A Rewarding and Fulfilling Career in Education
Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood with a Special Education Minor
We offer several different ways for you to teach at the early childhood level. With our inclusive program, you’ll earn a bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in early childhood education and special education. This will allow you to teach students from pre-kindergarten through third-grade in an inclusive environment. Working with children in inclusive classrooms is fulfilling, rewarding and a career choice in high demand today.
With an endorsement in special education, you’ll work closely with counselors and parents to develop individual education plans, which will allow you to work in a variety of environments providing services for students with verified special needs.
The demand for special education teachers is among the highest in the field of education. Driven by understanding and empathy, you can become a successful special education teacher with the one-on-one support you will receive from our education faculty.
Required Courses for Your Major
Early Childhood Education with a Special Education Minor
You must fulfill all elementary education major requirements, all early childhood education emphasis requirements, all special education endorsement requirements and all general education requirements to complete your degree program. Components listed here include only courses required in the major/emphasis/endorsement areas.
Child Psychology
In this course, you will study physical, cognitive, social and emotional development from conception through adolescence.
Play, Creativity, and Artistic Development in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate art, music and drama experiences for children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Language Arts in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate language skills development in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Health, Safety, and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education
In this course you will learn to plan programs that ensure the health, safety and nutrition of young children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. You will also learn basic information on managing accidents and injuries, identifying child abuse, and planning health, safety and nutrition education. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Teaching Math, Science, and Social Studies in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate learning of mathematical and scientific concepts and social awareness in young children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Observation and Assessment In Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will learn to observe and assess children objectively, analyze their learning habits and provide for meeting the needs of children. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Physical Development and Creative Movement
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate physical development of young children through physical activity, creative movement and dance. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Administering Early Childhood Education Programs
In this course, you will learn the duties and responsibilities of administrators of early childhood programs.
Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education
You will learn to plan, organize and manage early childhood curriculum. This will include preparation of goal statements, objectives, schedules and units.
History and Trends in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will evaluate history and philosophical theories and current trends in education and gain experience in applying theories. You will discuss current legislation, advocacy and professional ethics.
Student Teaching — Early Childhood Education
Supervised teaching experience under the direction of a college faculty member and a classroom teacher.
Student Teaching Seminar
This course will give you the opportunity to reflect on student teaching experiences, discuss specific topics of interest, share experiences and receive professional assistance and feedback.
Research Seminar
In this course, you will evaluate educational research and analyze procedures, logic and strategies implemented by researchers. You will complete a research project demonstrating effective research designs.
Introduction to Education
You will survey the historical development of education and analyze the role of personnel and career opportunities, problem areas and contemporary issues with an emphasis n the cultural diversity of American schools today.
Education Psychology and Measurement
You will study the teaching/learning processes to learn the nature of educational psychology and applications of major learning theories.
Assessment of Learners
You will be introduced to key concepts and issues in classroom assessment and large-scale, standardized educational assessment.
Children’s Literature
You will interact with a variety of children’s literature representative of ethnic and cultural diversity, emphasizing critical appraisal of significant authors and illustrators, quality of writing and appropriateness of topic to age and/or experience level.
Teaching Reading and Language Arts — Elementary and Middle
You will study theoretical background and identify Nebraska and National Standards in reading and Language Arts, with an emphasis on the organization of programs, effective teaching methods and varied instructional materials for students in elementary and middle school literacy settings.
Human Relations in a Multicultural Society
You will identify characteristics of various ethnic groups that relate to learning, working and living and develop strategies for assisting people in living jointly in our pluralistic society.
Intro to Special Education
You will survey various areas of exceptionality — high ability learners, mental disability, behaviorally impaired, visually impaired, hearing impaired, learning disabled, orthopedically impaired, speech language impairments, autistic, Asperger’s, traumatic brain injury, multiple and severely handicapped, physically disabled and health impaired. You will discuss the history, philosophy and future trends of special education as they are relevant to educational implications.
Learners with Mildly-Moderately Handicapping Conditions
You will examine learning and analyze strategies used in I.E.P.s of mildly and moderately mentally handicapped, specifically learning disabled, behaviorally impaired, orthopedically impaired, autistic, other health impairments, speech language impaired and traumatic brain injured, with an emphasis in assisting learners in making healthy transitions between special education and regular classrooms. You will also learn about recent legislation and its impact on the regular classroom.
