Early Childhood Education (P-Grade 3) Certification Requirements
The Early Childhood certification program is 21 credit hours and consists of four initial courses, followed by a seminar and internship. The program is organized in a developmental sequence with initial courses providing a foundation for later courses.
GLTP-500: Conceptual Frameworks for Teaching and Learning (3 credits)
This course provides psychological and interdisciplinary perspectives on teaching and learning. Within the theme of optimal development of creative intelligence, students use these perspectives to guide their reflective professional development throughout their program. The course develops knowledge, skills, and dispositions pertinent to (a) child and adolescent development, (b) learning theories, (c) philosophical and historical perspectives on education, (d) sociocontextual and interdisciplinary influences on education, and (e) higher-order creative and critical thinking.
ECED-507: Emergent Literacy P–3 (3 credits)
Examines perspectives on literacy acquisition including the social-constructivist perspective. Examines the processes of comprehension and composition through the language systems for written language: the grapho-phonic, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic. Explores the components of these processes including concepts of print, knowledge of the alphabet, phonological awareness, language play, literary genres, spelling development, vocabulary development, and word recognition.
ECED-532: Issues and Challenges in Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
This course addresses the role of parents of young children within the context of school, home and society, as well as the influence of culture, traditions and current issues in early childhood education. Students will explore the efficacy of parenting techniques and behaviors on child development in the early years, including cognitive growth, emotional and social well-being and physical health. Students will investigate strategies for fostering home-school partnerships that enhance child development and educational success, as well as the influence of community, culture and socio-economic status on families and schools throughout our world. In addition, this course addresses current issues and challenges in the early childhood profession including inclusion of children with special needs, advocacy for quality care and education for all young children, and any other subject that might arise -- either from the lives of children and families, teachers' professional development, or community agencies.
ECED-550: Developmental Methods and Assessment in Early Childhood Education (3 credits)
The focus of this course is developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive curriculum and teaching in P-3 settings as delineated in the guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Students will learn how to make curriculum and teaching decisions based on knowledge of child development, content area, curriculum content standards, and home and community cultures. In order to meet the ever-changing needs, interests, and growing strengths of individual children, careful observation and assessment provides teachers with information on which to base adjustments of teaching plans. This course will provide opportunities to deepen understanding of child development; gain an appreciation for the professional responsibility of ongoing assessment of children; and, develop the necessary skills to gather, record, and interpret information in a deliberate and reflective manner.
GLTP-570: Seminar and Internship in Teaching (9 credits)
This course, designed for those seeking initial certification, requires full-time supervised daily participation in a school setting. The student gradually assumes a full load of teaching responsibility at the school. The experience will test the translation of educational theory into meaningful practice. A student-teaching fee is charged for this course.
Completion Requirements
- Completion of all courses before internship with a 3.0 grade point average.
- Completion of GLTP-570 with a C+ grade or better.
- Completion of a teaching portfolio.
Please see the Academic Catalogs for more information, including course descriptions.
Disclaimer: This information is taken from a recent published version of a Rider University academic catalog or manual, though not necessarily the most recent. Please be aware that, while the University makes reasonable efforts to keep website material current and correct, this information is subject to the University's academic policy committees, relevant accreditation organizations, and (in some instances) state and federal laws and regulations. For this and other reasons it may be subject to change at any time without notice and without being immediately reflected on the website.
