Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Science (526)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/ste
Program Coordinator
Janet L. Tassell, janet.tassell@wku.edu, (270) 745-5306
The major in interdisciplinary early childhood education requires 69-76 hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The major is designed to prepare early childhood educators to work with children, both with and without disabilities, ages birth through kindergarten, and their families. A grade of “C” or higher must be earned for all courses required for this major. No minor or second major is required. Students select either the teacher certification concentration (75 hours, which leads to initial certification for Birth-5 years) or the non-certification concentration (68 hours).
Graduates of the certification concentration are eligible to apply for certification in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE), Birth to Primary. Graduates of this concentration are prepared for preschool and kindergarten positions in public schools, early intervention programs (i.e., First Steps), Head Start programs, and other public and private agencies serving young children and families. Graduates of the non-certification concentration are prepared for preschool and kindergarten positions in private schools, Head Start programs, and other public and private agencies serving young children and families; or as a First Steps Service Coordinator.
The IECE program will prepare and engage learners:
- in current research and recommended practices in early childhood/early childhood special education (EC / ECSE) that emphasizes performance-based standards;
- as lifelong learners who actively engage in the learning process through coursework, field experiences, and research;
- to support and engage young children and families in a variety of settings through collaborative efforts with an array of professionals;
- with knowledge, skills, and dispositions in working with young children with and without disabilities, delays, or risks across all settings;
- to partner with families through family-centered approaches;
- in culturally and linguistically responsive practices that address the diverse needs of children and families through individual and community engagement; and
- in leadership opportunities and activities within the EC / ECSE field.
Concentrations
- Non-Teacher Certification (IECE)
- Teacher Education (TCHR)
Program Requirements (81-89 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
Both concentrations require the following courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| EDU 250 | Discover Teaching: Introduction to Teacher Education | 3 |
| PSY 310 | Educational Psychology: Development and Learning | 3 |
| EDU 260 | Classroom Assessment | 3 |
| EDU 350 | Student Diversity and Differentiation | 3 |
| EDU 360 | Behavior and Classroom Management in Education | 3 |
| IECE Major | ||
| CD 481 | Speech and Language Development | 3 |
| FACS 191 | Child Development | 3 |
| ELED 345 | Foundations of Elementary Teaching | 3 |
| LTCY 320 | Foundations of Teaching Literacy in the Elementary Grades | 3 |
| SPED 335 | Foundations of Special Education | 3 |
| IECE 321 | Family Supports and Services | 3 |
| IECE 322 | Planning Curriculum and Instruction for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| IECE 323 | Positive Behavioral Supports with Young Children | 3 |
| IECE 324 | Advanced Assessment of Young Children | 3 |
| IECE 326 | Integrating Mathematics and Science Across the Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| IECE 421 | Advanced Curriculum and Instruction for Infants and Toddlers | 4 |
| IECE 422 | Advanced Curriculum Development for Young Children | 5 |
| IECE 423 | Interdisciplinary Services for Young Children with Low Incidence Disabilities | 3 |
| Total Hours | 57 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Teacher Certification Concentration | ||
| IECE 490 | Student Teaching (Infants and Toddlers) - (Preschoolers) | 10 |
| EDU 489 | Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
| OR | ||
| Non-certification Concentration | ||
| IECE 491 | Practicum in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| IECE 489 | Practicum Seminar in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education | 1 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All IECE students pursuing teacher certification must complete either the TESOL Focus or Advanced IECE Focus. | ||
| TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Focus | ||
| ENG 302 | Language and Communication | 3 |
| ENG 407 | Linguistic Analysis | 3 |
| ENG 469 | 2nd Language Acquisition Theory | 3 |
| ENG 470 | Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | 3 |
| ENG 471 | Teaching English as a Second Language Practicum | 4 |
| ENG 408 | Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics | 3 |
| OR | ||
| Advanced IECE Focus -- choose FOUR of the following*: | ||
| ART 310 | Art Education in the Elementary School | 3 |
| MUS 314 | Comprehensive Arts Education for the Elementary Teacher | 3 |
| PE 354 | Physical Education for Elementary Schools | 3 |
| FACS 193 | Curriculum Development for Young Children | 3 |
| FACS 277 | Development in Middle Childhood | 3 |
| FACS 335 | Infant/Toddler Development and Curriculum | 3 |
| FACS 393 | Role of Play in Child Development | 3 |
| *Or advisor approved elective | ||
| All non-certification IECE students must choose SIX of the following: | ||
| ART 310 | Art Education in the Elementary School | 3 |
| MUS 314 | Comprehensive Arts Education for the Elementary Teacher | 3 |
| PE 354 | Physical Education for Elementary Schools | 3 |
| FACS 193 | Curriculum Development for Young Children | 3 |
| FACS 277 | Development in Middle Childhood | 3 |
| FACS 335 | Infant/Toddler Development and Curriculum | 3 |
| FACS 393 | Role of Play in Child Development | 3 |
| *Or advisor approved elective | ||
Therefore, students in the teacher certification concentration must take IECE 490 (Infant and Toddler) Student Teaching, IECE 490 (Preschool) Student Teaching, and EDU 489. Students must be admitted to professional education prior to enrollment in IECE 324, IECE 325, and IECE 326. Student teaching occurs during the final semester of the program. Students in the non-certification concentration must take IECE 491 and IECE 489.