Foundations in ECE Special Education
You will gain a working knowledge of the history and legal precedence for providing early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) services, characteristics of young children with special needs and their families and effective instructional techniques for working with this population.
Guidance and Classroom Management
You will learn techniques, models and psychological theories related to managing individual and small and large group learning activities including practical methods that enhance self-control and provide healthy classroom environments. You will learn the common behavior problems for pre-K through grade 12 students and exceptional children, along with assessment techniques.
Inclusion in Early Childhood Classrooms
This course will focus on adapting environments, equipment and materials to meet social, cognitive, nutritional, physical motor, communication and medical needs of children, birth through age eight, with diverse learning needs and disabilities in inclusive settings for young children.
Practicum in the Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom
You will work under the supervision of onsite cooperating teachers and college instructors in this supervised classroom experience in inclusive early childhood education classrooms working with children who have a range of disabilities. The emphasis is on including children with disabilities in the general classroom environment.
Diagnosis and Evaluation of Reading
You will learn assessment procedures and effective instructional and diagnostic techniques in reading. You will participate in formal and informal testing including achievement, criterion references, observational and portfolio strategies. You will implement your knowledge with a directed reading practicum in a partner school.
Elementary Education and Early Childhood Supplemental Endorsement
You must fulfill all elementary education major requirements, all early childhood education endorsement requirements and all general education requirements to complete your degree program. Components listed here include only courses required in the major/emphasis/endorsement areas.
Introduction to Education
You will survey the historical development of education and analyze the role of personnel and career opportunities, problem areas and contemporary issues with an emphasis n the cultural diversity of American schools today.
Technology in the Classroom
You will learn strategies for integrating instructional technology in curriculum planning and implementation. After receiving instruction in their use, you will plan learning activities that include instructional media, the Internet, web page construction, production and organizational software and multimedia programs in classrooms. In addition to computers, you will use video equipment, digital cameras and scanners in preparing your lessons.
Educational Psychology and Measurement
You will study teaching/learning processes to learn the nature of educational psychology and applications of major learning theories.
Assessment of Learners
You will be introduced to key concepts and issues in classroom assessment and large-scale, standardized educational assessment.
Children’s Literature
You will interact with a variety of children’s literature representative of ethnic and cultural diversity, emphasizing critical appraisal of significant authors and illustrators, quality of writing and appropriateness of topic to age and/or experience level.
Teaching Reading and Language Arts — Elementary and Middle
You will study theoretical background and learn Nebraska and National Standards in reading and Language Arts, with an emphasis on the organization of programs, effective teaching methods and varied instructional materials for students in elementary and middle school literacy settings and will gain field experience through our Literacy Influences Future Experiences (L.I.F.E.) program.
Teaching Natural and Social Sciences — Elementary and Middle
You will learn about methodology and appropriate materials to effectively present social science in an elementary and middle school setting, including integrating technology into instruction of content and pedagogy, and gain field experience through our Operation S.M.A.R.T. (Science, Math and Relevant Technology) program.
Teaching Mathematics — Elementary and Middle
You will learn current trends and strategies in teaching elementary and middle level math, including content, methodology and appropriate materials, including integrating technology into instruction of content and pedagogy, and gain field experience through our Operation S.M.A.R.T. (Science, Math and Relevant Technology) program.
Health and Physical Education Methods
You will learn how to coordinate and implement an elementary school physical education program and learn health education and wellness instructional procedures based on the mental, emotional, physical and social characteristics of elementary/middle school children.
Integrating Fine Arts Instruction in the Classroom
You will learn practical ways to integrate fine arts: art, music, drama and dance into your classroom curriculum. You will examine basic concepts and instructional techniques of each area with an emphasis on infusion into the academic curriculum.
Human Relations in a Multicultural Society
You will identify characteristics of various ethnic groups that relate to learning, working and living and develop strategies for assisting people in living jointly in our pluralistic society.
History, Philosophy and Trends in Education
You will compare philosophical foundations of historical and contemporary education and consider current issues using an informed discussion-centered approach. You will also assess political and social trends, laws, proper conduct and penalties for teachers and shifts and technological changes related to contemporary and future educational planning.
Diagnosis and Evaluation of Reading
You will learn assessment procedures and effective instructional and diagnostic techniques in reading. You will participate in formal and informal testing including achievement, criterion references, observational and portfolio strategies. You will implement your knowledge with a directed reading practicum in a partner school.
