Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024

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 (69-76 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:

Core Curriculum
EDU 250Discover Teaching: Introduction to Teacher Education3
PSY 310Educational Psychology: Development and Learning3
EDU 260Classroom Assessment3
EDU 350Student Diversity and Differentiation3
EDU 360Behavior and Classroom Management in Education3
IECE Major
FACS 191Child Development3
CD 481Speech and Language Development3
LTCY 320Foundations of Teaching Literacy in the Elementary Grades3
SPED 335Foundations of Special Education3
IECE 321Family Supports and Services3
IECE 322Planning Curriculum and Instruction for Diverse Learners3
IECE 323Positive Behavioral Supports with Young Children3
FACS 335Infant/Toddler Development and Curriculum3
IECE 324Advanced Assessment of Young Children3
IECE 326Integrating Mathematics and Science Across the Early Childhood Curriculum3
IECE 421Advanced Curriculum and Instruction for Infants and Toddlers4
IECE 422Advanced Curriculum Development for Young Children5
IECE 423Interdisciplinary Services for Young Children with Low Incidence Disabilities3
Total Hours57
Select one of the following:
Teacher Certification Concentration
IECE 490Student Teaching (Infants and Toddlers) - (Preschoolers)10
EDU 489Student Teaching Seminar2
OR
Non-certification Concentration
IECE 491Practicum in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education5
IECE 489Practicum Seminar in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education1
All students pursuing IECE major must complete either the TESOL Focus or Advanced IECE Focus.
TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Focus
ENG 302Language and Communication3
ENG 407Linguistic Analysis3
ENG 4692nd Language Acquisition Theory3
ENG 470Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language3
ENG 471Teaching English as a Second Language Practicum4
ENG 408Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics3
OR
Advanced IECE Focus*
FACS 393Role of Play in Child Development3
FACS 193Curriculum Development for Young Children3
ELED 345Foundations of Elementary Teaching3
IECE Teacher Certification Concentration choose ONE of the following*:
ART 310Art Education in the Elementary School3
MUS 314Comprehensive Arts Education for the Elementary Teacher3
PE 354Physical Education for Elementary Schools3
*Or advisor approved elective
IECE Non-Certification Concentration must take ALL of the following*:
ART 310Art Education in the Elementary School3
MUS 314Comprehensive Arts Education for the Elementary Teacher3
PE 354Physical Education for Elementary Schools3
*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
FallHoursSpringHours
EDU 2503EDU 2603
FACS 1913PSY 3103
ENG 1003ENG 2003
MATH 109 or MATH 1163COMM 1453
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Colonnade: Explorations (Natural & Physical Science w/lab)3-4
 15 15-16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
EDU 3503IECE 3233
EDU 3603FACS 1933
IECE 3213Colonnade: Explorations (Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab)3
IECE 3223Colonnade: Explorations (Arts/Humanities)3
ENG 3003Colonnade: Explorations (Social and Behavioral)3
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ELED 3453IECE 3243
LTCY 3203IECE 3263
SPED 3353ART 310, MUS 314, or PE 3543
FACS 3933Colonnade: Connections (Systems -- recommend ID 475)3
CD 481 (or summer of second year)3Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global - recommend LME 448)3
 Colonnade: Connections (Social and Cultural)3
 15 18
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
IECE 4214IECE 49010
IECE 4225EDU 4892
IECE 4233 
FACS 3353 
 15 12
Total Hours 120-121

Non-Teacher Certification with Advanced IECE Focus

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
FACS 1913EDU 2503
ENG 1003ENG 2003
MATH 109 or MATH 1163FACS 1933
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science w/lab3-4
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3COMM 1453
 15 15-16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
EDU 3503EDU 2603
ENG 3003PSY 3103
FACS 3933ART 3103
EDU 3603LTCY 3203
IECE 4233SPED 3353
FACS 3353ELED 3453
 18 18
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CD 481 (or summer of second year)3IECE 3243
IECE 3213IECE 3263
IECE 3223IECE 3233
HIST 101 or HIST 1023ENG 3003
Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) 
 12 12
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
IECE 4214IECE 4891
IECE 4225IECE 4915
Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global)3MUS 3143
Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3PE 3543
 15 12
Total Hours 117-118

All students pursuing IECE major must complete either the Advanced IECE focus or a TESOL minor.

Teacher Certification with Focus in TESOL

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003COMM 1453
MATH 109 or MATH 1163EDU 2603
EDU 2503ENG 2003
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science w/lab3-4
FACS 1913ENG 302 or ENG 1043
 15 15-16
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
EDU 3503ENG 4703
EDU 3603PSY 3103
ENG 4073LTCY 3203
ENG 4693SPED 3353
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab3
FACS 3353 
 18 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3
IECE 3213IECE 3243
IECE 3223IECE 3263
ENG 3003IECE 3233
CD 481 (or summer of second year)3ENG 4083
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
IECE 4214IECE 49010
IECE 4225EDU 4892
Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) - Recommend LME 4483ENG 4714
Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3 
 15 16
Total Hours 124-125

Non-Teacher Certification with Focus in TESOL

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
ENG 1003COMM 1453 
MATH 109 or MATH 1163EDU 2603 
EDU 2503ENG 2003 
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science w/lab3-4 
FACS 1913ENG 302 or ENG 1043 
 15 15-16 
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
EDU 3503PSY 3103 
EDU 3603LTCY 3203 
ENG 4073SPED 3353 
ENG 4693ENG 4703 
Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/o lab3 
FACS 3353  
 18 15 
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Colonnade: Connections (Systems)3IECE 4233
IECE 3213IECE 3243 
IECE 3223IECE 3263 
ENG 3003IECE 3233 
CD 481 (or summer of second year)3ENG 4083 
 15 15 3
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
IECE 4214IECE 49010 
IECE 4225EDU 4892 
Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) - Recommend LME 4483ENG 4714 
Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural)3  
 15 16 
Total Hours 127-128