Early Childhood Education (Birth–Grade 3)

This specialization in Walden’s Minnesota state-approved* teacher preparation program offers an in-depth look at increasing positive child development from infancy through the primary grades. This program will help you create a solid foundation for these early learners.

Based on national and academic standards, this specialization was developed by leading educational experts and master teachers in order to build your teaching skills and help you make a significant impact on young children.

In this specialization, you will:

• Develop an in-depth understanding of cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development in order to build on young children’s individual strengths and respond to their unique challenges.
• Participate in virtual and supervised fieldwork to understand the factors that contribute to the development and learning in the lives of young children who range from infants and toddlers to those in the early elementary grades.
• Learn about the foundational theories of child development and early childhood education, including professional organizations and resources that can help you promote developmentally appropriate practices in your classroom.
• Understand the vital importance and complexities of working with diverse parents and families in order to build partnerships that will foster children’s healthy growth and development.
• Harness your passion for working with young children and translate it into developing effective teaching practices.
  

Completion Requirements

• 43 total semester credit hours
• ePortfolio

Estimated time to completion: 20 months, depending on individual progress and credits transferred. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call your enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
EDUC 6605	Teacher as Lifelong Learner and Professional Educator	3
EDUC 6606	Today's Classroom and the Diverse Learner	3
EDUC 6607	Effective Practices: Assessment, Teaching, and Learning	3
EDUC 6608	Classroom Management	3
EDUC 6611	Seminar: Professional, Ethics, Communication, and Collaboration: Early Childhood Education	1
EDUC 6681	Early Childhood Education: Past, Present, and Future	3
EDUC 6682	Teaching Reading, P–3	3
EDUC 6683	Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Infants and Toddlers	3
EDUC 6684	Play and Learning for the Preschool Child	3
EDUC 6685	Teaching Mathematics, P–3	3
EDUC 6686	Teaching Across the Content Areas, P–3	3
EDUC 6687	Demonstration Teaching: Early Childhood Education	6

Master of Arts in Teaching Courses

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
EDUC 6621	Educational Research: Foundations	3
EDUC 6622	Educational Research: Practical Applications	3

Course Descriptions

*Walden University’s teacher preparation program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching for licensure in Minnesota. Walden’s enrollment advisors can provide individuals with guidelines and other information about licensure. It remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with the out-of-state licensure requirements for the state in which he or she seeks to be licensed.