Play, Creativity and Artistic Development in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate art, music and drama experiences for children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards.
Language Arts in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate language skills development in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards.
Health, Safety and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education
In this course you will learn to plan programs that ensure the health, safety and nutrition of young children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska
Teaching Math, Science, and Social Studies in Early Childhood Education
You will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate learning of mathematical and scientific concepts and social awareness in young children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards.
Observation and Assessment In Early Childhood Education
You will learn to observe and assess children objectively, analyze their learning habits and provide for meeting the needs of children.
Physical Development and Creative Movement
You will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate physical development of young children through physical activity, creative movement and dance. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards.
Administering Early Childhood Education Programs
You will learn the duties and responsibilities of administrators of early childhood programs.
Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education
You will learn to plan, organize and manage early childhood curriculum. This will include preparation of goal statements, objectives, schedules and units.
History and Trends in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will evaluate history and philosophical theories and current trends in education and gain experience in applying theories. You will discuss current legislation, advocacy and professional ethics.
Student Teaching — Early Childhood Education
Supervised teaching experience under the direction of a college faculty member and a classroom teacher.
Student Teaching — Primary or Intermediate/Middle
Supervised teaching experience under the direction of a college faculty member and a classroom teacher.
Student Teaching Seminar
This course allows you the opportunity to reflect on student teaching experiences, discuss specific topics of interest, share experiences and receive professional assistance and feedback.
Research Seminar
You will evaluate educational research and analyze procedures, logic and strategies implemented by researchers. You will complete a research project demonstrating effective research designs.
Requirements for Graduation from College of Saint Mary
Early Childhood Major with Special Education Minor
To complete your bachelor’s degree in early childhood with a minor in special education, you will need to complete 126 credit hours.
- 44 credit hours must be general education courses
- 45 credits must be early childhood program courses
- 18 credit hours must be in special education minor courses
- 19 credit hours must be teacher education courses
Elementary Education and Early Childhood Supplemental Endorsement
To complete your bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in early childhood education, you will need to complete 132 credit hours.
- 44 credit hours must be general education courses
- 58 credits must be elementary education major courses
- 21 credit hours early childhood education minor courses
- 9 credit hours must be supporting courses.
Teaching Certification
Students who successfully meet state required competencies may qualify for a Nebraska Teaching Certificate. Continuous growth in knowledge, pedagogy and professionalism, as well as satisfactory performance during student teaching and completion of Praxis Content test(s) for each content area as required by Nebraska Rule is in the recommendation for certification.
It is recommended to apply for the Nebraska certification at the time of program completion. If not, rule changes in effect at time of application will need to be made up as deficiencies. Since certification requirements of various states differ, a student planning to teach in a state other than Nebraska should inquire about specific requirements for that state.
The Assurance of Accreditation
The assurance of regional accreditation means that our degrees have been evaluated for their outcomes — including how well they prepare you to meet the needs of your employers, yourself and our global society. College of Saint Mary is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
The Teacher Education Department is accredited by the Nebraska Department of Education (888) 285-2556.
Undergraduate Admissions Requirements for College of Saint Mary
-
Submit your application
-
Transcripts from any post high school institutions for transfer students. Students who have earned 12 or more credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0 from other institutions qualify as transfer students.
Test-Optional Admissions
CSM accepts undergraduate students with or without test scores (ACT/SAT). Below are a few key details to consider:
- Choosing not to submit test scores will not result in any penalties during the admission or merit scholarship evaluation process.
- If you decide to submit scores after being admitted, we will assess your eligibility for a potential increase in merit scholarship (scores must be submitted by March 31). No merit scholarship will be revoked due to test scores submitted after admission.
Formal Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Students are eligible to seek formal admission into the Teacher Education Program in the second semester of the sophomore year. Criteria for candidacy:
- Initial field experience successfully completed
- Introductory courses EDU 101 and SPE 101 successfully completed
- Professional dispositions for teaching developed
- Minimum grade point average of 2.65
- Submit the completed Admission to Teacher Education Application and Professional Dispositions by stated date in Anthology. Failure to complete both forms by stated date may result in removal from interview process.
- Formal interview with Teacher Education Committee
Academic Description
A Rewarding and Fulfilling Career in Education
Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood with a Special Education Minor
We offer several different ways for you to teach at the early childhood level. With our inclusive program, you’ll earn a bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in early childhood education and special education. This will allow you to teach students from pre-kindergarten through third-grade in an inclusive environment. Working with children in inclusive classrooms is fulfilling, rewarding and a career choice in high demand today.
