2023-2024
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
School of Education
Program description
The purpose of the B.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education and Teaching degree is to prepare undergraduate students for roles as teachers and daycare providers of infants, toddlers and young children in schools and community daycare/preschool settings. The program will focus on providing students with a solid foundation in child development, educational psychology and the role of the family and society in education. Students will be prepared to teach in diverse classroom settings through purposefully integrated fieldwork and internship experiences. The program will emphasize working with young learners in inclusive settings and the value of play in early childhood instructional environments. Students will develop skills to advocate for equitable learning opportunities for all children. Successful completion of the program will result in licensure for early elementary education (PK-3).
Career opportunities
Graduates typically work in public or private school systems, child care centers, and youth service organizations. Teaching in public schools requires licensure. Be sure to explore the certification requirements in the state you want to teach in as they can differ across states. Graduates can also find work with programs such as Richmond Teacher Residency, Americorps, America Reads or The Literacy Lab. Learn more and explore potential career pathways at https://www.teach.org/.
Change of major requirements
Submit the change of major form and email SOEAdvising@vcu.edu to schedule a change of major appointment to discuss your degree plan and requirements. Students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA in order to declare an Early Childhood Education & Teaching major.
Bachelor-level job titles
- Childcare Worker
- Elementary School Teacher
- Kindergarten Teacher
- Preschool or Child Care Center Director
- Preschool Teacher
- Recreation Worker
- Special Education Teacher
- Teacher Assistant
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- MATH 303 and MATH 361 and MATH 362
- STAT 206 or STAT 208 or STAT 210
Science required
- Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
- No
Additional tuition/fees
- Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- Advancement to Teacher Preparation requires 2.8 cumulative GPA and acceptance to Clinical Internship (Student Teaching) requires 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Transfer Maps
Contact information
Department name:
Department of Educational Leadership
Building/room location:
Oliver Hall Education
Phone:
(804) 828-8160
Email:
soeadvising@vcu.edu
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map
Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
- Map out a 4-year course plan in the DegreeWorks Student Educational Planner.
- Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to review your CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives.
- Sharpen your study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center.
- Become familiar with licensure exam tests criteria, costs, and passing score requirements.
- Complete the VCLA Exam and Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Module.
- Pass licensure exam #1: the Virginia Communications & Literacy Assessment (VCLA).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living learning community.
- Consider applying to the Honors College.
- Get involved, meet people, and develop your interests by joining one of VCU's 50 student clubs and organizations.
- If living on campus, connect with your Resident Assistant, attend hall events, and participate in Community Council.
- Participate in RAM CAMP to get a jump start on learning about VCU’s campus community.
- Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
- Use REAL’s Student Opportunity Center platform to take the hassle out of finding hands-on experiences and make your first-year extraordinary.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Check out the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and follow @vcuomsa.
- Connect with the Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs like the Peace Corps Prep Certificate.
- Join RAMmalogues to talk with peers about social identities in the context of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion in life at VCU.
- Review Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
- Visit a study abroad fair and complete Rams Abroad 101.
- Participate in the School of Education's Race, Ethnicity, & Education Teach-In.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
- Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
- Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
- Seek research opportunities by applying for research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
- Set up a profile in the Student Opportunity Center to explore REAL opportunities.
- Complete the VCLA Exam and Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Module.
- Review the prerequisite academic requirements (undergraduate) for teacher preparation.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
- Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
- Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers in your field of study.
- Join Students Today Alumni Tomorrow to connect with VCU traditions and alumni networking opportunities.
- Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
- Consider applying to a School of Education 4+1 and graduate pathway master’s-level program.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center.
- Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
- Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
- Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.
- Begin studying for Licensure Exam #2: Praxis Early Childhood Education (Test #5001).
- Complete Practicums 1 and 2 through the Teacher Preparation Program and Behavioral Intervention and Dyslexia Awareness modules.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
- If living on campus, join the Residence Hall Association.
- Learn about the Sophomore Year Experience in Cary & Belvedere.
- Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
- Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
- Explore peer leadership opportunities in Alternative Spring Break.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
- Explore social issues, develop cultural competency skills, and engage with faculty through iExcel pop-up courses.
- Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty.
- Make friends with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
- Connect with the Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs like the Peace Corps Prep Certificate, Cultural Conversations, English Practice Club, and/or Cultural Ambassadors program
- Participate in the School of Education's Race, Ethnicity, & Education Teach-In.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
- Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
- Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job.
- Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio.
- Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
- Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
- Apply to the Innovative Teacher Pipeline (ITP) Program.
- Volunteer with student organizations, non-profit organizations, or education facilities to build teaching and interpersonal skills and explore student populations and career trends of interest.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
- Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
- Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
- Meet with a coach in the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
- Apply to the Extended Teacher Preparation Program.
- Join a Professional Organization like SVEA, GRTCM, VCTM, RARC, VSRA, NSTA, VAST, NCSS, or VCSS.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
- See your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
- Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
- Complete Practicum 3 through the Teacher Preparation Program Pass Licensure Exam #2: Praxis Early Childhood Education (Test #5001) and Licensure Exam #3: Reading for VA Educators (Test #5306).
- Consider taking the Biology, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, and/or Technology Education Praxis exams to earn additional licensure endorsements.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
- Design a community-engaged research project.
- Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Fulbright Student Scholarship.
- Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
- Apply to the Teacher Preparation Program by preparing a personal statement, submitting passing VCLA scores, and other required materials.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
- Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
- Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
- Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume.
- Apply to be an OMSA diversity ambassador.
- Consider applying to the Multilingual Ambassadors Program (participation available dependent upon REAL Grant funding).
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
- Get expert advice from VCU Alumni ranging from graduate school to your career simply by asking a question through Ask A Ram.
- Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor.
- Develop career-related skills by pursuing part-time job opportunities in areas such as youth development, teaching assistant, after-school and tutoring programs, mentor programs, and camp counseling.
- Submit the Student Teaching Internship application and complete your 16-week long internship placements.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
- Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
- Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
- Develop career-related skills by pursuing part-time job opportunities in areas such as youth development, teaching assistant, after-school and tutoring programs, mentor programs, and camp counseling.
- Apply to the Innovative Teacher Pipeline, Mirror Me and/or Distinguished Fellows undergraduate teaching pathways program.
Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
- Earn CPR and First Aid licensure.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, Richmond Teacher Residency, or AmeriCorps.
- Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
- Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
- Master your answers to interview questions about your experience working with diverse populations.
- Plan for how you will grow your cultural agility after graduation.
- Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.
- Participate in the School of Education's Race, Ethnicity, & Education Teach-In.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Consider becoming an educator through programs like RTR, which prepare graduates from a variety of majors to become teachers in high-need schools.
- Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
- Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
- Join a professional organization related to your industry of interest and consider serving on a committee to build and practice career-related and leadership skills.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
- Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services.
- Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
- Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
- Collaborate with your advisor and the Clinical Placement & Licensure Coordinator to prepare your teaching licensure application.
- Submit your teaching licensure application.
2023-2024
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
School of Education
Concentration(s):
No concentration | No concentration | No concentration | Engineering Education | Early Childhood
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Excel | Year 4 |
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