Early Childhood Education (B.A.)

FAST FACTS ›

  • With a wide range of experiences and interests represented, our faculty present unique perspectives of the profession.
  • Our 72-day student teaching internship exceeds the state’s certification requirements for student teaching by 12 days.
  • Our faculty are recognized experts in early childhood because of their teaching, research and service activities.
  • Before starting your student teaching, you’ll have 91 hours of additional field work than the state requires.
ABOUT.

Learn to work with children from birth to age 8 by majoring in early childhood education. In class, you’ll discover how children develop during their early years, which will help prepare you to educate them from birth to third grade. Our program emphasizes diverse experiences and populations with a focus on early literacy and early mathematical and scientific development. From the moment you step on campus, field experience in numerous areas will help you hone your teaching skills. In addition, University partnerships with several local school districts will give you necessary hands-on experience with different populations. Your classes will range from infant and toddler development to methods courses in major areas, such as reading, math, science, language arts, social studies and curriculum. We encourage all our students to develop a global perspective by participating in cross-cultural experiences.

CLASSES.

What you'll study:

Our goal is for you to develop and apply a home-school-community perspective with an appreciation of diverse family structures, customs and beliefs. We want you to understand child development and curricular applications for infants, toddlers, and preschool and primary child populations.

After gaining an appreciation of the field’s history and how it has evolved, you’ll be prepared to analyze and critically examine different curricular models and approaches and the theoretical and applied elements of each. You’ll become familiar with early learning standards at the state and national levels, and will develop appropriate instructional and assessment plans and strategies for children from infancy through third grade.

Time will be spent developing your skills to accommodate English language learners and students with special needs. In addition, you’ll learn to recognize the importance of early intervention, IFSPs, IEPs and co-teaching with other professionals.

When you graduate, you’ll leave Clemson with knowledge about integrated content and teaching strategies in mathematics, science, social studies, reading and language arts, and creativity. You’ll be able to apply appropriate principles of assessment and develop diverse methods of assessment. In addition, you’ll be prepared to engage in diverse practicum experiences and complete relevant assignments and field-based requirements to meet certification in early childhood education in South Carolina.

Curriculum:

Popular Minors:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish

Similar Majors:

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

The Eugene T. Moore School of Education is committed to providing all students with purposeful, challenging and diverse experiences. It is through a range of diverse, carefully constructed and challenging classroom-based instruction and field-based experiences that students will recognize the inherent dignity and value of all individuals, promote equity in education and advocate on behalf of children, families and communities.

Internships and Research Projects:

TRAVEL:
The Reggio Emilia Study Abroad program provides students with the chance to live with an Italian family, study beginning Italian, learn the program’s history and elements, take tours of Italian cities and gain cultural experiences.
HONOR:
Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society dedicated to scholarship and excellence in education. The organization fosters mutual cooperation, support and professional growth for educational professionals.
READING:
The International Reading Association (IRA) Student Council’s purpose is to promote reading and reading instruction and to allow preservice teachers to join a professional organization. Members are University students, faculty and staff.

Connect with Other Students:

CAREERS.

What are students doing at graduation?*

N/A%

Employed

N/A%

Grad School

N/A%

Seeking Employment

N/A%

Other

Where are students headed at graduation?*

Recent employers and job titles*

  • Bright Start LLC — Early Interventionist
  • Oconee County School District, S.C. — Instructional Aide

Recent graduate schools and sought degree types*

  • University of Georgia — Master’s
  • Clemson University — Master’s
  • Medical University of South Carolina — Master’s

Common Career Areas**

  • Most graduates go on to teach in the state and region while some continue with graduate education.

  • Pre-K Programs
    • Teaching
  • K through third grade
    • Teaching
*Represents only Clemson University graduates who completed Michelin Career Center surveys from 2009 to 2011.
**Used w/permission from Univ. of Tennessee.
FIND OUT MORE.

Have more questions or want more information? Fill out the form below, which goes directly to the following department contact as well as our admissions office.

Suzanne Rosenblith, Teacher Education Chair
864-656-5119 — srosenb@clemson.edu