Early Childhood Education, Special Education Teaching Concentration, BA

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The ECS Special Education Teaching program is offered by the Department of Early Childhood Studies in collaboration with the Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education in the School of Education. The mission of the Early Childhood Studies department is to prepare knowledgeable and caring professionals who are committed to contributing to a just society through high-quality education and social services for all children and families. The mission of the Education Specialist credential programs is the advancement of excellence within the special education profession. Combined, these two departments offer you a strong foundation in developmental principles and the specific skills you need to support students with disabilities in achieving their goals.

The Special Education Teaching Concentration enables students to earn a degree and begin the special education teaching credential at the same time. This concentration is an organized to meet subject matter waiver content for elementary and special education teaching credentials. Earning the full teaching credential will require 1-2 semesters of coursework after the BA is complete, including student teaching.

First year students should select the ECS pre-credential concentration and apply to the credential program in the 2nd year to begin credential courses in the third. Transfer students with an Associate Degree to Transfer (ADT) in Early Childhood Studies or Human Development should apply to the credential program as soon as they are admitted to the ECS major. All students must meet California statutory requirements for entering a special education teaching credential program that include maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA in credential courses and receiving a Certificate of Clearance to be allowed to participate in public TK-22 classrooms.

Program Learning Outcomes

Early Childhood-Precredential PLOs

SLO1. Students apply their understanding of child development theories and research to effectively promote child growth, health, and learning in ways that are equitable and socially just.

SLO2. Students analyze and reflect on components for building just and reciprocal family and community relationships in their work with children.

SLO3. Students practice ethical assessment that is developmentally appropriate, culturally sustaining, and linguistically responsive to support the positive growth and development of children; they communicate these findings effectively and professionally.

SLO4. Students observe, analyze, design, and reflect on developmentally appropriate and socially and environmentally just curricula and environments. These culturally and linguistically sustaining curricula and environments align with state early learning standards for children in programs serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and TK-22 students.

SLO5. Students exhibit the following knowledge, skills, and dispositions understanding and upholding ethical, equitable, and professional standards; engaging in continuous, collaborative learning to inform practice; accessing professional resources; integrating informed and critical perspectives into their work with children; and engaging in informed advocacy to promote anti-racist and just practices in programs that serve children and their families.

SLO6. Students observe and practice their developing skills in different kinds of educational settings.

SLO7. Students develop subject matter competence appropriate for a beginning teacher in the following disciplines: Human Development, Language Studies, Literature, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, History, Arts, and Physical Education.

Critical thinking & Writing:

In addition to the above SLO’s, students in the ECS Major are expected to meet the following learning objectives:

1. Produce writing that meets the ECS Standards for Critical and Thoughtful Writing.

2. Demonstrate intellectual rigor in all course assignments, utilizing the ECS Framework for Critical Reflection.

The Education Specialist Credential PLOs are the California Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs)

Candidates will:

TPE 1: Engage and Support All Students in Learning
TPE 2: Create and Maintain Effective Environments for Student Learning
TPE 3: Understand and Organize Subject Matter for Student Learning
TPE 4: Plan Instruction and Design Learning Experiences for All Students
TPE 5: Assess Student Learning
TPE 6: Continually develop as a Professional Educator

Degree Requirements

See the “Degree Requirements ” in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

General Education Requirements (48 units)

See the “General Education ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.

Early Childhood Studies Core (35 units)

EDEC 110 - Understanding Development: Birth through Adolescence Unit(s): 3
EDEC 178 - Introduction to ECS Major and Digital Portfolio Unit(s): 1
EDEC 201 - Foundations of Early Care and Education Unit(s): 4
EDEC 220 - Child Observation with Field Experience Unit(s): 4
EDEC 270 - Families and Children in Diverse Societies Unit(s): 4
EDEC 411 - Infant and Toddler Development Unit(s): 3
EDEC 435 - Leadership on Behalf of Children and Families Unit(s): 4
EDEC 450 - Empowerment and Equity for Children and Families Unit(s): 3
EDEC 460 - Introduction to Research in Early Childhood Studies Unit(s): 4
EDEC 478 - ECS Senior Portfolio Unit(s): 1
EDSP 432 - Young Children with Special Needs Unit(s): 4