With an endorsement in special education, you’ll work closely with counselors and parents to develop individual education plans, which will allow you to work in a variety of environments providing services for students with verified special needs.
The demand for special education teachers is among the highest in the field of education. Driven by understanding and empathy, you can become a successful special education teacher with the one-on-one support you will receive from our education faculty.
Accreditation
The Assurance of Accreditation
The assurance of regional accreditation means that our degrees have been evaluated for their outcomes — including how well they prepare you to meet the needs of your employers, yourself and our global society. College of Saint Mary is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
The Teacher Education Department is accredited by the Nebraska Department of Education (888) 285-2556.
Admissions Requirements
Undergraduate Admissions Requirements for College of Saint Mary
-
Submit your application
-
Transcripts from any post high school institutions for transfer students. Students who have earned 12 or more credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0 from other institutions qualify as transfer students.
Test-Optional Admissions
CSM accepts undergraduate students with or without test scores (ACT/SAT). Below are a few key details to consider:
- Choosing not to submit test scores will not result in any penalties during the admission or merit scholarship evaluation process.
- If you decide to submit scores after being admitted, we will assess your eligibility for a potential increase in merit scholarship (scores must be submitted by March 31). No merit scholarship will be revoked due to test scores submitted after admission.
Formal Admission to the Teacher Education Program
Students are eligible to seek formal admission into the Teacher Education Program in the second semester of the sophomore year. Criteria for candidacy:
- Initial field experience successfully completed
- Introductory courses EDU 101 and SPE 101 successfully completed
- Professional dispositions for teaching developed
- Minimum grade point average of 2.65
- Submit the completed Admission to Teacher Education Application and Professional Dispositions by stated date in Anthology. Failure to complete both forms by stated date may result in removal from interview process.
- Formal interview with Teacher Education Committee
Curriculum
Required Courses for Your Major
Early Childhood Education with a Special Education Minor
You must fulfill all elementary education major requirements, all early childhood education emphasis requirements, all special education endorsement requirements and all general education requirements to complete your degree program. Components listed here include only courses required in the major/emphasis/endorsement areas.
Child Psychology
In this course, you will study physical, cognitive, social and emotional development from conception through adolescence.
Play, Creativity, and Artistic Development in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate art, music and drama experiences for children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Language Arts in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate language skills development in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Health, Safety, and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education
In this course you will learn to plan programs that ensure the health, safety and nutrition of young children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. You will also learn basic information on managing accidents and injuries, identifying child abuse, and planning health, safety and nutrition education. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Teaching Math, Science, and Social Studies in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate learning of mathematical and scientific concepts and social awareness in young children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Observation and Assessment In Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will learn to observe and assess children objectively, analyze their learning habits and provide for meeting the needs of children. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Physical Development and Creative Movement
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate physical development of young children through physical activity, creative movement and dance. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards. This course will include a one-hour per week field placement requirement.
Administering Early Childhood Education Programs
In this course, you will learn the duties and responsibilities of administrators of early childhood programs.
Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education
You will learn to plan, organize and manage early childhood curriculum. This will include preparation of goal statements, objectives, schedules and units.
History and Trends in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will evaluate history and philosophical theories and current trends in education and gain experience in applying theories. You will discuss current legislation, advocacy and professional ethics.
Student Teaching — Early Childhood Education
Supervised teaching experience under the direction of a college faculty member and a classroom teacher.
Student Teaching Seminar
This course will give you the opportunity to reflect on student teaching experiences, discuss specific topics of interest, share experiences and receive professional assistance and feedback.
Research Seminar
In this course, you will evaluate educational research and analyze procedures, logic and strategies implemented by researchers. You will complete a research project demonstrating effective research designs.
Introduction to Education
You will survey the historical development of education and analyze the role of personnel and career opportunities, problem areas and contemporary issues with an emphasis n the cultural diversity of American schools today.
Education Psychology and Measurement
You will study the teaching/learning processes to learn the nature of educational psychology and applications of major learning theories.
Assessment of Learners
You will be introduced to key concepts and issues in classroom assessment and large-scale, standardized educational assessment.
