BSEd in Early Childhood Education
Degree Program Description
The Bachelor of Science in Education in Early Childhood will prepare you to work with children from birth through third grade in public, private, and alternative school systems. Students consider a degree in education if they enjoy working with children and/or adolescents, want to strengthen the future through education, and want to make a difference in the lives of others. MU Students work closely with mentors, practicing teachers, administrators, and university faculty to develop the knowledge and skills to enhance learning outcomes for children and youth. The coursework through the College of Education & Human Development focuses on teachers’ roles in facilitating learning at all levels of development and considers the influences of cultural, political, historical, and economic factors on students, teachers, and schools. Upon successful completion of the initial teacher certification process, the state grants you certification in early childhood education. Practical and rewarding clinical experience in schools and agencies, which will enhance your teaching abilities and confidence, begins during the sophomore year, and continues each semester, culminating in a senior-level teaching internship. Coursework within Early Childhood will challenge you to consider ways to support the development and learning of young children from birth through age eight.
Major Program Requirements
Students must complete all university, general education, and content requirements, in addition to degree requirements. Please meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss degree requirements and to create a semester plan.
Teacher Education programs in the College of Education & Human Development are accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Curriculum changes mandated to earn teacher certification may become effective at any point during your academic program. Therefore, it is extremely important that you DO NOT SELF ADVISE.
Degree Requirements Sample Program
| Additional Subject/Concentration-Choose One of the following options: | 3 | |
| Child Development: Preschool to Pre-Adolescence * | ||
or H_D_FS 3150W | Child Development: Preschool to Pre-Adolescence - Writing Intensive | |
or H_D_FS 2400 | Principles of Human Development | |
or H_D_FS 2400W | Principles of Human Development - Writing Intensive | |
| Principles of Human Development - Honors/Writing Intensive | ||
or PSYCH 2410 | Developmental Psychology | |
or PSYCH 2410H | Developmental Psychology - Honors | |
| Early Experiences | ||
| LTC 1100 | Orientation (Recommended) | 1 |
| or SPC_ED 1100 | Orientation: Special Education | |
| ESC_PS 2010 | Inquiry Into Learning I * | 3 |
| or H_D_FS 3050 | Child Development: Infancy and Toddlerhood | |
| or H_D_FS 3150 | Child Development: Preschool to Pre-Adolescence | |
| LTC 2040 | Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I | 3 |
| or LTC 2040H | Inquiring into Schools, Community and Society I - Honors | |
| LTC 2044 | Early Field Experience for Teacher Education | 2 |
| Educational Technology (minimum 2 credit hours) | 2 | |
| IS_LT 2300 | Inquiry into Transforming Learning with Technology (Required) | 1 |
Choose at least one additional course from the list below | ||
| IS_LT 2305 | Blended Learning in the K12 Classroom | 1 |
| IS_LT 2310 | Technologies for Game-Inspired Teaching and Learning | 1 |
| IS_LT 2315 | Advancing Equity in K12 Classrooms Through Artificial Intelligence | 1 |
| IS_LT 4470 | Accessible Learning and Information Environments | 2 |
| IS_LT 4390 | Techno-literacies: Navigating Information, Data, and AI | 2 |
| IS_LT 4325 | Principles of Multimedia and Message Design | 2 |
| IS_LT 4201 | Computational Thinking | 3 |
| IS_LT 4099 | Making and Education | 2 |
| IS_LT 4355 | Web Design and Development | 3 |
| IS_LT 4361 | Introduction to Digital Media | 3 |
| IS_LT 4366 | Technology Leadership | 3 |
| IS_LT 4373 | Exploring Moodle | 1 |
| IS_LT 4374 | Exploring Canvas | 1 |
| IS_LT 4386 | Microlearning | 1 |
| Mid-Level Experiences | ||
| LTC 4110 | Working with Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| LTC 4114 | Infant and Toddler Field Experience | 1 |
| LTC 4120 | Early Childhood Education Literacy Methods & Assessment I | 3 |
| LTC 4124 | Emergent and Developing Literacy Early Childhood Field Experience | 2 |
| LTC 4210 | Children's Language and Literature | 3 |
| LTC 4460 | Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages | 3 |
| or LTC 4460H | Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - Honors | |
| LTC 4140 | Curriculum, Theory and Classroom Management in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| or LTC 4140W | Curriculum, Theory and Classroom Management in Early Childhood Education - Writing Intensive | |
| LTC 4150 | Early Childhood Education Literacy Teaching Methods and Assessment II | 3 |
| LTC 4170 | Program Management & Environmental Organization in PreKindergarten | 3 |
| LTC 4971 | Internship and Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| SPC_ED 4020 | Teaching the Exceptional Learner | 3 |
| LTC 4060 | Teachers as Leaders: Policy, Ethics, and Advocacy | 1 |
| Advanced-Level Experiences | ||
| LTC 4091 | Assessment and Family Collaboration in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| LTC 4130 | Teaching and Learning Math with Young Children | 3 |
| LTC 4131 | Teaching and Learning Science with Young Children | 3 |
| LTC 4132 | Teaching and Learning Social Studies w/ Young Children | 3 |
| LTC 4134 | Teaching & Learning Math, Sci & Soc Studies w/Young Children Field Experience | 3 |
| LTC 4240 | Art for Children | 2 |
| LTC 4971 | Internship and Capstone Seminar | 12 |
| Internship and Capstone Seminar - Honors (Honors students can choose to enroll in 6 credit hours of LTC 4971H and 6 credit hours of 4971 to fulfill 12 hour requirement for Internship and Capstone Seminar) | ||
- *
H_D_FS 3150(W) can only be used to fulfill one requirement.
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student’s actual plan may vary based on course choices and where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LTC 1100 | 1 | Educational Technology Course | 1 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | General Education Math Requirement | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| Biological, Physical, Mathematical Science | 3 | American History or Government | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ESC_PS 2010, H_D_FS 3050, or H_D_FS 3150 (Fall or Spring)*H_D_FS 3150 can only be used to fulfill one requirement | 3 | LTC 2040 (Fall or Spring) | 3 |
| LTC 2044 (Fall or Spring) | 2 | Additional Subject/ConcentrationH_D_FS 2400(W); H_D_FS 3150(W)*; PSYCH 2410 | 3 |
| Educational Technology Course | 1 | Lab Science | 3 |
| Biological, Physical, Mathematical Science | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | Social or Behavioral Science | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 1 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LTC 4110 | 3 | LTC 4170 | 3 |
| LTC 4114 | 1 | LTC 4971 | 3 |
| LTC 4120 | 3 | LTC 4140 | 3 |
| LTC 4124 | 2 | LTC 4150 | 3 |
| LTC 4210 | 3 | SPC_ED 4020 | 3 |
| LTC 4460 | 3 | LTC 4060 | 1 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| LTC 4091 | 3 | LTC 4971 | 12 |
| LTC 4240 | 2 | ||
| LTC 4134 | 3 | ||
| LTC 4130 | 3 | ||
| LTC 4131 | 3 | ||
| LTC 4132 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
- Change your Major. If you are considering changing your undergraduate major or are choosing between several majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573) 884-9700 or through the Discovery Center service in your MU Connect success network.
- Decided on a Major. If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring that major.
- Identify your Interests and Strengths. If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values, and talents, visit the staff at the MU Career Center. No appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- Explore MU Majors. If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit Majors at Mizzou or the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.