Early Childhood Education / Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education (B.S.)

Individuals who complete this dual certification program will be eligible for the New Hampshire Department of Education teacher certification in Early Childhood (N-3) and Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-Age 8). Additionally, completion of this degree qualifies individuals for the New Hampshire Child Development Bureau, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Credential. The Early Childhood certification will prepare individuals to teach children in public schools beginning at the nursery school level to Grade 3, and Early Childhood Special Education certification will prepare individuals to work with infants, toddlers and children who are at risk of being identified as needing special education services or who are already identified as needing special education services.

This is a field-based program for qualified participants working or volunteering in approved programs or education settings. The key components of this program include mentorship of the teacher candidates by highly skilled professionals in the field, the hands-on experience of working with children in educational settings, and the opportunity to build your teaching capacity over time. Graduates of this program will be eligible for certification and highly qualified in both early childhood and early childhood special education.

Degree Requirements

General Education Program Requirements

A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.

All General Education requirements, including CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.

Writing Program Requirements

All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University Writing Program Requirements as follows:

Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.

Major Requirements

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for state certification.Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.

¹

Required prior to beginning the last 60 credits of degree program

²

Passing Praxis Core Exam scores must be submitted prior to taking EDC 700 Introduction to Field Experience

Electives

Open electives are courses students will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order to satisfy the remaining credit totals for their programs. Open electives are defined as any credit course offered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor. Students will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the Online Division of the College of Professional Studies.

State Certification Requirements

The following requirements must be completed in order to be recommended to the state for Teacher Certification:

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for state certification
• Praxis Core Academic Skills For Educators Exam required. Passing Praxis Core Exam scores must be submitted prior to taking EDC 700 Introduction to Field Experience
• Praxis II-EC Education of Young Children Exam required. Students must attempt to pass Praxis II exam prior to taking the Culminating Teaching Experience & Seminar. Passing exam scores are required for state certification.
• Pearson Foundations of Reading Exam required. Passing Pearson Foundations of Reading Exam Scores must be submitted prior to taking the Culminating Teaching Experience & Seminar.

This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS Online undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.

Sample Course Sequence

Note: Only 1 Clinical A course allowed per term

• Develop a working understanding of current brain research and its implications for teaching and learning.
• Develop the skills to access and utilize technology as a tool to empower teaching and learning.
• Develop a solid understanding of the utilization of formative and summative assessment for program design, monitoring student progress and evaluating teaching effectiveness.
• Work with colleagues to observe, analyze and provide feedback on student progress and teaching effectiveness.
• Utilize research methods and materials, pedagogies and assessment strategies to teach for understanding and application specific to content area.

Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures

The University of New Hampshire offers a number of academic programs designed to lead to professional licensure or certification in New Hampshire. However,  completing a UNH degree/program does not guarantee professional licensure or certification. Eligibility may also depend on factors like years of work experience, professional examinations, passing a background check, and other criteria.

UNH does not guarantee that its professional licensure programs will satisfy the criteria of professional licensure boards in other states. Some states maintain different requirements for professional licensure or certification and requirements can change frequently. Federal regulations require the University to make public disclosure of certain information regarding professional licensure or certification programs, regardless of the modality the program is offered (i.e., in-person or online). The University provides guidance below but recommends students contact their state/territory licensing or certification board to ensure a program meets specific state/territory requirements.

Visit the Office of the Registrar's website for information about whether this program meets professional licensure requirements in your state.