Children’s Literature
You will interact with a variety of children’s literature representative of ethnic and cultural diversity, emphasizing critical appraisal of significant authors and illustrators, quality of writing and appropriateness of topic to age and/or experience level.
Teaching Reading and Language Arts — Elementary and Middle
You will study theoretical background and identify Nebraska and National Standards in reading and Language Arts, with an emphasis on the organization of programs, effective teaching methods and varied instructional materials for students in elementary and middle school literacy settings.
Human Relations in a Multicultural Society
You will identify characteristics of various ethnic groups that relate to learning, working and living and develop strategies for assisting people in living jointly in our pluralistic society.
Intro to Special Education
You will survey various areas of exceptionality — high ability learners, mental disability, behaviorally impaired, visually impaired, hearing impaired, learning disabled, orthopedically impaired, speech language impairments, autistic, Asperger’s, traumatic brain injury, multiple and severely handicapped, physically disabled and health impaired. You will discuss the history, philosophy and future trends of special education as they are relevant to educational implications.
Learners with Mildly-Moderately Handicapping Conditions
You will examine learning and analyze strategies used in I.E.P.s of mildly and moderately mentally handicapped, specifically learning disabled, behaviorally impaired, orthopedically impaired, autistic, other health impairments, speech language impaired and traumatic brain injured, with an emphasis in assisting learners in making healthy transitions between special education and regular classrooms. You will also learn about recent legislation and its impact on the regular classroom.
Foundations in ECE Special Education
You will gain a working knowledge of the history and legal precedence for providing early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) services, characteristics of young children with special needs and their families and effective instructional techniques for working with this population.
Guidance and Classroom Management
You will learn techniques, models and psychological theories related to managing individual and small and large group learning activities including practical methods that enhance self-control and provide healthy classroom environments. You will learn the common behavior problems for pre-K through grade 12 students and exceptional children, along with assessment techniques.
Inclusion in Early Childhood Classrooms
This course will focus on adapting environments, equipment and materials to meet social, cognitive, nutritional, physical motor, communication and medical needs of children, birth through age eight, with diverse learning needs and disabilities in inclusive settings for young children.
Practicum in the Inclusive Early Childhood Classroom
You will work under the supervision of onsite cooperating teachers and college instructors in this supervised classroom experience in inclusive early childhood education classrooms working with children who have a range of disabilities. The emphasis is on including children with disabilities in the general classroom environment.
Diagnosis and Evaluation of Reading
You will learn assessment procedures and effective instructional and diagnostic techniques in reading. You will participate in formal and informal testing including achievement, criterion references, observational and portfolio strategies. You will implement your knowledge with a directed reading practicum in a partner school.
Elementary Education and Early Childhood Supplemental Endorsement
You must fulfill all elementary education major requirements, all early childhood education endorsement requirements and all general education requirements to complete your degree program. Components listed here include only courses required in the major/emphasis/endorsement areas.
Introduction to Education
You will survey the historical development of education and analyze the role of personnel and career opportunities, problem areas and contemporary issues with an emphasis n the cultural diversity of American schools today.
Technology in the Classroom
You will learn strategies for integrating instructional technology in curriculum planning and implementation. After receiving instruction in their use, you will plan learning activities that include instructional media, the Internet, web page construction, production and organizational software and multimedia programs in classrooms. In addition to computers, you will use video equipment, digital cameras and scanners in preparing your lessons.
Educational Psychology and Measurement
You will study teaching/learning processes to learn the nature of educational psychology and applications of major learning theories.
Assessment of Learners
You will be introduced to key concepts and issues in classroom assessment and large-scale, standardized educational assessment.
Children’s Literature
You will interact with a variety of children’s literature representative of ethnic and cultural diversity, emphasizing critical appraisal of significant authors and illustrators, quality of writing and appropriateness of topic to age and/or experience level.
Teaching Reading and Language Arts — Elementary and Middle
You will study theoretical background and learn Nebraska and National Standards in reading and Language Arts, with an emphasis on the organization of programs, effective teaching methods and varied instructional materials for students in elementary and middle school literacy settings and will gain field experience through our Literacy Influences Future Experiences (L.I.F.E.) program.
Teaching Natural and Social Sciences — Elementary and Middle
You will learn about methodology and appropriate materials to effectively present social science in an elementary and middle school setting, including integrating technology into instruction of content and pedagogy, and gain field experience through our Operation S.M.A.R.T. (Science, Math and Relevant Technology) program.
