K-4 Course Description
Early Childhood/Elementary Education: PK-4 (ECH) Adapted from Undergraduate Catalog 2011-2013 [PDF]
ECH 200 Introduction to Early Childhood (3 crs.)
Builds an understanding of the history, foundations, theory, organizational
patterns, and instructional techniques of education for children
ages two through eight. Observes schools organized in various ways
and experiences diverse instructional strategies. Classroom participation
is on a regular basis.
ECH 210 The Early Childhood Profession (3 crs.)
Students in this course will be introduced to professional topics
and competencies in early childhood education and will be given
examples of the value of and strategies for creating a community of
learners. Students will also be provided opportunities for practicing
professional dispositions and behaviors in a variety of inclusive settings.
Must be taken concurrently with ECH220.
ECH 220 The Developing Child I: Physical, Motor, Health & Well-being (3 crs.)
A study of multiple aspects of physical development, prenatally
through middle childhood. Attention is given to both typical and
atypical development. Must be taken concurrently with ECH210.
ECH253 Early Literacy for Children and Families, Birth-5 Years (3 crs.)
Students will read various sources of information regarding early
literacy development, children’s literature and family involvement
strategies for literacy development. Students will also learn age appropriate
methods and developmental issues that critically review
best practices for long term school success. Prerequisites: ECH210 and ECH220.
ECH 260 The Developing Child II: Cognitive and Language Development (3 crs.)
Students in this course will read about, write about and observe children’s
cognitive development from birth to age 11. The course will
link the students understanding of development with implications for
classroom practice preschool through the fourth grade. Prerequisites:
ECH210 and ECH220. Must be taken concurrently with ECH253.
ECH 320 The Developing Child III: Social & Emotional Development
and Guiding Children’s Behavior (3 crs.)
A study of multiple aspects of social and emotional development,
birth through middle childhood. Attention is given to both typical
and atypical development. Application will be made to guiding children’s
behavior in the classroom settings. At least 20 hours of field experience
are required. Prerequisites: ECH210, ECH220, and ECH260.
Must be taken concurrently with ECH333 and ECH343.
ECH 330 Primary Curriculum (3 crs.)
Presents guidelines, strategies, and current, validated curricular
models for planning and implementing developmentally appropriate
educational programs for children in the primary grades (K-3). An
integrated approach to curricular planning is emphasized, with focus
given to areas of problem solving, expressive arts, and personal-social
development. Activities include regularly scheduled observation and
participation in a primary grade classroom. Prerequisite: ECH200.
ECH 333 Social Studies Methods for PK-4th Grade (3 crs.)
Students will learn age appropriate content and strategies for teaching
social studies in pre K-4 grade classrooms. Resources and methods
to support Pennsylvania learning standards will be presented for each
age group. Prerequisites: ECH210, ECH220, ECH253, and ECH260.
Must be taken concurrently with ECH320 and ECH343.
ECH 340 Preschool and Kindergarten Curriculum (3 crs.)
Presents guidelines for planning and implementing developmental
curricula for preschool children. Includes cognitive and social
domains of behavior. Approaches appropriate for children with
special needs are included, as are strategies for parent involvement.
Theoretical approaches which involve active learning, learning
through play, experiences that build children’s self esteem, developmental
and individualized teaching/learning techniques, and behavior
guidance through positive interactions are advocated.
ECH 343 Mathematics Methods I for PreKindergarten & Kindergarten (3 crs.)
Students will gain knowledge about teaching mathematics using age
appropriate methods, strategies and materials for pre-kindergarten,
kindergarten, and first grade children. Concepts related to early
numeracy understanding will be emphasized. The course will include
content, strategies, resources, and technology information.
Prerequisites: ECH210, ECH220, ECH253, ECH260. Must be taken
concurrently with ECH320 and ECH333.
ECH 360 Assessment in Early Childhood and Early Intervention (3 crs.)
Acquaints students with guidelines for use of developmentally appropriate
formal and informal assessments used in early childhood
education and early intervention programs. Introduce commonly used
standardized evaluation instruments as well as systems of authentic
assessment. Field experiences are required. Should be taken with
ECH330. Prerequisites: TCH160 and ECH200.
ECH 370 Assessing Young Children (3 crs.)
Addresses a variety of effective and developmentally appropriate assessment
techniques for use in early education practices. Responsible
use of assessment is emphasized. Field experiences include both
observation of and administering effective assessment measures and
strategies. Prerequisites: ECH210, ECH220, ECH253, ECH260, and
ECH320. Must be taken concurrently with ECH373 and ECH393.
