Printer-Friendly  Printer-friendly version 

Home > Institute for Teacher Education > BEd in Elementary Education

 

BEd Elementary & Early Childhood

Get the Program Sheet and Plan Template

The Bachelor of Education (BEd) Dual Preparation program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education is designed for students who wish to become eligible for an initial license in elementary education with an emphasis area of early childhood education. The ECE emphasis prepares graduates to work with students in pre-school through 3rd grade settings.

Teacher candidates are assigned to cohort groups of about 22 students, who take most of their courses together during the two-year program. The program begins in fall semester and is full-time, Monday through Thursday. Teacher candidates will spend one semester of field experience working with mentor teachers in a pre-school setting, two semesters in an elementary K-6 setting, and conduct their student teaching in a K-3rd grade classroom. Coursework is linked closely with field experience.

Early childhood is a component of general education. Its purpose is to prepare graduates to work with children between three and eight years of age. Students learn to adapt and individualize instruction in ways that are developmentally appropriate for young children.

Program Requirements

  • UHM General Education Core for education majors or AA degree
  • Elementary education emphasis (20-21 credits)
  • Foundations and methods courses in elementary education (30 credits)
  • Field experience and student teaching, 21 credits
  • Foundations and methods courses in early childhood education (18-21 credits)

Teacher candidates must take SPED 304 - Foundations of Inclusive Schooling (3) before beginning the program. The following four courses are also required. It is strongly recommended that these courses also be scheduled, with the help of OSAS advisors, before starting the cohort program:

  • EDEP 310 - Education in American Society (3)
  • EDEP 311 - Psychological Foundations (3)
  • ITE/EDEF 360 - Introduction to Multicultural Education (3)
  • Arts or Movement Elective (2-3)

SPED 444: Educating Exceptional Students in Regular Classrooms (3) and SPED 480: Technology for Children with Disabilities (3) will be block scheduled for teacher candidates during the program. They cannot be taken before starting the program.