Early Childhood Education

The early-childhood preparation program encompasses three major program components: professional content, field experience and process seminars. Because all program components are integrated, students concurrently enroll in them at each level. Students generally complete the program in four semesters. Because the program is competency based, however, students occasionally proceed through the sequence at different rates.

Teacher Certification and Licensure

Education offers initial teacher certification programs that meet the standards set by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Teacher certification programs are completed in conjunction with undergraduate majors and may require coursework in the major field beyond the major requirements. Teacher candidates at UMBC who complete a certification program and pass the tests and performance assessments outlined by MSDE are recommended to Maryland State Department of Education for licensure by the UMBC Education Department. More information about MDSE testing requirements can be found here:

http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/testing_info/praxis2.aspx

http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/testing_info/praxis1.aspx

University Requirements

Completion of Minimum University Requirements for an Undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree .

Minimum 120 credits and minimum GPA of 2.0
Completion of 45 upper-level credits, residence requirement, Writing Intensive requirement, and General Education requirement

Program Requirements

Minimum 65 credits
Minimum grade of ‘C’ in courses applied to the program
Completion of a UMBC major

Course Requirements

Professional Courses (33 credits)

Complete the following:

General Education Courses (32 credits)

Complete the following General Education courses. These courses may fulfill the GEP requirements for the student’s bachelor’s degree.

Fine Arts/Literature

Complete two courses in art, dance, music, film/video, theatre or literature, including a maximum of 3 credits in literature.

Social Studies

Complete two courses in the general areas of contemporary world culture and American culture. Advisors in the education department recommend courses.

Psychology

Complete the following:

PSYC 100 - Introduction to Psychology (4)
PSYC 200 - Child Developmental Psychology (3)
or a course in child psychology, or child development, or developmental psychology

Mathematics

Complete the following or other approved courses:

Science

Complete two science courses with labs.