ECH 373 Science and Technology Methods in PK-4 (3 crs.)
Students will gain knowledge about teaching science in age appropriate
ways for the Early Childhood/Elementary Education:
PK-4 grades. Includes content, strategies and resources for meeting
Pennsylvania standards for each age level. Prerequisites: ECH 210,
ECH220, ECH260, ECH253, ECH320, ECH333, and ECH343.
Must be taken concurrently with ECH370 and ECH393.
ECH 393 Mathematics Methods II, Grades 2-4 (2 crs.)
Students will gain knowledge about teaching mathematics using age
appropriate methods, strategies and materials for children in second
through fourth grade. Concepts related to early numeracy understanding
will be emphasized. Includes content, strategies, resources,
and technology information. Prerequisites: ECH210, ECH220,
ECH253, ECH260, ECH320, ECH343. Must be taken concurrently
with ECH370 and ECH373.
ECH 410 Physical, Motor, and Sensory Development in Early Childhood (3 crs.)
Examines physical, motor, and sensory development of typically and
atypically developing young children, birth through age eight years.
Child health and wellness concerns included. Developmental information
applied to best practices in early childhood education and
early intervention settings. Field experiences are required.
ECH 415 Professional Practicum in PK-4 (3 crs.)
This field-based course is for senior-level student participation in
early childhood environments. Emphasis is placed on building partnerships
with families and various community entities and implementing
facets of an integrated curriculum. Instructor led seminars
are scheduled throughout the course. Students will complete a total
of at least 125 hours in a placement with students aged 3-9 years.
Prequisites: ECH210, ECH220, ECH260, ECH320, and ECH370.
Must be taken concurrently with ECH440 and ECH453.
ECH440 Building Family and Community Partnerships (3 crs.)
Emphasis is on understanding contemporary families with young
children. Family diversity and fostering reciprocal relationships are
stressed. Field experiences are required and will be completed in
ECH415. Field experiences include both observation of and participation
in family/school/community interactions. Prerequisites:
ECH210, ECH220, ECH260, ECH320, ECH370. Must be taken concurrently
with ECH415 and ECH453.
ECH 453 Integrated Curriculum Pre K-4 (3 crs.)
Students will apply Pennsylvania standards for math, science, literacy,
social studies and the arts. Competencies will be practiced through
projects, portfolio collections and demonstrations. Prerequisites:
ECH210, ECH220, ECH253, ECH260, ECH320, ECH333,
ECH343, ECH370, ECH373, ECH393, RDG323, RDG363, and
RDG383. To be taken concurrently with ECH415 and ECH440.
ECH 460 Family School and Community Partnerships (3 crs.)
Surveys current and continuing issues in early childhood education.
Includes child care, pre-primary programs and parent involvement,
implementing a parent involvement project, and a individual study of
a particular development area and/or processes. Prerequisite: A course
in child development.
ECH 462 Practicum in Early Childhood (3 crs.)
Supervised observation and participation in an early childhood (preprimary)
setting for at least 150 clock hours. Experiences in planning,
implementing, and assessing education for young children and families
are required.
ECH 470 Language Development, Literacy, and Play in Early Childhood Education (3 crs.)
Preparation to understand the existing relationships among language
development, early literacy development, and play behaviors in young
children from birth through eight years. Application made to early
childhood education and early intervention settings. Field experiences
in an assigned practicum setting required. Prerequisites: TCH160,
ECH200, ECH330, and senior status.
ECH480 Early Childhood Professional Seminar (3 crs.)
Students in this course will demonstrate professional competencies
in early childhood education student teaching placement. They will
demonstrate their understanding of the value of and strategies for
creating a community of learners. Practice of professional dispositions
and behaviors in an inclusive setting will be refined. Guided field assignments
will be required in ECH489. Must be taken concurrently with ECH489.
ECH489 Early Childhood Student Teaching (12 crs.)
This supervised, full-semester field-based experience is the culmination
of the early childhood teacher preparation program. Early
childhood teacher candidates are placed in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten,
or first through fourth grade classrooms. Candidates will
observe teachers, apply developmental theory and best educational
practice, demonstrate dispositions for teaching, engage in ethical and
effective professional practice to support the learning of all children.
Prerequisites: Completion of all course requirements for the early childhood