Those who aspire to a career in early childhood education receive all the knowledge and firsthand experience they need to prepare for the job at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. They will learn to instill in students a foundation of academic habits and skills that last a lifetime.
The Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood – Elementary Education prepares graduates to work in K-6 classrooms and provides them a pathway to earn their teaching license in Wisconsin. They will also enjoy many opportunities to gain firsthand classroom experience starting their freshman year.
What You Learn in a BS in Early Childhood Program
The early childhood education program curriculum teaches students the best practices for modern elementary education. Students cover various topics related to engaging students and tailoring instruction to meet individual needs in a diverse student population.
A typical course plan includes freshmen year courses focused on providing students with the foundation of knowledge required to excel in the classroom. The curriculum consists of an introduction to education, math for elementary school teachers, an introduction to ethics, world history, child development, interpersonal communication, and the psychology of learning.
Freshman students also participate in clinical experiences that allow them to work with and observe veteran teachers in a classroom environment.
In their sophomore and junior years, students engage in early childhood or elementary education settings, receiving feedback from faculty. They move forward in the classroom, studying educational theory and methods courses that teach best practices for teaching reading, math, and social studies. Students also do 10-30 hours of field experience teaching each subject.
Marian University places students in their senior year at one or more sites to complete preclinical and clinical practices. Graduates are prepared to enter a field expected to grow over the next decade.
The Admissions Process
Enrolling in the BS in Early Childhood – Elementary Education program is convenient. The school does not require an application fee, essay, or ACT/SAT score. Students can fill out the application online and upload needed documents like an official high school transcript.
As they progress, students must meet the requirements for admission to the Education Department. They include:
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 upon completion of 40 credits
- Successful completion of Introduction to Education (grade of “C” or better)
- Proficiency in speaking and listening (grade of “C” or better in COM 115 or COM 120)
- Completion of Psychology of Learning (grade of “C” or better)
- Completion of Introduction to Clinical Practice (grade of “C” or better)
- Submission of one Professional Disposition Performance Assessment
Why Choose Marian University?
Marian University supports all students from the first day they enter the early childhood education program in Fond du Lac. Students are paired with a personal advisor who ensures they meet the criteria for their eventual licensure as a teacher. They also get field experience with partner schools in their very first semester.
The program’s mission is to prepare graduates with the pedagogical, content, and technical skills needed to become effective teachers. That education includes experiential learning, with opportunities for placement in clinicals at private and public institutions at different grade levels.
Graduates of the program apply both content knowledge and an understanding of children and adolescent behavior and learning styles in the classroom. They are competent in using various instructional strategies to encourage students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They also understand how to work with a diverse student population and methods that consider diverse learning needs.
Marian University also provides students with job placement support. Faculty members at the school and school districts that work with the university provide a vast network of connections in education that can help graduates find the job that best suits their talents and interests.
