Early Childhood Education Program Details

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) major provides a background for working with children in educational settings, such as preschool and childcare programs, elementary classrooms and out-of-school time programs. The early childhood education teaching profession involves educating young children to promote their cognitive, physical, emotional and social development.

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Degrees Offered
Student teacher and children in classroom.
Birth to Age Eight Specialization

This specialization prepares students to work with young children, birth through age eight and their families. Graduates are prepared to work in early childhood settings including Head Start, preschools, childcare centers, kindergarten and primary grade classrooms.

Curriculum

The program prepares students for the ever-changing needs of children and their families in the context of their communities. In addition to basic human growth and development courses, classes are taken in:

  • Family relations
  • Curriculum and assessment
  • Philosophy of early childhood education
  • Methods and techniques of working with children, families and communities

Students also gain teaching experience in early childhood settings, the Fishback Center for Early Childhood Education and elementary schools. Supporting courses are taken in educational foundations, early childhood special education, psychology, math, communications and key subject matter areas needed to prepare well-qualified educators.

Endorsements and Certifications

Students in the early childhood education major may choose to add endorsements to their teaching license.

Available endorsements:

  • Kindergarten endorsement (included in the B-8 plan of study)
  • Early childhood special education endorsement, birth – age five (included in the B-8 plan of study)
  • Coaching certifications (extra coursework required)
Teacher Certification Student Teaching Field Experience and Placement
Career Opportunities

A degree in early childhood education provides many fulfilling career opportunities for qualified individuals. Careers depend on the graduate’s area of specialization. 

Some career possibilities:

  • Teacher in a preschool or childcare center.
  • Teacher in an elementary school.
  • Director and/or owner of a childcare facility or preschool.
  • Residential care provider for young children.
  • Head Start teacher, program director or family advocate.
  • Early Head Start teacher or program director.
  • Parent educator.
  • Education director at a museum, zoo or park.

The degree also prepares student to go on to graduate school in areas such as early childhood education, child development and family studies, counseling, human resource development, psychology, school administration or a variety of other fields.

Mission and Vision
Mission

The Mission of the SDSU Early Childhood Education Team: Communication, Collaboration, Transformation

Vision
  • Our ECE team creates a safe environment where people are treated with respect.
  • Open dialogue and differing opinions are valued.
  • Honesty permeates our conversations.
  • In such a climate, we will share and draw on our collective expertise.
  • We can provide opportunities for trial runs of presentations and proposals, offering professional critiques of each other’s work.
  • We share resources, including a lending library of professional works.
  • We are aware of our colleagues’ professional activities.
  • This climate also allows for cohesiveness as we have a shared philosophy and a shared understanding of our ECE curriculum.
  • We play together!
  • Finally, we also reach out to create active and sustainable relationships for us and for our students with other universities, here and abroad.
Our Faculty and Instructors