2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    May 02, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Early Childhood Education - Online Completion (+2 BS.ECE)


Program Description

Vermont State University’s (VTSU) Early Childhood Education Online Program is a degree completion program for students with an Associate degree. Students who have completed the Community College of Vermont’s Early Childhood Education program will have the easiest transition into VTSU’s Early Childhood Education program. Graduates will earn a Bacholor’s of Science degree and a Recommendation for Licensure with an Endorsement in Early Childhood Education (Birth to Age 5). In this ROPA approved program, students are endorsed through accelerated online coursework and field-based experiences.  

Students in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program gain both an understanding of the discipline of education and a practical application of effective professional practices. Informed by the Vermont Core Teaching Standards, Vermont Early Learning Standards, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, each course explores developmentally appropriate practices and techniques for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The ECE Online program scaffolds learning around classroom management, ethics, and assessment. Advanced courses focus on early numeracy, literacy, and science concepts connecting theory to practice in early childhood learning environments using Understanding by Design and Universal Design for Learning frameworks. Student practicums and student teaching requirements are met through coursework in work placements when possible. Requirements for the Vermont Licensure Portfolio are embedded in our ECE Online course sequence within five semesters.  

The need for licensed ECE educators is high throughout Vermont, and this program is designed to enable students to complete a Bachelor’s degree with recommendation for licensure while continuing to work full time.  A GPA of 3.0 is required for licensure.

The following requirements must be met in order to enter VTSU’s Early Childhood Education program:

  • Students must transfer 60 credits and should have the majority of the VTSU general education requirements completed.
  • Students must successfully complete EDU 1030 -  Introduction to Early Childhood Education (or equivalent).
  • Students must have a GPA above 3.0 and bring 4000 hours of experience working with young children.

Program Outcomes

  1. The use of academic study in the formation of content-specific professional knowledge, 

  2. The use of practitioner inquiry to design effective pedagogical strategies, 

  3. The use of critical theory to confidently serve as a progressive colleague and advocate, and 

  4. The use of transformative reflection in pursuit of continuous personal growth. 

Program Electives


Take at least 42 credits not already in the core from at least five of the following disciplines (9 of which must be at the 3000/4000 level): ANT, ARH, ART, ATM, BIO, CHE, CIS, ECO, EDU, ENG, ENV, FLM, GEO, GEY, HIS, HUM, MAT, MUS, PHI, PHY, POS, PSY, SCI, SOC, or THA.

Important


To obtain a degree, students must fulfill the major-specific requirements as well as satisfy all other Degree Requirements  including the General Education Requirements .