Early Childhood: PreKindergarten - Grade 3 and Special Education EC-12, B.S.

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The Early Childhood: PreKindergarten - Grade 3 Certificate is a plan of study designed for teacher candidates to earn Texas Teacher initial certification in both Early Childhood PK-3 and SPED EC-12. Candidates pursuing this plan will receive coursework and training that integrates the content and pedagogy required to be a highly effective early childhood educator and the knowledge and skills needed to support students with special needs who require additional support to address their specific learning, emotion, mental, or physical challenges.

University Core Requirements (42 hours)

Communications (6 hours)

WRIT 1301 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 1302 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3

Mathematics (3 hours)

MATH 1314 - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Creative Arts (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

U.S. History (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Government/Political Science (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Social/Behavioral Science (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Component Area (6 hours)

Two 1-hour Life and Physical Science Labs.

COMM 1315 - Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 1100 - Learning Frameworks Credit Hours: 1

College of Education Core Requirements (16 hours)

ECED 1354 - Developmental Theories of Young Children Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4100 - PK-3 Teacher Seminar Credit Hours: 1
ECED 4322 - Cultural Awareness for Young Children Credit Hours: 3
INST 3313 - Survey of Instructional Technologies Credit Hours: 3
SPED 2301 - Introduction to Special Populations Credit Hours: 3
TCED 1301 - Exploring Teaching as a Profession Credit Hours: 3

Major Requirements (36 hours)

Choose ONE of the following:

ECED 1303 - Children and Families Credit Hours: 3
or
ECED 1311 - Historical and Recent Trends in Early Childhood Education Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4304 - Facilitating Children’s Development through Fine Arts, Health, and Physical Education Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4311 - Reading Development in Young Children Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4326 - Effective and Positive Classroom Interactions for Young Children Credit Hours: 3
MATH 1350 - Mathematics for Teachers I Credit Hours: 3
SILC 4318 - Linguistic Diversity in Young Children Credit Hours: 3
SPED 4311 - Assessment in Special Education Credit Hours: 3
SPED 4312 - Diagnostic Instruction for Learners With Special Needs Credit Hours: 3
SPED 4313 - Individualizing Instruction for Students With Disabilities Credit Hours: 3
SPED 4321 - Implementing Positive Behavior Supports Credit Hours: 3
SPED 4332 - Early Childhood Special Education Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3304 - Advanced Writing for Education Credit Hours: 3
or
WRIT 3307 - Advanced Writing Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

*GPA of 2.50 or higher required in ECED coursework.

*Grade of B- or better required in WRIT 3304.

Pedagogy Requirements (33 hours)

ECED 4305 - Language Development Birth-Age 5 Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4307 - Mathematics and Science in Early Childhood Education Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4328 - Early Childhood Curriculum and Pedagogy Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4341 - The Science of Teaching Reading for PK-3 Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4342 - Social Studies Methods for PK-3 Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4343 - Science Methods for PK-3 Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4344 - Mathematics Methods for PK-3 Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4378 - Pre-Clinical Teaching Credit Hours: 3
ECED 4978 - Clinical Teaching Credit Hours: 9

Additional Information

Enrollment in ECED 4342 , ECED 4343 , ECED 4344 , ECED 4378 , and ECED 4978 requires admission in TEP.
3.000 GPA required in pedagogy coursework.
ECED 4378 must be taken in the fall or spring semester immediately preceding the final semester.
ECED 4978 must be taken in the final semester.
Courses for Alternative Route (currently certified educators in TEA-approved categories)

Teacher Education Program (TEP) Admission Requirements

Completion of 60 semester credit hours.
Completion of prerequisite coursework (ECED 1354 , ECED 4100 , ECED 4322 , and INST 3313 ).
Public speaking requirement met.
Basic skills in reading, mathematics & writing requirements met.
2.750 GPA overall or in the last 60 semester credit hours.
$57 TEA admission fee.
Application for admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP).

Teacher Certification Requirements

Passing scores on the appropriate state assessments (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards [TExES] are required for recommendations for teacher certification.
Early Childhood - Grade 3 Content (292)
Science of Teaching Reading (293)
Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12 (160)
Special Education EC-12 (161)
All courses outside the University Core must be C- or better.

General Degree Requirements

Students must complete at least 127 semester credit hours. A minimum of 45 hours of the 120 semester hours must be advanced (3000-4000 level) coursework according to the requirements of the respective major.
Students must complete the University Core Curriculum requirements (refer to Core Curriculum requirements in the UHCL Catalog.)
Students must fulfill the statutory requirements of the Texas State Education Code, including the following:
- Six hours of U.S. History (three hours may be Texas History).
- Six hours of Constitutions of the United States and Texas.
Students must demonstrate writing proficiency by completing nine hours of lower-level (1000-2000 level) and upper-level (3000-4000 level) English composition course credit with a minimum grade of “C-” or better. Some majors may require higher grades in English composition.
Students must complete at least 25% of the credit hours required for the degree (i.e., 30 semester credit hours for a 120 credit hour program) through instruction offered by UHCL to fulfill the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) residency requirements.
Students must complete the final 30 semester hours of 3000 and 4000 level coursework in residence at UHCL.
Students must complete a minimum of 12 semester credit hours of upper-level (3000-4000 level) coursework in the major in residence at UHCL.
Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.000 on coursework completed at UHCL with grades of “C” or better on at least 30 hours of resident upper-level work. Grades of “C-“or below cannot be applied toward the 30 hours of resident upper-level work.