Departments: Family and Consumer Sciences, Special Education and Literacy Studies and Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies
Major: Early Childhood Education: Birth through Third Grade
The program prepares educators for work in a variety of early care and classroom settings serving infants through children in third grade. Following completion of the curriculum, graduates can be eligible for credentialing as early childhood general/early childhood special education (B-K) and early elementary (PK-3) teachers under MDE regulations. The major integrates courses focused on child development, diverse family and community relationships, early childhood general education and special education, and content area knowledge and pedagogy. It prepares educators to teach and work with young learners and their families, to meet the socio-emotional needs of the whole child, and to implement developmentally appropriate practices in response to both typical and atypical development. Preparation for work with young children, their families, and the direct and ancillary services dedicated to them, is most effective when informed by the multi-dimensionality of early growth and development. Study in the Early Childhood Unified Education: Birth to Third Grade (catalog years 2022 and 2023) or the Early Childhood General and Special Education and Lower Elementary Education: Birth through Third Grade (B-3) (catalog years 2024 to present) at Western Michigan University features an interdisciplinary structure that anchors professional learning and experience within the disciplines and best practices of early childhood education, family science, literacy studies and special education.
Students interested in teaching Birth through Kindergarten, please see Early Childhood Education: Birth through Kindergarten.
Program Information
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATIONS
PROGRAM GUIDES
- Catalog years 2024 to present (for catalog years 2024 to present, the major is called Early Childhood General and Special Education and Lower Elementary Education: Birth through Grade 3)
- Catalog years 2022 and 2023 (for catalog years 2022 and 2023, the major is called Early Childhood Unified Education: Birth through Third Grade)