Educational Studies, BS: Early Childhood Education

Core Course Requirements

EDUC110 Introduction to Education (2 Credits)

This course prepares the candidate for admission to the Teacher Education licensure program. Course content includes the characteristics of the Greenville College Teacher Education Program, the aim of American schooling, a survey of the legal, social, economic, historical, political, and ethical issues involved in public school education. Additionally, the course introduces culturally relevant pedagogy. This course will give you the opportunity to determine whether you want to persist in the Teacher Education Program. (Offered fall semester.) $32 Fee.

MATH143 Mathematics for Elementar (3 Credits)

This is the first mathematics course where the content of grades K-5 is carefully studied. Fundamental properties underlying the structure of numeration systems and various algorithms for computation are stressed. Basic algebra and problem solving is also reviewed and examined. This course is required of early childhood, elementary, and special education majors. This course does not count towards the mathematics major. Meets the general education quantitative reasoning requirement.

EDUC205 Early Childhood Development (3 Credits)

Students will study early childhood development. The development of children in preschools, kindergarten, and the primary grades will be explored. This course includes the history, philosophy, and theory of early childhood education. Students will complete 15 hours of field experience in an Early Childhood classroom. Prerequisite: EDUC 110

EDUC210 Cultural Awareness in the (2 Credits)

The purpose of this course is to explore race and poverty issues that impact the classroom environment. Candidates will search for effective strategies to better meet the needs of underserved populations. The hidden rules of economic class and characteristics of generational poverty will be studied, with emphasis on the impact this has on instruction. Students will spend time assisting in a classroom which serves a high minority and low socioeconomic population. Meets the general education global foundations requirement. Prerequisite: EDUC 110. (Offered fall semester) Course fee may apply.

EDUC220 The Clinical Experience (2 Credits)

This course prepares the candidate for admission to the Teacher Education licensure program. Course content includes the characteristics of the Greenville University Teacher Education Program. Additionally, this course develops culturally relevant pedagogy. This course includes 52-60 hours of field experience in diverse settings. This course will give you the opportunity to determine whether you want to persist in the Teacher Education Program. (Offered Interterm.) Fee $60.00

EDUC280 Exceptional Child (3 Credits)

This course will examine the historical context, diverse characteristics, and individual planning for the exceptional child. Students in this course will explore how individuals develop and learn within the context of their cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. Co-teaching instructional plans based on diverse student characteristics, student performance data, and curriculum goals will be developed. Twenty hours of field experience in a special education classroom are required. Students can take EDUC 110 and EDUC 280 at the same time.

EDUC282 Educational Psychology (3 Credits)

This course will provide a current and comprehensive overview of research and theory related to human learning. The course will emphasize major concepts of learning theory but will also cover relevant motivational and developmental theories. The course will underscore the relationship between theory, research, and practice. Meets the general education social science or business management requirement. Prerequisite: EDUC101; Corequisite: EDUC 280. (Offered every term.)

EDUC300 Early Childhood Methods (3 Credits)

This course develops the instructional methods and assessment for an Early Childhood Classroom. Students will design and assess instruction for all areas of a self-contained classroom based on developmental stages, community, and curriculum goals. Students will learn to identify central concepts and methods of inquiry, and to use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage development within the context of creating a positive learning environment. Students will complete 20 hours of field experience in an Early Childhood classroom. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. (Offered fall of odd calendar years.)

EDUC302 Constructive Play - Early Childhood (3 Credits)

This course explores the importance of play as a guiding principal for the development of the whole child. Students will explore strategies for teaching language arts, science, mathematics, social studies, art, music and movement in early childhood classrooms within an integrated, thematic curriculum. Emphasis on appropriate play for children ages birth to 8, including individual, pair, small group and large group play as a means of intellectual development. Students will complete 15 hours of field experience in an Early Childhood classroom. Prerequisite: Admission to the Early Childhood Teacher Education Program.

EDUC310 Child, Family, Community Relations (3 Credits)

Students will be introduced to strategies in developing positive and supportive relationships with families, community agencies, and schools in a diverse society. This course explores strategies for building understanding, trust, and effective communication with all children and their families including those who have special needs, have cultural and linguistic differences, come from nontraditional family configurations, and who face poverty, health problems, and/or family dysfunction. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. (Offered spring semester of odd calendar years.)

EDUC312 Teaching Elementary Reading (3 Credits)

A course in the reading sequence designed to acquaint candidates with a variety of reading programs and approaches used in contemporary elementary school classrooms. Emphasis is on the reading process and product from the early stages of readiness. Attention is given to strategies that aide in word identification such as using sight words, phonics, contextual analysis, and structural analysis. Attention is given to comprehension fostering strategies. Specific strategies for Content Area Reading are examined as well as strategies to be used with ESL students and Special Needs students. There are 15 hourse of field experiences required. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. (Offered fall semester.)

EDUC333 The Learning Environment (3 Credits)

This course will investigate the structures of a safe and healthy learning environment that facilitates cultural and linguistic responsiveness, positive social interaction, active engagement, and academic risk-taking. A three tiered level of positive behavior supports (PBS) will be explored as a framework for creating plans to accomplish a productive learning environment. Twenty hours of field experience required. Prerequisite: EDUC 280

EDUC340 Educational Measurement/Evaluation (3 Credits)
ENGL350 Children's Literature (3 Credits)

A comprehensive survey of the various types of poetry and prose for children, with considerable attention to the significant historical and folklore backgrounds. Meets the general education humanities/literature requirement. Prerequisite: ENGL 201, ENGL 243 or education major. (Offered every semester.)

EDUC395 Practicum (4 Credits)
EDUC415 Practical Education Leadership (3 Credits)

This course works in tandem with EDUC 395 Practicum to provide students with hands-on experience in a professional education or community setting while strengthening professional communication and reflective practice using the writing tasks in this course. Through a combination of fieldwork, research, and guided writing assignments, students will explore career pathways, develop professional artifacts, and engage in critical reflection on their roles within educational and professional environments. Meets the general education upper division writing intensive requirement.

EDUC417 Emergent Language and Literacy (3 Credits)

This course introduces students to language and literacy development for young children, birth through age 8. Students will explore theories of language development and the identification of readiness factors in emergent reading and writing. Attention is given to development, evaluation and special pre-reading and beginning reading needs of individual children as well as the use of assessment to plan for individual and group instruction. Prerequisite: Admission to the Early Childhood Teacher Education Program.

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