Degree Earned
Bachelor of Science: Early Childhood Education

K-3 Option

This NCATE-certified program deals with the development of young children, from birth to age eight, and their families. It features four years of intense, hands-on experience, with students working side-by-side with faculty and supervising teachers as they apply theory to practice. Students draw on specialized campus resources such as the Early Childhood Curriculum Lab, the Children's Literature Book Room, the Assistive Technology Center, the UMF Nursery School, the UMF Infant Toddler Program, and the Sweatt-Winter Community Child Care Center. UMF works closely with several nearby agencies that provide real-world experience for first-year students as well as seniors. Graduates are prepared for positions in infant-toddler, Early Head Start and pre-school programs. Students who complete this program will earn a kindergarten through grade three certification, which allows them to teach in the public school systems.

Learning Goals and Outcomes

To enroll in professional education courses at the 200-level or above, students must pass two out of three parts of the Praxis I tests and ECE 125 with a grade of C- or higher.

Praxis I
Pre-Professional Skills Tests (PPST) are standardized tests of basic skills required by the State of Maine for teacher certification.  The PPST consists of three parts (reading, writing, mathematics) and may be taken in either paper and pencil or computerized form.  The paper and pencil PPST may be taken at UMF on specified days; the computerized PPST may be taken at commercial testing centers at any time by appointment.  Students must pass at least two out of three parts of Praxis I in order to enroll in education courses at the 200-level or above.  Students must pass all three parts of Praxis I in order to achieve Professional Standing in Education (see below).

Professional Standing in Education
Students must submit an application for Professional Standing in Education (PSE) once they have met the criteria listed below. The form is available in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education.  Students who apply and fail to meet the required standards of PSE will not be eligible to enroll in 300- and 400-level professional education courses until all standards have been met.

To be eligible for Professional Standing, students must meet the following criteria:
1)  complete a minimum of 38 credits;
2)  pass all sections of the Praxis I;
3) pass ENG 100 with a grade of C or higher;
4) pass ECE 192 and ECE 293 with grades of B- or higher; and
5) pass EDU 202; and
6) earn an accumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Student Teaching
Prior to beginning student teaching, students must meet these additional criteria:
1) completion of all required professional education courses through the 300-level
 with a grade of C- or higher;
2) completion of all required psychology courses through the 300-level with a   grade of C- or higher; and
3) achieving an accumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.

Graduation
Students must have grades of C- or higher in their professional education and psychology courses while attaining an accumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to graduate.