Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Education Degree with a Major in Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Birth through Third Grade

The Bachelor of Science in Education, Early Childhood Unified Birth through Third Grade, is an inter-disciplinary undergraduate major offered by the Departments of Teaching and Leadership and Family and Consumer Sciences. The ECU program prepares participants for working/teaching in infant-toddler programs, preschool programs, and primary grades in public schools. It leads to eligibility for teaching licensure from the Kansas State Department of Education for both general and special education through grade three. Candidates in this program must meet all requirements of Teacher Education programs.

Majors in the Early Childhood Unified (ECU) Birth through Third Grade devote the greater portion of their work during the first two years of coursework in general education and early childhood coursework/field experiences. The work of the last two years consists of continued academic coursework with greater focus upon special education, early childhood education, and primary grade education and experiences in public school settings. The candidate’s professional education program culminates in the senior year, usually the last semester, with the professional semester, a 17-credit hour block which includes off-campus student teaching in a primary level classroom.

General Education Components

COMM 207, ENGL 101, ENGL 190 OR ENGL 299, MATH 204, BIOL 113 OR BIOL 111 and BIOL 112, PHYS 171 and PHYS 172 OR CHEM 105 and CHEM 106, SOC 100, POLS 101, GEOG 106 OR GEOG 300, PSYCH 155, FCS 203 OR FCS 301 OR HHP 150 OR NURS 303, HIST 101 OR HIST 102 OR HIST 201 OR HIST 202 are general education content core curriculum of 33-36 hours. A 2.80 GPA in this content core is required for admission to Teacher Education.

Basic Skills (15 hours)
Must have a “C” or better in each of these Basic Skills courses: COMM 207, ENGL 101, ENGL 190 or ENGL 299, MATH 204.
General Education Electives (38-41 hours)
- Sciences (11 hours)
  - Natural Sciences (Select one)
    - BIOL-111: General Biology (3 hours)
      
      AND BIOL-112: General Biology Laboratory (2 hours)
    - BIOL-113: Environmental Life Science (4 hours)
      
      AND BIOL-114: Environmental Life Science Laboratory for Teachers (1 hours)
  - Physical Sciences (Select one)
    - PHYS-171: Physical Science (3 hours)
      
      AND PHYS-172: Physical Science Laboratory (1 hours)
      
      AND PHYS-114: Physical Science Laboratory for Teachers (2 hours)
    - CHEM-105: Introductory Chemistry (3 hours)
      
      AND CHEM-106: Introductory Chemistry Laboratory (1 hours)
      
      AND PHYS-114: Physical Science Laboratory for Teachers (2 hours)
  (PHYS 171 and 172 or CHEM 105 and 106 are prerequisites for PHYS 114).
- Social Studies (3 hours)
  - SOC-100: Introduction to Sociology (3 hours)
- Political Studies (3 hours)
  - POLS-101: U.S. Politics (3 hours)
  The higher course grade of SOC 100 or POLS 101 will be used in calculating the 2.8 content core GPA.
- Producing and Consuming (6 hours)
  - Economy (Select one)
    - ECON-191: Issues in Today's Economy (3 hours)
    - FCS-230: Consumer Education and Personal Finance (3 hours)
  - Technology
    - EDTH-330: Technology for the Classroom (3 hours)
- Fine Arts and Aesthetic Studies (2-3 hours)
  - Any Fine Arts course listed for the general education requirements (2-3 hours)
- Cultural Studies (Select one) (3 hours)
  - GEOG-106: World Regional Geography (3 hours)
  - GEOG-300: Elements of Geography (3 hours)
- Health and Well Being (4-6 hours)
  - Psychological
    - PSYCH-155: General Psychology (3 hours)
  - Physical (Select one)
- Human Heritage (6 hours)
  - History (Select One)
  - Literature (Select One)
Total General Education Components 53-56 hours.
Elementary, Psychology and Lab Experiences
(The following courses must be completed with a 3.00 GPA or higher and no grade lower than a “C” for admission to Professional Semester).

NOTE: EDUC courses may be taken concurrently but not prior to EDUC 261.
- I. Education, Psychology, and Laboratory Experiences (59-60 hours)
  EDTH 330 Technology for the Classroom (satisfied by general education)$ (3 hours)
  EDUC 361, EDUC 366, PSYCH 357 and SPED 550 require admission to Teacher Education prior to enrollment.
- II. Professional Semester (17 hours)
  Total hours for Bachelor of Science in Education Degree with a Major in Early Childhood Unified (ECU) (129-133 hours)
EDUC 261, EDUC 321, EDUC 322, EDUC 323, EDUC 440 and EDTH 330 must have completed 45 credit hours and have a 2.50 cumulative GPA to enroll.

SPED 350, SPED 450, SPED 511 and SPED 560 must have completed 60 credit hours and have a 2.50 GPA to enroll.

FCS 591 requires permission of instructor to enroll.

EDUC 440 must have completed 60 credit hours.

Concurrent enrollment recommended (PSYCH 263 and EDUC 261).

FCS 390 and FCS 391 require concurrent enrollment.

FCS 490 and FCS 491 require concurrent enrollment.

Students planning to teach should become familiar with the current Regulations for Certifying School Personnel, issued by The State Board of Education. Information concerning these regulations may be obtained from the Director of Teacher Education, 110 Hughes Hall, Pittsburg State University. See Admission to Professional Semester for professional education grade point requirements.