Early Childhood Education, B.S.

Program Code: 7000

The Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education at St. Johns River State College is designed as an initial teacher preparation program in compliance with Florida Statutes and State Board of Education Rule 6A-5.066. The program’s goal is to prepare early childhood educators for employment in preschool, prekindergarten, and early elementary (grades prekindergarten through three) classrooms. Graduates will be eligible to obtain Florida Department of Education certification in the area of prekindergarten/primary education (ages 3 to grade 3). The program meets the requirements of both the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Reading endorsements.

The curriculum for the Early Childhood Education degree includes coursework in the foundations of education, ESOL, reading education, and early childhood education, in addition to multiple opportunities for student field experience in Pre-K-3 classrooms. Students will explore topics related to the education of young children including literacy, classroom management, teaching methods, diversity, cognition, creativity, and technology throughout the program.

Program prerequisites will include an Associate in Arts degree and one teacher preparation courses, EDF 2005 - Introduction to the Teaching Profession . Once admitted to the degree program, participants will complete an additional 60 credit hours of upper division Early Childhood Education courses for a total degree length of 120 semester hours.

Note: Students enrolling in this program of study must be cleared by a school board background check before the end of the add-drop period.

For additional information, visit our website at SJRstate.edu/bachelors or call (386) 312-4242.

Optional (Recommended) Elective for Educators 

• EME 2040 Introduction to Technology for Educators  

Admission Requirements

1. Admission to SJR State
2. Submission of a completed application to the baccalaureate program
3. Submission of official transcript(s) indicating the course work taken and the degree(s) awarded
4. An earned Associate in Arts degree to include 36 general education credits and 24 elective credits
5. A minimum 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
6. A grade of “C” or higher for all general education credits fulfilling English, mathematics, and humanities requirements
7. Must attempt all four sections of the General Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations and have passed two sections. Priority will be given to applicants who have passed the entire test.
8. A grade of “C” or higher for EDF 2005 Introduction to the Teaching Profession , a required prerequisite course.

Post Admission Requirements

1. To be eligible for field experience placement, students must be fingerprinted and pass a criminal and professional background check.
2. Completion of all field experience requirements.
3. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 is required for internship.
4. The maintenance of a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 in order to progress toward a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.
5. Students must take all required Florida Teachers Certification Exams (FTCE), including the Subject Area Exam and the Professional Education Test, at least one time before beginning their final internship.
6. Students must pass all Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE), including the Subject Area Exam and the Professional Education Test, to receive a passing grade for EEC 4930 Senior Seminar . Students who do not pass all required FTCE exams, will be given an “I” as their final course grade in their internship.
7. Students receiving an “I” grade must pass all required Florida Teacher Certification Exams within one calendar year from the end of the term of their internship. If all exams are passed a grade change form will be completed by the internship instructor reflecting the grade earned in the internship and submitted to student services. The student will be eligible for graduation after the grade is recorded. If the required exams are not passed within the calendar year the “I” will convert to an “F”.