Concentration

Required Courses (17 units)

EDSS 417 - School and Society Unit(s): 3
MATH 150 - Modern Geometry Unit(s): 3
MATH 300A - Elementary Number Systems Unit(s): 3
EDSP 421 - Foundations of Special Education Pedagogy Unit(s): 4
EDSP 426 - Language and Communication Development Unit(s): 4

Literature (3 units)

Choose one

EDEC 407 - Children’s Literature for Justice Unit(s): 3
CALS 450 - Chicano/Latino Children’s Literature Unit(s): 3-4

Science (3 units)

Choose one

BIOL 115 - Introduction to Biology Unit(s): 3
BIOL 315 - Plants and Society Unit(s): 3
GEOL 102 - Our Dynamic Earth: Introduction to Geology Unit(s): 3
GEOL 107 - Introduction to Earth Science Unit(s): 3
GEOL 110 - Natural Disasters Unit(s): 3
GEOL 302 - Climate Change Unit(s): 3
GEOL 305 - Geology of America’s National Parks Unit(s): 3
PHYS 107 - Introduction to Physical Science for Teachers Unit(s): 3
PHYS 342 - Light and Color Unit(s): 3

History (3 units)

Choose one

CALS 219 - The Latino Experience Unit(s): 3
HIST 201 - Foundations of World Civilization Unit(s): 3
HIST 242 - History of the Americas Since Independence Unit(s): 3
HIST 384 - Empires and Colonies Unit(s): 4
HIST 465 - History of African-American Thought and Culture Unit(s): 4
HIST 472 - California History I Unit(s): 4
HIST 473 - California History II Unit(s): 4
NAMS 165 - Native Cultures of Northern California Unit(s): 4

Arts (2-3 units)

Choose one

EDEC 452 - Visual Arts for Children Unit(s): 3
MUS 105 - Music Theory for Non-Majors Unit(s): 3
MUS 350 - Survey of World Music Unit(s): 3
MUS 400 - Music for the Classroom Unit(s): 2
THAR 101 - Making Theatre Unit(s): 3
THAR 125 - Intro to Acting Unit(s): 3
THAR 392 - Performing Arts for Children Unit(s): 2

Physical Education (2-3 units)

DANC 210 - Dance for Everybody Unit(s): 3
DANC 271 - Global Perspectives in Dance Unit(s): 3
KIN 400 - Elementary School Physical Education Unit(s): 3

Elective Courses

Elective Courses in the major may be filled with credential coursework to facilitate the blended nature of the major. These courses may be drawn from this list with help from a credential advisor:

EDSP 421B - Early Field Placement Unit(s): 1-2
EDSP 422 - Collaboration and Case Management in Special Education Unit(s): 4
EDSP 423 - Assessment of Students with Disabilities Unit(s): 3
EDSP 424 - Classroom Management & Positive Behavior Supports Unit(s): 4
EDSP 425 - Teaching Literacy in Special Education Unit(s): 4
EDSP 430 - Foundations of Special Education Unit(s): 3
EDSP 460 - Fieldwork Support and Assessment 1 Unit(s): 2
EDSP 460B - Pre-Student Teaching in Special Education Unit(s): 2
EDMS 474 - Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School Unit(s): 3-4

Units

Total GE units: 48
Total Major Core units: 35 (3 units also in GE)
Total Concentration units: 30 units (9 also units in GE)
University Electives units: 19 units

Total Units Required for Graduation: 120

Program Roadmaps

Early Childhood Education, Special Education Teaching Concentration, BA, Sample Four-Year Plan

Early Childhood Education, Special Education Teaching Concentration, BA, Sample Two-Year Plan