Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 SUNY Potsdam Academic Catalog 
    
2024-2025 SUNY Potsdam Academic Catalog

Early Childhood Education, B.A.


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Joint Early Childhood Education Program (B.A. degree) with Jefferson Community College

  • Earn your bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in Watertown, thanks to an expanded partnership between SUNY Potsdam and Jefferson Community College.
  • Successful students are recommended to New York State for certification in both early childhood (birth to Grade 2).
  • One specialization area is required (English and history are recommended).
  • All regular coursework is offered in Watertown!
  • Student teaching placements available throughout Jefferson and Lewis counties.
  • Bachelor’s graduates can then pursue SUNY Potsdam graduate education programs, including master’s degrees and an advanced certificate: http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/watertown/programs/graduate.
  • For course equivalency tables and details on the program, please visit the joint degree page on the JCC website.
Program Student Learning Outcomes:

Early Childhood Education B.A. students will be able to:

  • demonstrate the ability to develop an interdisciplinary learning segment that incorporates various learning modalities that support early childhood learning. 
  • plan and use developmentally appropriate materials and activities, demonstrating universally designed and instructional strategies and technology in their daily lesson plans for early childhood learners that demonstrate understandings of the whole child culturally, socio-emotionally and academically. 
  • foster positive, reciprocal and respectful parent relationships and engagement through a parent conference to understand the importance of home to school engagement to promote the child’s academic and social emotional  progress.
  • develop and implement lessons that demonstrate skill in the appropriate early childhood teaching techniques, including center-based learning, cooperative learning, and discovery/ inquiry teaching.  

Program Requirements


Education Major: 52 Credits


All courses noted and require a 2.7 in each course. Education courses (EDLS and EDUC courses) require a minimum grade of 2.7 or above, therefore these courses will not satisfy the requirement if students elect the S/P/U grading option.  Students must earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in required Arts & Science and Specialization courses and therefore, an S/P/U will satisfy the requirement. 

Professional Block I: 13 Credits


(Prerequisite to Block II)

  • EDUC 302 - Early Childhood Practicum I 2 Credit(s)
  • EDUC 304 - Care and Education of Young Children with Special Needs  3 Credit(s)
  • EDLS 305 - Early Childhood Development and Learning 3 Credit(s)
  • EDUC 306 - Early Childhood Literacy  1 Credit(s)

Professional Block II: 14 Credits


(Prerequisite to student teaching)

  • EDUC 402 - Early Childhood Practicum II 2 Credit(s)
  • EDUC 404 - Building Home/School Relationships 3 Credit(s)
  • EDUC 405 - Integrating Math, Science, and Social Studies   3 Credit(s)

Student Teaching Semester: 14 Credits


  • EDUC 417 - Student Teaching Internship 1: PreK-Grade K  6 Credit(s) 
  • EDUC 418 - Student Teaching Internship II: Grade 1-2 6 Credit(s)
  • EDLS 420 - Student Teaching Seminar 2 Credit(s)

Certification Requriements


  • New York State Teacher Certification Examinations required for Initial Certification.
  • Fingerprinting Clearance.

Concentration Requirements: 52 Credits


All courses in the Arts and Sciences concentration must be completed with a 2.0 or higher.
Please note: Potsdam Pathway courses may be fulfilled with major requirements, but additional Pathways courses may be required. Seek guidance from your adviser.
Arts and Sciences Concentration  

Specialization Areas: 15-19 Credits


All Early Childhood Education majors must select one of the following Specialization Areas. Contact the Department of the specialization area of your choice to declare, be assigned a specialization area adviser and select appropriate courses. Each course in the specialization area must be completed with a 2.0 or higher.
Specializations at Watertown Campus:

English Specialization: 15-17  
Social Science/History Specialization: 15 Credits  

Additional specializations on main Potsdam campus:

English Specialization: 15-17  
Social Science/History Specialization: 15 Credits  
Mathematics Specialization: 17 Credits  
Biology Specialization: 16-18 Credits  
Chemistry Specialization: 17 Credits  
Geology Specialization: 16-19 Credits  
Physics Specialization: 16 Credits  
Social Science/History Specialization: 15 Credits  

Total Credit Hours Required: 105-110


Notes:


Additional credits are needed to fulfill Potsdam Pathways and College requirements

Some courses have required Prerequisites

Perform satisfactory on Disposition Form

Early Childhood Education Policies can be found at www.potsdam.edu/academics/SOEPS/education/advising/CEC/

Grade Requirements:

  • 2.7 or higher required grade in each Education course (EDUC & EDLS courses)
  • 2.0 or higher required grade in Arts & Science courses (Math, Science, English, History, etc…)

Gate Requirements:

  • 3.0 or higher overall GPA (initial requirement for admission into an Education program set by SUNY)
  • Transition: 2.5 or higher overall GPA to remain in the Childhood/Early Childhood Education major prior to entering Block I
  • 3.0 or higher overall GPA required to enter Block I, Block II and Student Teaching
  • 3.0 or higher GPA in Education major required to Student Teach (EDLS and EDUC courses)

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