2007-2008 Undergraduate Academic Catalog - Plymouth State ...

EducationRecommended Course SequenceCheck all course descriptions for prerequisites before planningcourse schedule. Courses required for the Option are shown inboldface. Course sequence is suggested but not required.Year OneCreditsEN 1200 composition 3IS 1111 the First Year Seminar:critical Thinking and the Nature of Inquiry 3MA 2110 mathematics in Our World I (MATH) 4ER 2000 introduction to the Early Childhood Profession(WRCO) 3ER 2200 the Constructivist Approach in Early Careand Education 3ER 2300 Young Children’s Learning and Developmentin Context 3CTDI creative Thought Directions 6PPDI Past and Present Directions 631Year TwoCreditsER 2800 Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculumand Instruction 6ER 3200 assessment in Early Childhood (QRCO) 3ER 3300 culturally Responsive Early Care andeducation (DICO) 3ERSE 2500 Supporting Young Children with Exceptionallearning Needs 3RL 2500 language and Literacy Development inYoung Children 3SIDI Scientific Inquiry Directions 6–8SSDI Self and Society Directions 6elective 2–032Year ThreeCreditsER 3400 The Project Approach 6ER 3550 Early Childhood Practicum 3ERSE 3600 Infant and Toddler Care and Education 4GACO global Awareness Connection 3WECO Wellness Connection 3electives 1029Year FourCreditsER 4200 Senior Seminar: Perspectives on Earlychildhood (INCO) 3ER 4300 Leadership, Advocacy and Policy in EarlyChildhood (TECO) 3ER 4600 Special Topics in Early Childhood 3electives 2130Total 122Early Childhood Special Education OptionCorequisite: Teacher Certification (K–3) OptionThe Early Childhood Special Education Option prepares TeacherCertification (K–3) candidates to support the development of allyoung children, including those with disabilities, ages birththrough eight, within inclusive, natural care, and educationenvironments. These environments include children’s homes,child care settings, preschool programs, and primary gradeclassrooms (K–3). Through coursework and field experiences,candidates will be prepared to fulfill the role of inclusive earlychildhood educators and will acquire the knowledge and skillbase of a beginning early childhood special educator.Candidates take a combination of core early childhood, teachercertification, and early childhood special education courses.Core early childhood courses introduce the foundationalcontent knowledge that informs developmentally, individually,and culturally responsive practice in early childhood education.Teacher certification courses engage candidates in acquiringthe pedagogical and curricular knowledge needed to promotethe learning of all children in primary grade classrooms. Earlychildhood special education courses focus on and developcandidates’ knowledge and competence in diagnostic evaluationand specific contextual practice knowledge vital to a beginningearly childhood special educator in early intervention, inclusivepreschool programs, and primary grade classrooms. Emphasisis placed on candidates’ knowledge and application of familycenteredpractice. Candidates will develop abilities to participateon planning teams that identify, implement, and assess specialeducation strategies designed to support the learning anddevelopment of young children with disabilities within theabove-mentioned settings.The Early Childhood Special Education Option provides fieldexperiences within early intervention, inclusive preschool andprimary grade settings. Students demonstrate competenciesdeveloped in this option within a culminating student teachingexperience in an inclusive primary-grade classroom.This Option is only available to candidates who have beenaccepted into the Teacher Certification Option. Candidates whocomplete both the Teacher Certification Option and the EarlyChildhood Special Education Option fulfill the requirementsnecessary for both early childhood education certification andgeneral special education certification birth to age eight inthe state of New Hampshire. Program approval by the NewHampshire State Department of Education is pending.126 Plymouth State University Academic Catalog 2007–2008