Early Childhood Development, BS
TRANSFER STUDENT GUIDE
Learn. Enrich. Inspire.
The W's Early Childhood Development degree program is designed to train entry-level early childhood education leaders. The curriculum aligns with National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards and is designed to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age eight, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research with quality instruction. Alongside top-notch classes, our program includes Residency courses to give our students more classroom experience than any other program in the state.
Suggested Course of Study for Transfer Students
Pathways
Transfer students participating in Pathways programs at certain community colleges may have a slightly different recommended course of study:
Learn more about the Validation Credit for students transferring to The W with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and technical credits. Validation Credit for Technical Credits
Take Your Credits to The W
Entering transfer students may bring in up to 90 credit hours of coursework toward a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development.
Junior Year
MUW Semester 1
Block 1
| ED 306 Intro to Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| ED 307 Children's Literature in Pre-K through Grade 3 | 3 |
| ED 311 Elementary Residency I | 3 |
| ED 317 Behaviors in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ED 319 Early Childhood Language and Literacy | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
MUW Semester 2
Block 2
| ED 309 Mathematics in K-3 | 3 |
| ED 320 Developmentally Appropriate Materials and Methods in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ED 361 Early Literacy Instruction I* | 3 |
| ED 367 Elementary Residency II | 3 |
| PSY 360 Education Psychology | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
*Critical Pathway Course - Course requires a B or above
After completing Block 2 Education courses, students who have a 3.0 GPA on the most recent prior 60 credit hours OR who have earned a 21 or higher composite ACT score OR who have completed and passed the MDE Praxis Core exam may apply to become an Elementary Education major if interested.
Senior Year
MUW Semester 3
Block 3
| ED 435 Elementary Residency III | 3 |
| Additional Education elective courses with an ED prefix | 12 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
MUW Semester 4
Block 4
| ED 404 Teacher Internship | 9 |
| Additional Education elective courses with an ED prefix | 3 |
| TOTAL | 12 |
Notice Regarding Repeat Coursework
Please note: Each undergraduate education student may repeat an education course or core required course once. Students who do not achieve required minimum grades after two attempts beginning August 2020 will not qualify to continue in the respective program(s) depending upon each program’s minimum grade requirement. This restriction applies to all current and new undergraduate education students either in the Early Childhood Development Major, BS or the Elementary Education Major, BS.
Making College Affordable
It's not just a tagline. We honestly believe the cost of a college education should not be a deterrent to your pursuit of earning a college degree. We were founded on the belief everyone should be able to get a college education. Year after year, The W ranks as one of the Best Value Universities. The W has kept our tuition among the lowest in the South. We offer that same low tuition to residents of every state. Plus, we have a range of scholarships and grants to help you pay for your education.
Early Childhood Education, BS Curriculum
This information is presented for informational purposes. In the event of a discrepancy between this page and the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Bulletin should always be used.
General Education Curriculum
In keeping with The W's Mission, the General Education Program provides students with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to become independent, productive members of society in our continually changing world.
The W's General Education Program provides a foundation in the liberal arts that includes knowledge in the historical, literary, aesthetic, scientific, and cultural traditions that shape the world, and fosters skills that allow students to become civically responsible life-long learners ready to adapt to new challenges.
All students who complete the Mississippi University for Women general education program will demonstrate:
- Critical Thinking
- Effective Communication
- Cultural Literacy
- Quantitative & Technology Skills
- Understanding of Self, Global Societies, & the Natural World
- Life-Long Learning
Bachelor of Science Requirements
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree must complete the following courses in their academic program:
- 8 semester hours of Laboratory Science
- 3 semester hours of Mathematics MA 113 (or higher)
- 6 semester hours of Science and/or Mathematics
- 3 semester hours of additional mathematics above MA 113 or computer applications/programming course
A total of 20 hours is required, and students may not double count credit hours in the above categories.
Teacher Education Requirements
Teacher Education Majors are required to pass the following courses with a C or higher as part of their major and their General Education Curriculum.
- MA 113 - College Algebra or higher Math including MA 123 (3 semester hours)
- COM 101 - Oral Communication
- PSY 206 - Human Growth and Development
Required Major Courses (54 Semester Hours)
- ED 200 - Education as a Profession
- ED 297 - Instructional Technology I
- ED 302 - Art and Science of Teaching
- ED 304 - Principles of Early Childhood Learning
- ED 306 - Introduction to Exceptional Learners
- ED 307 - Children’s Literature in Pre-K Through Grade 3
- ED 309 - Mathematics in K-3
- ED 311 - Elementary Residency 1
- ED 317 - Behaviors in Early Childhood
- ED 319 - Early Childhood Language and Literacy
- ED 320 - Developmentally Appropriate Materials and Methods in Early Childhood Education
- ED 360 - Educational Psychology
- ED 361 - Early Literacy Instruction I
- ED 367 - Elementary Residency 2
- ED 404 - Teacher Internship: Early Childhood
- ED 435 - Elementary Residency 3
Education Elective Courses (Minimum 3 Semester Hours Required)
(Minimum grade of C or above)
- ED 294 - Media Literacy Education
- ED 362 - Early Literacy Instruction II
- ED 365 - Content Area Reading
- ED 390 - Classroom Management
- ED 404 - Teacher Internship: Early Childhood (course may be repeated for additional 9 credit hours)
- ED 466 - Reading Assessment and Intervention
Total Hours Required for a BS in Early Childhood Development: 120 Semester Hours
Notice Regarding Repeat Coursework
Please note: Each undergraduate education student may repeat an education course or core required course once. Students who do not achieve required minimum grades after two attempts beginning August 2020 will not qualify to continue in the respective program(s) depending upon each program’s minimum grade requirement. This restriction applies to all current and new undergraduate education students either in the Early Childhood Development Major, BS or the Elementary Education Major, BS.
Validation Credit
Transfer students from a Mississippi community college in a “Partnership Pathways” agreement with MUW’s School of Education who have earned an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in early childhood prior to being admitted to MUW may request to have specific community college technical courses considered for validation credit. Validation credit of competencies developed through community college technical coursework will be awarded to each student on a case by case basis for demonstration of corresponding MUW academic competencies through pass/fail testing. Students must submit a request to take validation test(s) during their initial semester at MUW, however validation credit will not be awarded until the transferring student has successfully completed one academic semester as a full-time MUW student with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Qualified students may attempt to pass a validation examination once only. Qualified students interested in validation credit should contact the School of Education’s Navigator or the Education Department Chair for more information.
Re-Admission
Each undergraduate education student who has previously earned MUW education coursework beginning with the ED prefix more than five years older than the most current published MUW Undergraduate Bulletin will be required to (1) retake the course(s) or (2) as an exception for this purpose may take and must pass the validation credit test corresponding to the course in question, if a validation test is available, to receive credit. Qualified students may attempt to pass a validation examination once only. Qualified students interested to learn more about validation credit should contact the School of Education’s Navigator or the Education Department Chair for more information.