Early Childhood Education

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

About

Discover the wonder in helping a child experience and master something new.

Introduction

Seeing the world through a child’s eyes can be awe-inspiring. Helping a child learn new ways to see and interact with the world can feel fulfilling and life-changing. With a Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approved early childhood education degree, you’ll have the academic, professional, and hands-on experience to make an impact on children during some of the most developmentally important times in their lives.  

Accreditation

The Early Childhood Education Program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

What You'll Learn

Qualified Teacher Education

In the Department of Teaching and Learning, our goal is to prepare well-qualified teachers for instruction in preschool through third grade classrooms. We provide prospective teachers with the experiences you need to create learning objectives, organize curricula, and understand school procedures and instructional resources.

We also expose students to real-world classroom environments through our Professional Development School (PDS) sites. These classroom experiences help our students:

  • Analyze teaching situations and challenges

  • Select, organize, and present subject matter

  • Use evaluation techniques on teaching and learning results

  • Apply theories and principles of learning

Students studying

750+ Course Options

The Coppin State University Academic Catalog has a wide variety of skill-building courses designed to inspire and prepare you to be in-demand professionals and transformational leaders.

Program Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, students must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours are split among: 

  • General Education Requirements, or GERs (45 credits) 

  • Program requirements (22 credits) 

  • Core requirements (30 credits)

  • Methods and student teaching (27 credits) 

 

General Education Requirements (GERs)

All early childhood education majors must take (or transfer in) 45 credits. 

Course credits Name
ENGl 101 3 English Composition I
ENGL 102 3 English Composition II

WLIT 207

or

ENGL 2xx

3

World Literature

or

200 Level English

HIST 205 3 African American History I

HIST 206

3

African American History II

BIOL 101 4 Biological Science

MATH 131

or

MATH 203

3

College Algebra

or

Basic Statistics

PHSC 101

4 Physical Science

PSYC 201 

3

Introduction to Psychology

PHIL 102 3 Introduction to Philosophy
HEED 101 3 Personal Health
IDIS 103 3 Visual Arts and Theatre
SOCI 201 3

Introduction to Sociology

MISY 150 3 Technology Fluency
FRSEM 101 1 Freshman Seminar

Program Requirements(22 credits)

Course credits Name
MATH 103 3 Math for Elementary Teachers I
MATH 104 3 Math for Elementary Teachers II
MATH 207 3 Technology-Based Math
PHSC 102 4 Earth and Space Science

GEOG 102

3

World Geography

PSYC 304 3 Child Psychology
ENGL 321 3 Children's Literature

Core Courses (30 credits)

Course Name
ECED 301 Child Growth and Physiological Development
ECED 329 Principles and Practicum in Early Childhood
EDUC 330 Culture and Cognition
EDUC 331 Practice What You Teach
EDUC 201 Introduction to Race and Inequality

EDUC 202

Educational Psychology

EDUC 300 Foundations of Reading
EDUC 408 Measurement and Evaluation

REED 401

Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disorders

REED 405

Strategies and Materials for Teaching Reading

SPED 201 Introduction to Needs of Exceptional Individuals

Methods and Student Teaching (27 credits)

Course Name
ECED 331 Methods of Teaching Social Studies in Early Childhood
ECED 333 Methods of Teaching Reading in Early Childhood
ECED 337 Methods of Teaching Science in Early Childhood

ECED 338

Methods of Teaching Math in Early Childhood

ECED 411 Directed Teaching
ECED 412 Seminar

Remember! You must complete all major and prerequisite courses with a grade of C or higher.

Sample Degree Plan

This plan is only for example purposes. Your academic journey may be slightly different from another student’s, so be sure to always communicate with your academic advisor before finalizing your course schedule. 

Fall Semester (16 credits)

Course credits name
ENGL 101 3 English Composition I
PSYC 201 3 General Psychology

MATH 131

or

MATH 205

3

College Algebra

or

Basic Statistics

IDIS 103 3 Visual Arts & Theatre
MIST 150 3 Technology Fluency
FRSEM 101 1 Freshman Seminar

Spring Semester (16 credits)

course credits name
ENGL 102 3 English Composition II
MATH 103 3 Math for Elementary Teachers II
BIOL 101 4 Biological Science 
HIST 205 3 African American History I
HEED 101 3 Personal Health

Fall Semester (16 credits)

Course credits name
MATH 104 3 Math for Elementary Teachers I
PHSC 101 4 Physical Science
WLIT 207 3 World Literature
PHIL 102 3 Introduction to Philosophy
SOCI 201 3 Introduction to Sociology

Spring Semester (16 credits)

Course credits name
PHSC 102 4 Earth and Space Science
MATH 207 3 Technology-Based Math
GEOG 102 3 World Geography
EDUC 300 3 Foundations of Reading
HIST 206 3 African American History II

Fall Semester (18 credits)

Course credits name
EDUC 201 3 Introduction to Race and Inequality
EDUC 202 3 Educational Psychology
ECED 301 3 Child Growth and Development
ECED 329 3 Principles and Practices in EC
ENGL 321 3 Children's Literature
REED 401 3 Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disorders

Spring Semester (15 credits)

course credits name
EDUC 330 3 Culture and Cognition
EDUC 408 3 Measurement and Evaluation
PSYC 304 3 Child Psychology

SPED 201

3

Introduction to Exceptional Individuals

REED 405 3 Reading Materials and Strategies

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Course credits name
EDUC 333 3 Language Arts Methods 
ECED 330 3 Reading Methods
ECED 331 3 Social Studies Methods
ECED 337 3 Science Methods
ECED 338 3 Math Methods

Spring Semester (12 credits)

Course credits Name
ECED 411 9 Internship
ECED 412 3 Seminar

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College

Early Childhood Education lives in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the School of Education within the College of Arts & Sciences, and Education