Admission Requirements
Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Programs.
Admission to the School of Education: Early Childhood Education Major
Admission to the Early Childhood Education major is required for most upper-division coursework in Early Childhood Education. In order to be admitted to the Early Childhood Education major, applicants must:
- Complete the application to the Early Childhood Education major. Please call an advisor from the School of Education Student Services office at (907) 786-4401 for an advising appointment.
- Complete Tier 1: Basic College-Level Skills General Education Requirements (transfer credits may be used).
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75.
- Complete a minimum of 15 lower-division credits from the Early Childhood Education major requirements with a GPA of 3.0.
- Letter of recommendation (professional reference).
- Current background check with Department of Health and Human Services.
Admission to Early Childhood Education Student Teaching 1 (EDEC A492Y and EDEC A495Y)
- Meet all the requirements for and be admitted to the Early Childhood Education major.
- Submit an application form for admission to Student Teaching 1. Contact the School of Education Student Services office for fall and spring application deadlines at (907) 786-4872.
- Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE).
- Apply for Student Teaching Authorization Certificate. This application includes fingerprinting and a criminal background check. Fee required.
- Complete school district application for placement.
Admission to Early Childhood Education Student Teaching 2 (EDEC A492Z and EDEC A495Z)
- Submit an application form for admission to Early Childhood Education Student Teaching 2. Contact the School of Education Student Services office for fall and spring application deadlines at (907) 786-4872.
- Interview upon request.
- Demonstrate general content knowledge with a passing score on Praxis II Content Area Exam (See Alaska Department of Education and Early Development website for more information). Note: when taking the exam, please check UAA as a receiving institution.
- A current Student Teaching Authorization Certificate is required for admission to student teaching 2 (fingerprinting and criminal background check process).
- Complete school district specific application for student teaching placement.
Notes: Admission to the Early Childhood Education major does not guarantee admission to the Student Teaching 1 and /or 2. Partnership organizations, early care and education centers, and other school settings have the right to refuse or limit field experience placements for university students.
Additional Information
- All Early Childhood Education courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C. Upon successful completion of the Early Childhood Education licensure program, a teacher candidate will obtain a State Approved Verification Form from the School of Education to the State of Alaska for teacher certification.
- Student Teaching 2 is a full-time placement (not credit hours) in a public-school setting. Student Teachers are expected to be present in schools the same hours as school district teachers. Reference Internship Handbook for more detailed information.
- 10-30 hours of field experience are required for most Early Childhood major courses.
- All EDEC (Early Childhood) courses, the Alaska studies requirement, EDFN A300 (multicultural requirement) MATH A211, MATH A212, must be completed with a minimum grade of C in order to obtain a State Approved Verification Form for teacher certification.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Some of the foundation and major requirements may be used to satisfy General Education Requirements.
- Complete the background check requirements listed under Field Placements.
- Complete the foundation requirements below.
- Complete the following major requirements with a minimum grade of C:
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities (Select one of the following): | 3 | |
| History of the United States I | ||
| History of the United States II | ||
| Quantitative Skills (Select one of the following or higher): | 3 | |
| College Algebra for Managerial and Social Sciences | ||
| College Algebra for Calculus | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning: | 6 | |
| Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I | ||
| Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers II | ||
| Alaska Studies (Select one of the following): | 3 | |
| Alaska Native Perspectives | ||
| Alaska Native Cultural Orientation - Alutiiq/Sugpiaq | ||
| Tribes, Nations and Peoples | ||
| Alaska Native Politics | ||
| Alaska Native Cultures | ||
| Issues in Alaska Native Education, K-12 | ||
| History of Alaska | ||
| Alaska Government and Politics | ||
| Total | 15 | |
Major Requirements
Field experience in early childhood programs may be required as part of core courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| EDEC A105 | Introduction to the Field of Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDEC A106 | Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood | 3 |
| EDEC A107 | Child Development and Learning | 3 |
| EDEC A108 | Health, Nutrition and Wellness for Children Birth-12 | 3 |
| EDEC A206 | Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Young Children | 3 |
| EDEC A210 | Guiding Young Children | 3 |
| EDEC A241 | Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
| EDEC A242 | Culturally Responsive Family Engagement | 3 |
| EDEC A292 | Early Childhood Practicum Seminar | 3 |
| EDEC A295 | Early Childhood Practicum | 3 |
| EDEC A303 | Young Children in Inclusive Settings | 3 |
| EDEC A320 | Foundations of Literacy and Language Development | 3 |
| EDEC A321 | Language, Reading and Culture | 3 |
| EDEC A407 | Observation, Documentation, and Assessment of Young Children | 3 |
| EDEC A408 | Children's Literature: Early Childhood Years | 3 |
| EDFN A300 | Philosophical and Social Context of American Education | 3 |
| or EDFN A304 | Comparative Education | |
| Methodology Requirements | ||
| EDEC A403 | Mathematics and Science in Early Childhood | 3 |
| EDEC A404 | Literacy Methods for Young Children | 3 |
| Student Teaching and Seminar Requirements | ||
| EDEC A492Y | Early Childhood Student Teaching 1 Seminar | 3 |
| EDEC A492Z | Early Childhood Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| EDEC A495Y | Early Childhood Student Teaching 1 | 3 |
| EDEC A495Z | Early Childhood Student Teaching 2 | 9 |
| Total | 72 | |
A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 must be upper-division.
Licensure
The degree is designed to meet the requirements for state licensure. Following are the requirements for a State Approved Verification form for teacher certification, pre-K-3rd grade from the Alaska Department of Education:
- Major Requirements completed with a minimum grade of C.
- Alaska studies requirement, MATH A211, MATH A212, and foundation requirements in child development and social relationships and inclusive environments completed with a minimum grade of C.
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all major requirements.
- Passing scores on the Praxis Core for Academic Skills for Educators (CASE).
- Passing scores on Praxis II Content Knowledge Exam (See Alaska Department of Education).
- Student teaching 2 (EDEC A495Z) satisfactorily completed.
- Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree conferred. State Approved Verification Form
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Student outcomes for the early childhood programs are based on the Standards for Alaska Beginning Teachers. Outcomes are also based on the professional preparation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Department of Education and Early Development Core Knowledge and Competencies Students will demonstrate the following outcomes:
- Create a healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging learning environment based on knowledge of child development and learning to meet diverse children's needs.
- Create respectful, culturally responsive relationships that support and empower families, and involve all families in their children’s development and learning.
- 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.
- Design effective approaches to teaching and learning, implement and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for all children.
- Incorporate knowledge of content areas to create appropriate experiences for young children with an emphasis on early literacy practices.
- Use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice.
- Demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on professional practice, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources.
The expected mastery of student outcomes differs in accordance with the program level. Students who complete the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education will demonstrate advanced integrated knowledge and skills in preparation for careers in teaching primary grades (K-3) as well as in infant, toddler and preschool educational programs.