Additional information about the IECE major, including any curriculum changes made since the printing of this catalog, can be found on the program web site in the School of Teacher Education, (http://www.wku.edu/ste).
Finish in Four Plans
Teacher Certification with Advanced IECE Focus
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDU 250 | 3 | EDU 260 | 3 |
| FACS 191 | 3 | PSY 310 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MATH 109 or MATH 116 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | Colonnade: Explorations (Natural & Physical Science w/lab) | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDU 350 | 3 | IECE 323 | 3 |
| EDU 360 | 3 | Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 193, FACS 277) | 3 |
| IECE 321 | 3 | Colonnade: Explorations (Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab) | 3 |
| IECE 322 | 3 | Colonnade: Explorations (Arts/Humanities) | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade: Explorations (Social and Behavioral) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ELED 345 | 3 | IECE 324 | 3 |
| LTCY 320 | 3 | IECE 326 | 3 |
| SPED 335 | 3 | Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 193, FACS 277) | 3 |
| CD 481 (or summer of second year) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Systems -- recommend ID 475) | 3 |
| Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 335, FACS 393) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global - recommend LME 448) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social and Cultural) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| IECE 421 | 4 | IECE 490 | 10 |
| IECE 422 | 5 | EDU 489 | 3 |
| IECE 423 | 3 | ||
| Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 335, FACS 393) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 121-122 | |||
Non-Teacher Certification with Advanced IECE Focus
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDU 250 | 3 | EDU 260 | 3 |
| FACS 191 | 3 | PSY 310 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MATH 109 or MATH 116 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | Colonnade: Explorations (Natural & Physical Science w/lab) | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDU 350 | 3 | IECE 323 | 3 |
| EDU 360 | 3 | Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 193, FACS 277) | 3 |
| IECE 321 | 3 | Colonnade: Explorations (Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab) | 3 |
| IECE 322 | 3 | Colonnade: Explorations (Arts & Humanities) | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | Colonnade: Explorations (Social & Behavioral) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ELED 345 | 3 | IECE 324 | 3 |
| LTCY 320 | 3 | IECE 326 | 3 |
| SPED 335 | 3 | Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 193, FACS 277) | 3 |
| CD 481 (or summer of second year) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Systems -- recommend ID 475) | 3 |
| Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 335, FACS 393) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global -- recommend LME 448) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| IECE 421 | 4 | IECE 489 | 1 |
| IECE 422 | 5 | IECE 491 | 5 |
| IECE 423 | 3 | Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 193, FACS 277) | 3 |
| Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 335, FACS 393) | 3 | Advanced IECE Focus Elective (ART 310, MUS 314, PE 354, FACS 193, FACS 277) | 3 |
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
All students pursuing IECE major must complete either the Advanced IECE focus or a TESOL minor.
Teacher Certification with Focus in TESOL
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDU 250 | 3 | EDU 260 | 3 |
| FACS 191 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | ENG 200 | 3 |
| MATH 109 or MATH 116 | 3 | ENG 302 or ENG 104 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science w/lab | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| EDU 350 | 3 | PSY 310 | 3 |
| EDU 360 | 3 | ELED 345 | 3 |
| ENG 407 | 3 | LTCY 320 | 3 |
| ENG 469 | 3 | SPED 335 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | ENG 470 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| IECE 321 | 3 | IECE 323 | 3 |
| IECE 322 | 3 | IECE 324 | 3 |
| CD 481 (or summer of second year) | 3 | IECE 326 | 3 |
| ENG 300 | 3 | ENG 408 | 3 |
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Systems -- recommend ID 475) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| IECE 421 | 4 | IECE 490 | 10 |
| IECE 422 | 5 | EDU 489 | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global - Recommend LME 448) | 3 | ENG 471 | 4 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Total Hours 125-126 | |||