Early Childhood Education (B.A.)
Website: https://www.fgcu.edu/coe/programs/undergraduateprograms/earlychildhoodeducation-ba.aspx
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Early Childhood Education is designed to prepare students for teacher certification from the Florida Department of Education for Prekindergarten/Primary (age 3 to grade 3), as well as the Prekindergarten/Disability endorsement, ESOL endorsement and Reading endorsement. Coursework and extensive field experiences enable students to dynamically integrate theory and teaching practices. Competencies include content-specific professional knowledge and skills applicable to the unique developmental needs of young children including a thorough understanding of culture, individualized guidance support, and authentic assessment techniques. Teacher candidates exit the program with evidence of high-quality teaching, including experience working with learners identified to receive services designated as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and emphasis on enhancing the capabilities of teachers’ personalized pedagogical approaches to supporting children with a variety of technically identified needs.
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
Degree-seeking students are classified as pre-majors prior to formal transition into a College of Education (COE) major. In order to transition from a COE pre-major to a major, students must complete the following:
- An overall GPA of 2.5 on all hours attempted.
- Attempt all subsections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) General Knowledge Test. Please refer to Rule: 6A-4.0021 - Florida Teacher certification Examinations for alternative assessment options.
- Satisfy all General Education requirements.
- Satisfy the College-Level Skills requirements.
- Satisfy common prerequisite requirements.
- Successfully complete a background check.
Students must have passed the FTCE Subject Area Exam prior to beginning Block Four Integrated Field Experience.
Students must complete all coursework and have passed the FTCE Professional Education Exam prior to beginning Block Five Internship.
In addition to the program requirements and to qualify for Florida Teacher Certification, students must:
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits.
- Pass the General Knowledge Test (or alternative assessment option), the subject area examination, and the Professional Education Test.
- Complete a minimum of 48 of the 120 credits at the upper division (3000-4999 level).
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework attempted at FGCU.
- Satisfy the College-Level skills and foreign language admission requirements.
- Satisfy the Service-Learning requirement.
- Satisfy the Civic Literacy requirement.
- Satisfy the residency requirement: 30 of the last 60 credits must be completed at FGCU.
- Complete the summer course enrollment requirement.
- Submit an Application for Graduation by the deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.