Teaching Mathematics — Elementary and Middle
You will learn current trends and strategies in teaching elementary and middle level math, including content, methodology and appropriate materials, including integrating technology into instruction of content and pedagogy, and gain field experience through our Operation S.M.A.R.T. (Science, Math and Relevant Technology) program.
Health and Physical Education Methods
You will learn how to coordinate and implement an elementary school physical education program and learn health education and wellness instructional procedures based on the mental, emotional, physical and social characteristics of elementary/middle school children.
Integrating Fine Arts Instruction in the Classroom
You will learn practical ways to integrate fine arts: art, music, drama and dance into your classroom curriculum. You will examine basic concepts and instructional techniques of each area with an emphasis on infusion into the academic curriculum.
Human Relations in a Multicultural Society
You will identify characteristics of various ethnic groups that relate to learning, working and living and develop strategies for assisting people in living jointly in our pluralistic society.
History, Philosophy and Trends in Education
You will compare philosophical foundations of historical and contemporary education and consider current issues using an informed discussion-centered approach. You will also assess political and social trends, laws, proper conduct and penalties for teachers and shifts and technological changes related to contemporary and future educational planning.
Diagnosis and Evaluation of Reading
You will learn assessment procedures and effective instructional and diagnostic techniques in reading. You will participate in formal and informal testing including achievement, criterion references, observational and portfolio strategies. You will implement your knowledge with a directed reading practicum in a partner school.
Play, Creativity and Artistic Development in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate art, music and drama experiences for children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards.
Language Arts in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate language skills development in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards.
Health, Safety and Nutrition in Early Childhood Education
In this course you will learn to plan programs that ensure the health, safety and nutrition of young children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska
Teaching Math, Science, and Social Studies in Early Childhood Education
You will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate learning of mathematical and scientific concepts and social awareness in young children. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards.
Observation and Assessment In Early Childhood Education
You will learn to observe and assess children objectively, analyze their learning habits and provide for meeting the needs of children.
Physical Development and Creative Movement
You will select, plan, organize and evaluate activities that facilitate physical development of young children through physical activity, creative movement and dance. You will learn to plan and conduct lessons consistent with Nebraska Early Learning Guidelines and K-12 Academic Standards.
Administering Early Childhood Education Programs
You will learn the duties and responsibilities of administrators of early childhood programs.
Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education
You will learn to plan, organize and manage early childhood curriculum. This will include preparation of goal statements, objectives, schedules and units.
History and Trends in Early Childhood Education
In this course, you will evaluate history and philosophical theories and current trends in education and gain experience in applying theories. You will discuss current legislation, advocacy and professional ethics.
Student Teaching — Early Childhood Education
Supervised teaching experience under the direction of a college faculty member and a classroom teacher.
Student Teaching — Primary or Intermediate/Middle
Supervised teaching experience under the direction of a college faculty member and a classroom teacher.
Student Teaching Seminar
This course allows you the opportunity to reflect on student teaching experiences, discuss specific topics of interest, share experiences and receive professional assistance and feedback.
Research Seminar
You will evaluate educational research and analyze procedures, logic and strategies implemented by researchers. You will complete a research project demonstrating effective research designs.
Degree Requirements
Requirements for Graduation from College of Saint Mary
Early Childhood Major with Special Education Minor
To complete your bachelor’s degree in early childhood with a minor in special education, you will need to complete 126 credit hours.
- 44 credit hours must be general education courses
- 45 credits must be early childhood program courses
- 18 credit hours must be in special education minor courses
- 19 credit hours must be teacher education courses
Elementary Education and Early Childhood Supplemental Endorsement
To complete your bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in early childhood education, you will need to complete 132 credit hours.
- 44 credit hours must be general education courses
- 58 credits must be elementary education major courses
- 21 credit hours early childhood education minor courses
- 9 credit hours must be supporting courses.
Teaching Certification
Students who successfully meet state required competencies may qualify for a Nebraska Teaching Certificate. Continuous growth in knowledge, pedagogy and professionalism, as well as satisfactory performance during student teaching and completion of Praxis Content test(s) for each content area as required by Nebraska Rule is in the recommendation for certification.
It is recommended to apply for the Nebraska certification at the time of program completion. If not, rule changes in effect at time of application will need to be made up as deficiencies. Since certification requirements of various states differ, a student planning to teach in a state other than Nebraska should inquire about specific requirements for that state.
