Early Childhood Education
Description
Students who are passionate about working with young children and want to work in a preschool or early elementary classroom will find OU's nationally recognized Early Childhood Education program to be a good mixture of hands-on experiences and a solid theoretical education. Beginning with the first course taken in the Education curriculum, students complete at least 100 hours tutoring and observing in local elementary schools and at the Institute of Child Development, located on the OU campus, before they begin student teaching.
The Early Childhood Education curriculum is designed so that students will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in four years. Students then complete one graduate semester to be recommended for certification as pre-kindergarten through third grade teachers.
Degree Options
An Early Childhood Education student graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. A student could also pursue a Master of Education, a Doctor of Philosophy or a Doctor of Education degrees. Students who obtain a master's degree may be certified as reading specialists.
Accreditation
The Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a specialty organization.
In 2007, U.S. News and World Report ranked the College of Education 40th among the best graduate programs in the nation.
Notable Achievements
Early Childhood Education faculty members are active at the national level in such professional organizations as the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. In addition, several Education faculty members serve on editorial boards for prestigious academic publications
Education students can participate in such organizations as Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society that recognizes outstanding contributions to education, and the Student Council for Exceptional Children, which provides professional growth opportunities through field experiences.
Interests and Skills
Early Childhood Education students typically have interests in working with young children. High school preparation should include tutoring or working with kindergarten through third grade students.