BA Pre K/ Primary Education

Bachelor of Arts in Education (BA)

Major in Pre-Kindergarten/Primary Education

130 Credits

Offered at the Metro Orlando and South Florida Branch Campuses

Program Description:

This program is designed to prepare students to become effective bilingual early childhood/primary education teachers who are capable of delivering quality instruction in a variety of settings to diverse student population for grades pre K-3. Students in this program are prepared to teach in diverse and inclusive environments, in public schools, which serve children from pre-K to grade 3. The program includes instruction in the subject matter content standards specified by the Education Standards Commission and the Educator Accomplished Practices to meet State Requirements. Program graduates are required to demonstrate the Educator Accomplished Practices and Subject Area Competencies by passing all state certification exams.

The program integrates a clinical field experience project in the main focus of each education course. Students are required to demonstrate mastery of the clinical experience in a school setting. The curriculum integrates instructional practices in understanding the reading process, beginning reading and instruction, assessment, problem identification, and prescription and teaching reading across the content areas for primary and intermediate grades. It also integrates instructional requirements in the state in the areas of classroom management, school safety, professional ethics, and educational law.

Students develop application skills to evaluate understanding of the content measured to meet state achievement tests, reading, interpretation data, and using data to improve student achievement.

Child-centered, culturally, and socially sensitive practices are emphasized throughout the program. Implementation of multiple methods of instruction will be used to accommodate a variety of learners, recognizing the context of understanding children's development and learning in context. The program Bachelor of Arts in Education: Major in Pre-Kindergarten/Primary Education emphasizes collaboration with the community and other professionals involved in the development of young children. Students in this program participate in field experiences, which serve as an effective method in which theories about early development, learning and curriculum in the early childhood setting are applied. The practicum in teaching lasts 12 weeks providing students with field experiences to demonstrate mastery of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices in a school setting during the regular school year. Students must be aware that the internship is performed during a regular school day schedule. The internship experience is in English only. Students must demonstrate English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The student must refer to the Internship Handbook available from the Academic Director for specific requirements and procedures.

The program is premised on the belief that students develop knowledge through exploration and constructivist pedagogy. Upon completion of this program students will be able to work in an educational setting that meets the needs of young children. The program emphasizes literacy as the foremost groundwork necessary to develop phonological awareness with specific activities, lessons, and alternative assessment. It extends to other systems that include writing, art, mathematics, music, and others. All of the areas are supported by theory, research, and experience. The program enables students to acquire competence in these areas and the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to nurture growth and development in all young children.

In addition to the General Education courses, every student in the program must complete professional and major courses in the following areas:

1. Child growth and development
2. Historical, philosophical, and sociological perspectives in early childhood education
3. The exceptional child
4. Issues in family and community involvement
5. Health, nutrition and safety
6. Curriculum development
7. Observation, planning and evaluation
8. Creative expression of children
9. Development of language and literacy
10. Cultural and family systems
11. Classroom management
12. ESOL

Courses and experiences include instruction, observation, and practice and competency demonstration in the following state mandated areas:

• Instructional strategies that address various learning styles, exceptionalities, and achievement levels.
• Assessment of student learning
• Appropriate use of technology in instruction and record keeping.
• Teaching strategies for the instruction of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students which meet the requirements set forth in the ESOL Consent Decree of 1990 for instructional personnel who teach LEP students in Florida.

To be fully certified in the State of Florida, all education students must achieve a passing score on the professional knowledge and subject area tests, as appropriate. Students must also demonstrate proficiency of the Educator Accomplished Practices at the professional level.

Program Objectives:

• Understand the importance of the social, personal, and academic mission of early childhood education.
• Develop and form effective teachers with high quality standards in early childhood education.
• Guide graduates to implement, modify, and integrate early childhood education curricula.
• Analyze social, psychological, and philosophical aspect of the early childhood foundations of education.
• Apply a variety of educational strategies and techniques to effectively develop cognitive and fine motor skills in young children.
• Expose the graduates to a variety of educational field experiences in a public school that will help them to develop the skills, attitudes, and abilities in order to become early childhood educators.
• Incorporate technological innovations to enrich the student’s learning and the young children whom they are going to be assisting.

Education Program Internship Requirements:

All students seeking an education degree must achieve a passing score on the Florida State Teacher Exam (Basic General Knowledge Test) before initiating the internship experience at a public school setting. The student must provide evidence of the passing score on the Florida State Teacher Exam as part of the course passing grade of the last internship seminar course. If a student does not pass the required Florida State Exam, he/she will have to repeat the course. Additionally, before seeking a teaching position, graduates must comply with all Florida State Certification requirements.