Early Childhood Education (P-3) & Teacher of Students with Disabilities
This program prepares candidates to provide instruction in all subjects in general, inclusive, and special education settings from preschool through Grade 3. Candidates may earn a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree—depending on the content major pursued—eligibility for New Jersey certification as an Early Childhood (P–3) Teacher, and endorsement as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) in preschool through Grade 3.
To earn this degree, you must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including your General Education requirements and the major requirements below.
Requirements include:
- Completion of prerequisite courses; Behavioral/Social Sciences: child development (3) and educational psychology (3);
- Completion of all BRIDGE General Education program requirements;
- Completion of a major in: biology, chemistry, English, history, interdisciplinary studies, mathematics, natural sciences, psychology, Spanish, or visual art;
- Completion of the 43-credit Early Childhood Education component (including PS245 Psychology of the Exceptional Child);
- Passing score on the Praxis II test in Early Childhood Content; Note: for fall clinical practice passing scores must be submitted by July 15, for spring clinical practice they must be submitted by December 15;
- Passing score on the GCU Physiology and Hygiene test;
- Evidence of satisfactory completion of a GCU-approved training program on harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB);
- Satisfactory ratings in clinical practice including recommendation for certification;
- Satisfactory rating on candidate’s Taskstream professional portfolio demonstrating how candidate meets New Jersey Professional Teaching Standards; and
- Passing score on the edTPA, the NJDOE-mandated performance assessment.
Maintenance of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and a minimum Education grade point average of 3.0 is required to remain in the program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Education Courses 1,2 | ||
| ED2999 | Field Experience in Special Education | 1 |
| ED3110 | Ethics & Foundations of Incl & SpEd | 3 |
| ED3201 | Educational Assessment | 3 |
| ED3302 | Accom Mod & Asst Techn for SWD | 3 |
| ED3303 | Evi-Based Prac for Inst Stdnts w/ Autism | 3 |
| EE3114 | Instr Des & Techn Integ in Incl ECE | 3 |
| EE3115 | Instr in ELA & Lit I in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| EE3217 | Numeracy in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| EE3218 | Inst Lit II & SS Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| EE3219 | Sci & Tech in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| EE4212 | Coll Plan w/ Family School & Comm ECE | 3 |
| EE4302 | Early Childhood Ed Clinical Practice | 9 |
| EE4303 | Reflective Practice in EC & SpEd | 3 |
| Total Credits | 43 | |
| 1 | Praxis Tests Early Childhood Teacher candidates are required to pass the applicable Praxis II tests prior to part-time clinical practice: Early Childhood Content. For fall clinical practice passing scores must be submitted by July 15; for spring clinical practice they must be submitted by December 15. |
| 2 | Physiology & Hygiene New Jersey Department of Education regulations require all applicants for instructional certification to pass an examination in physiology and hygiene, including the effects of narcotics and alcohol. Candidates in this program are required to take and pass the GCU exam in this area prior to clinical practice. |
Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying (HIB) New Jersey Department of Education regulations require training related to harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Candidates must provide evidence of successful completion of a GCU-approved HIB training program prior to clinical practice.
These degree maps are meant to illustrate a typical sequence of courses. However, actual recommended sequences of non-education courses will vary based on the student's liberal arts major, so students should confer with their academic advisor when planning a course of study and before registering for courses.
Four-Year Early Childhood
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| GEN101 | Pathway to the Bridge | 2 |
| EN111 | Academic Writing and Research I | 3 |
| Mod. Lang; Culture; Global | 3 | |
| Quantitative Analysis | 3-4 | |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Credits | 17-18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEN199 | WI:Discovering Self in the Universe | 3 |
| History | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| PS221 | Child & Adolescent Development (=Soc Science 1) | 3 |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Soc Science 2 (not Psychology) | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| PL245 | Philosophical Inquiry | 3 |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| PS225 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Natural Sciences (w/ lab) 1 | 4 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| ED3110 | Ethics & Foundations of Incl & SpEd | 3 |
| PS245 & ED2999 |
Psychology of the Exceptional Child and Field Experience in Special Education |
4 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| EE3114 | Instr Des & Techn Integ in Incl ECE | 3 |
| EE3115 | Instr in ELA & Lit I in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| ED3303 | Evi-Based Prac for Inst Stdnts w/ Autism (and Clinical Exp) | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| WS311 | Shaping Lives: Women & Gender | 3 |
| Ethics | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| EE3218 | Inst Lit II & SS Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| EE3217 | Numeracy in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| ED3201 | Educational Assessment (and 50 hr Clinical Exp) | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEN400 | WI:Visioning a Future | 3 |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| EE3219 | Sci & Tech in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| ED3302 | Accom Mod & Asst Techn for SWD | 3 |
| EE4212 | Coll Plan w/ Family School & Comm ECE | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EE4302 | Early Childhood Ed Clinical Practice | 9 |
| EE4303 | Reflective Practice in EC & SpEd | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 133-134 | |
Five-Year Early Childhood
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| GEN101 | Pathway to the Bridge | 2 |
| EN111 | Academic Writing and Research I | 3 |
| Mod. Lang; Culture; Global | 3 | |
| Quantitative Analysis | 3-4 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Elective (recommended) | 1 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GEN199 | WI:Discovering Self in the Universe | 3 |
| History | 3 | |
| PS221 | Child & Adolescent Development (= Soc Science 1) | 3 |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Soc Science 2 (not Psychology) | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| PS225 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Natural Sciences (w/ lab) 1 | 4 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PL245 | Philosophical Inquiry | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| WS311 | Shaping Lives: Women & Gender | 3 |
| Ethics | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEN400 | WI:Visioning a Future | 3 |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| ED3110 | Ethics & Foundations of Incl & SpEd | 3 |
| PS245 & ED2999 |
Psychology of the Exceptional Child and Field Experience in Special Education |
4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Course Required for Major (or Elective) | 3 | |
| EE3114 | Instr Des & Techn Integ in Incl ECE | 3 |
| EE3115 | Instr in ELA & Lit I in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| EDC5403 | Evi-Based Prac for Inst Stdnts w/ Autism | 3 |
| ECE5203 | Numeracy in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| EDC5402 | Accom Mod & Asst Techn for SWD | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ECE5204 | Inst Lit II & SS Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| EDC5206 | Educational Assessment | 3 |
| ECE6212 | Coll Plan w/ Family School & Comm ECE | 3 |
| ECE5205 | Sci & Tech in Incl ECE & SpEd | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ECE6302 | Early Childhood Clinical Practice | 9 |
| ECE6303 | Reflective Practice in EC & SpEd | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 149-150 | |