Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education Professional Education Sequence

70 semester hours

In this teacher certification program, candidates pursue an endorsement in early childhood education/early childhood special education (P-3) and elementary education (K-8) while earning a B.A.E. degree. Endorsements are awarded upon successful completion of coursework, Internship II (student teaching) experience and a passing edTPA score.

Entering candidates who have an Early Childhood Education AA-DTA degree or equivalent from an accredited institution could be awarded up to 6 semester hours of the ECE/ECSE endorsement program based on transcript review and earning a 3.00 grade point average in early childhood coursework taken during the candidate’s first term at PLU.

Students are encouraged to take the following courses prior to admission to the program:

  • MATH 123 or equivalent – required prior to admission
  • MATH 124 or equivalent – required by the end of Semester II
  • KINS 322 or equivalent
  • Life Science
  • Physical Science

These courses, plus MUSI 341, must be completed prior to program completion.

First Year: Semester I (Fall)
13 semester hours

  • EDUC 320: Issues of Child Abuse and Neglect (1)
  • EDUC 330: Professional Practice I (0)
  • EDUC 331: Building Professional Learning Communities (2)
  • EDUC 332: Communities, Schools, and Students (2)
  • EDUC 333: Instructional and Classroom Management Systems (4)
  • EDUC 334: Foundations of Educational Measurement (2)
  • SPED 335: Educational Assessment & Evaluation (2)

First Year: J-Term I
5 semester hours

  • SPED 450: Early Childhood Special Education (2)
  • EDUC 417: Early Childhood Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, and Progress Monitoring (3)

First Year: Semester II (Spring)
17 semester hours

  • EDUC 370: Professional Practice II (0)
  • EDUC 371: Developing Professional Learning Communities (2)
  • EDUC 372: Literacy, Language, and Assessment (4)
  • EDUC 373: Mathematics, Science, and Assessment (4)
  • EDUC 374: Management and Student Engagement (2)
  • EDUC 375: Technology Integration (2)
  • SPED 376: Instructional Methodologies for Inclusive Classrooms (3)

Second Year: Semester III (Fall)
13 semester hours

  • EDUC 402: Internship I (0)
  • EDUC 403: Building Professional Learning Communities (2)
  • EDUC 404: The Integration of Literacy in Social Studies (3)
  • EDUC 405: Art Methods (2)
  • EDUC 407: Writing Across the Curriculum (2)
  • SPED 404: Collaboration, Team Building, and Supervision (2)
  • SPED 431: Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (2)

Second Year: J-Term II
5 semester hours

  • EDUC 416: Assessment in Early Childhood (2)
  • EDUC 419: Child Guidance and Positive Behavior Support (3)

Passing scores on the WEST-E or NES endorsement tests for elementary education, early childhood education and early childhood special education must be received before a student can start in Semester IV. One of these tests may be taken for the first time before Semester III.

Second Year: Semester IV (Spring)
17 semester hours

  • EDUC 450: Seminar – SR (2)
  • EDUC 455: Internship II (13)
  • EDUC 460: Professional Learning Communities (2)