The Bachelor of Science in
Early Childhood Care and Education (0-5)

Admissions Documentation, Financial Support & Testing Info.

Directions for Applying to the Gainesville State College Teacher Education Program

Conceptual Framework:

Gainesville State College Teacher Education Preparation Unit's candidates are caring and reflective decision makers who are committed to maximizing all students' development as contributing citizens in a diverse and democratic society. They balance professional dispositions and content knowledge with pedagogical skills as they collaboratively interact with students, families, educators, and the community.

Admissions Requirements

Students who wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Care and Education must meet the following requirements.

• Complete all GSC general institutional admissions requirements
• Declare a major in Early Childhood Care and Education
• Must have a 2.5 GPA to enroll in the program
• Complete a minimum of 42 general education credits
• Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Complete Area F coursework
• Post a passing score on GACE I test or its equivalent
• Agree to request a criminal background check
• Supply three (3) letters of recommendation, including one from GSC instructor, if any any coursework was taken at GSC

LOWER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS

Transferable General Education Credits
(GSC Catalog 2006-2008, Semester Core Curriculum Area A-E, pp. 117-119)        42 hours
Major Core Credits (Area F)                                                                                      18 hours
Total Lower Division Credits                                                                                      60 hours

UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS

General Core Requirements of the Major (32 hours)
ECDV 3300    Child Psychology                                                                                  3 hours
ECDV 3400    Educational & Community Resources                                                   4 hours
ECDV 3500    Legal Issues in Childcare Settings                                                        4 hours
ECDV 3600    Infant and Toddler Development                                                           4 hours
ECDV 3700    Introduction to Special Education                                                          3 hours
ECDV 4100    Special Education for Early Childhood Educators                                 3 hours
ECDV 4700    Language Development & Emergent Literacy                                       3 hours
ECDV 4960    Practicum                                                                                               8 hours 

Concentration Requirements of the Major (28 hours)
Students will choose 28 hours

ECDV 4200    Child Observation, Record Keeping and Assessment                          4 hours
ECDV 3100    Constructive Guidance & Discipline                                                      4 hours
ECDV 3200    Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum                                              4 hours
ECDV 4400    Staff and Director Professional Development                                       4 hours
ECDV 4500    Facility Management                                                                              4 hours
ECDV 4600    Financial Management for Child Care Settings                                      4 hours
ECDV 3800    Current Issues in Social Services                                                         4 hours
ECDV 4300    Crisis Intervention                                                                                  4 hours
ECDV 3900    Family Systems and Relationship                                                          4 hours
SVLN 1502    Service Learning                                                                                2-4 hours                    

Total hours required to graduate: 120 (A grade C or better in all major classes is required for graduation.)

Completion Requirements

Students must meet the following requirements to receive the B.S. degree in Early Childhood Care and Education.

• Successfully complete all courses required in the degree program (minimum 120 semester credits), including the lower division associate degree requirements.
• Successfully complete a minimum of 42 general education credits according to the distribution established by the college (Areas A-E) for its associate of Science degree program.
• Successfully complete at least 60 credits of upper division coursework in the major (3000 and 4000 level courses with the ECDV prefix).
• Cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) required for graduation.
• Earn grades of “C” or higher required in major courses.
• Successfully complete the Regents Test.
• Complete at least 30 semester credit hours of major courses in residency at GSC.
• Meet all other college graduation policies

• Meet the Georgia Professional Standards Commission technology requirement.

Course Descriptions

ECDV 3100 Constructive Guidance and Discipline
Course Description: This course will include the theories and research that involve helping the young child develop autonomy which includes an ability to make conscious decisions concerning appropriate behavior.

ECDV 3200 Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum
Course Description: This course will focus on the methods of drawing from spontaneous play to promote learning for children ages 0-5. The student will earn how to make decisions about effective practices using the child’s individual developmental and cultural characteristics as a beginning point.

ECVD 3300 Child Psychology
Course Description: This course will provide an overview of child development from conception to middle childhood to include physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development.

ECDV 3400 Educational and Community Resources
Course Description: This course will familiarize students with key resources and agencies available to assist families. Developing partnerships among private and public sector organizations for the purposes of assessing and improving the health of communities will be investigated.

ECDV 3500 Legal Issues in Childcare Settings
Course Description: This course is an introduction to the legal implications of owning, operating, or working in a child care setting. This class will include a survey of how the legal environment influences practices in child care settings.

ECDV 3600 Infant and Toddler Development
Course Description: This course will provide a comprehensive review of infant and toddler theories and research to include their application to the educational setting.

ECDV 3700 Introduction to Special Education
this course provides the history of special education in the United States, and current legal requirements and issues for educating children with special needs.  Characteristics of individuals with special needs, ethnical consideration and cultural diversity, the importance of family involvement and the role of collaboration will be included.

ECDV 3800 Current Issues in Social Services
Course Description: This course will introduce the student to social problems and the social services . It will provide an overview of an integrative approach to social inquiry and social action which emphasizes intervention on individual, political and societal levels.

ECDV 3900 Family Systems, Relations and Partnerships
Course Description: This course will provide a broad, social scientific background in contemporary family life in the United States.

ECDV 4100 Special Education for Early Childhood Educators
This course provides information concerning typical and atypical child development and will emphasize methods for including children birth to five years old into typical environments. Methods for developmentally appropriate practice, family focused intervention, and assessment will be included.  Prerequisite: ECVD 3700

ECDV 4200 Child Observation, Record Keeping and Assessment
Course Description: This course is designed to teach theory, methods and practical ways of observing and assessing young children in their environments.

ECDV 4300 Crisis Intervention
Course Description: This course will discuss appropriate interventions, age appropriate referrals, and illustrate a variety of techniques for working with these children in an educational setting.

ECDV 4400 Staff and Director Professional Development
Course Description: This course will emphasize the role of leadership and the importance of program planning in the administration process.

ECDV 4500 Facility Management
Course Description: This course will provide the student with familiarity with the development and maintenance of a child care facility.

ECDV 4600 Financial Management for Child Care Settings
Course Description: This course will provide students with tools to make sound financial management decisions for child care programs. Areas of focus are start-up budgets, operating budgets, and how to afford to provide a high-quality program for young children.

ECDV 4700 Language Development and Emergent Literacy
Course Description: This course will allow the student to develop an appropriate, interesting, and developmentally stimulating language arts program.

ECDV 4960/ 4961/ 4962/ 4963 Practicum
Course Description: This course will allow students to experience professional practices in early childhood care and education settings.