework will not transfer as graduate level credit to National University or any other University as it is part of an undergraduate degree program. Grades earned in graduate level courses will be calculated as part of the student’s undergraduate grade point average.

ECE 446 - Literature and Young Children
HED 602 - Introductory Health Ed: K-12
EDX 1201X - Computer Based Technology in the Classroom
EXC 625 - Children w/Excep. in class
ECE 435 - Music, Movement, Drama, Dance
ART 400 - Expressive and Integrative Art
   (Prerequisites waived for ECE Majors)

BAECE Concentration in Early Childhood Administration (353)
Faculty Advisor: John Carta-Falsa * (858) 642-8380 * jcartafa@nu.edu

Students must successfully complete the following courses for a concentration in Early Childhood Administration. It is recommended that students take these classes toward the end of their program after completing the upper-division major requirements.

ECE 461 - Leadership and Supervision
ECE 460 - Program Administration
ECE 462 - Financial Management & Resources
HRM 432 - Recruiting, Selection, Promotion, and Retention
ECE 466 - Planning Physical Environments
HUB 401 - Conflict Resolution
   (Prerequisites: ENG 100, ENG 101 and PSY 100)

Program Information

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Online Education

This program is available online.

Program Locations

• Bakersfield Campus
• Camarillo Campus
• Carlsbad Campus
• Costa Mesa Campus
• Fresno Campus
• Henderson Campus
• La Mesa Campus
• Los Angeles Campus
• Redding Campus
• Sacramento Campus
• Sherman Oaks Campus
• South Bay Campus
• Spectrum Business Park Campus
• Stockton Campus
• Technology and Health Sciences Center