BA, Early Childhood Education (UAA)

UAA College of Education Mission

We prepare educators and support the lifelong learning of professionals to embrace diversity and to be intellectually and ethically strong, resilient, and passionate in their work with Alaska's learners, families, and communities.

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The Early Childhood Development Certificate program and the Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development program prepare paraeducators and other professionals to work in early care and education settings, including the public school system. The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education prepares professionals to work with young children
from birth through age 8. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Early Childhood Pre-K-Third Grade prepares professionals who already have baccalaureate degrees to work with young children from birth through 8 years in preschool/primary school settings. Successful completion of either the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education or the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Early Childhood Pre-K-Third Grade program requirements leads to an institutional recommendation for initial teacher certification with an endorsement in Pre-K-Third Grade. All programs are developed to meet the National Association for the Education of Young Children guidelines for personnel preparation. Student outcomes for the four early childhood programs are based on the Standards for Alaska’s Teachers located at www.eed.state.ak.us/ standards. Outcomes are also based on the professional preparation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) found
at www.naeyc.org. The students will demonstrate the following outcomes:

1.      Create a healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environment based on knowledge of child development.
2.      Create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and involve all families in their children’s development and learning.
3.      Use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence children’s development and learning.
4.      Design effective approaches to teaching and learning, implement and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for all children.
5.      Incorporate knowledge of content areas to create appropriate experiences for young children.
6.      Use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood
practice.
7.      Demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on professional practice, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources.

Foundation Requirements
Complete the following foundation courses. The courses are selected to provide future early childhood educators with the skills and background knowledge in the various subjects they will be expected to teach. The selection is based on national and state standards for content preparation. Some of the foundation courses may also be used to meet General Education Requirements.

Child Development (6 credits)
DN A145            Child Nutrition                                             3
EDSE A212         Human Development and Learning (3)     3
or
PSY A365           Child and Adolescent Development (3)
Social Relationships and Inclusive
Environments (11–12 credits)
EDEC A242        Family and Community Partnerships      3
EDEC A303        Young Children in Inclusive Settings       3
Select two courses from the following:                                       5-6
CEL A292           Introduction to Civic Engagement (3)
EDEL A327        Teaching Social Studies in
Elementary Schools (2)
EDSE A474        Special Children from Birth
through Five (3)
EDSE A482         Inclusive Classrooms for All Children (3)
SWK A342         Human Behavior in the Social
Environment (3)
SWK A409         Introduction to Child Welfare (3)
Liberal Studies Humanities and Social Sciences Core* (18 credits)
*Students must meet General Education Requirements (GER) for Baccalaureate Degrees including 6
credits of social science (SS), from two different disciplines, and 6 credits of humanities (HUM).
Complete the following courses:
Select one course from GER fine arts list (3 credits) EDEC A105        Introduction to the Field of
Early
Childhood (SS GER)                                    3
LSSS A111          Cultural Foundations of Human
Behavior (SS GER) (3)                                  3
or
SWK A243        Cultural Diversity and Community
Service Learning (SS GER) (3)
HIST A132         History of United States II (HUM GER)   3
Select one Alaska Studies course from the following:                  3
ANTH A200      Natives of Alaska (SS GER) (3)
EDFN A478        Issues in Alaska Native Education, K-12 (3)
HIST A341         History of Alaska (HUM GER) (3)
Select one course from the following:                                             3
ANTH A250      The Rise of Civilization (SS GER) (3)
GEOG/
INTL A101         Local Places/Global Regions:
Introduction to Geography
(SS GER) (3)

HIST A131         History of United States I (HUM GER) (3) HNRS A292       Honors Seminar in Social
Science
(SS GER) (3)
LSIC A331          Power, Authority, and Governance (3)
PS A101              Introduction to American Government
(SS GER) (3)
PS A102              Introduction to Political Science
(SS GER) (3)
Liberal Studies Integrated Sciences Core (10 credits)
LSIS A102          Origins: Earth-Solar System-Life
(NS GER)                                                       5
LSIS A201          Life on Earth (NS GER)                               5
Mathematical Skills (6-7 credits)
Select one course from GER quantitative skills list          3-4
MATH A205      Communicating Mathematical Ideas        3
Oral and Written Communication Skills (9 credits)
Select one course from GER oral communication list         3
Select two courses from GER written ommunication list     6

Major Requirements
1.      Complete the following core courses (29 credits). Field experience in
early childhood programs may be required as part of the courses.
EDEC A106        Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood      3
EDEC A206        Integrated Curriculum for Young Children      3
EDEC A210        Guiding Young Children                                     3
EDEC A241        Infant and Toddler Development                       3
EDEC A407        Observation and Documentation in Early
Childhood                                                              4
EDEC A408        Children’s Literature: Early Childhood Years    3
EDFN A300       Philosophical and Social Context of
American Education (GER Capstone) (3)          3
or
EDFN A304       Comparative Education (GER Capstone) (3)
EDFN A301       Foundations of Literacy and Language
Development                                                         3
EDFN A302       Foundations of Educational Technology           2
PEP A345           Incorporating Health and Physical
Activity into the Pre-K-6 Classroom                  2

Complete the following methodology requirements (6 credits):

EDEC A403        Mathematics
and Science in Early Childhood   3
EDEC A404        Literacy for Young Children                               3

Complete the following internship and seminar requirements (14 credits):
EDEC A492         Early Childhood Seminar (1+1)                         2
EDEC A495         Early Childhood Internship (3+9)                 12*
*Special note: Completion of 12 credits required for degree and
certification.

4.      Complete an additional 12 credits of electives.
5.      A total of 121-123 credits is required for the degree of which 42
must be upper division.
Institutional Recommendation

Pre-K-3 Teacher Certification
Candidates who complete an internship in the primary grades (Pre- K-3rd grade) may apply for teacher certification, Pre-K-3rd grade. Following are the requirements for an institutional
recommendation:
1.      Major Requirements completed with a grade of C or higher.
2.      Alaska Studies requirement, MATH A205, and Foundation Requirements in Child Development and
Social Relationships and Inclusive Environments completed with a grade of C or higher.
3.      Cumulative GPA of 2.75.
4.      Cumulative GPA of 2.75 in all Major Requirements.
5.      Passing scores on the Praxis I (PPST) and Praxis II (0011 or 0014)
exams.
6.      Internships satisfactorily completed.
7.      Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree conferred.


1.      Submit an application to the Department of Teaching and Learning.
2.      Complete the Tier I Basic College-Level Skills General Education

The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood (BAEC) prepares candidates to work with children from birth through age eight. The program offers professionals working in childcare or the public school system opportunities to further their career in early childhood. Many changes occurring nationally and in our state have brought attention to young children. There is a critical need for quality programs for young children as well as qualified early childhood professionals.