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WVU Morgantown

Early Childhood Special Education, B.S.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Courses

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Science

Nature of the Program

The BS in Early Childhood Special Education is an online program in the School of Education that prepares students to earn a teaching certification in pre-K special needs upon graduation. The courses will include but are not limited to human development, classroom pedagogy, special education (e.g., IEP development, due process, disability categories and characteristics), implement formative and summative assessments, utilize formal assessment data to inform lesson planning, self-reflection, technology in the classroom, and a variety of placements. Due to the online nature of the program, students are supported in field and residency experiences in their home county.

Admissions

Incoming Freshman

  • University acceptance
  • 2.75 GPA
  • Passing scores on all sections of Praxis CORE test by beginning of year 2

Transfer Student

  • University acceptance
  • 2.75 GPA
  • Passing scores on all sections of Praxis CORE test by designated course

Admissions Requirements 2023-2024

The Admissions Requirements above will be the same for the 2023-2024 Academic Year.

Major Code: 5513

Curriculum Requirements

GEF Requirements (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8)27
Departmental Requirements
A minimum grade of C- required for all courses with a CDFS or ECSE designator.
CDFS 191First-Year Seminar1
CDFS 110Families Across the Life Span (GEF 4)3
CDFS 112Introduction to Marriage and Family (GEF 8)3
CDFS 172Health, Safety, & Nutrition in Early Childhood3
CDFS 210Introduction to Parenting3
CDFS 212Development in Early and Middle Childhood3
CDFS 250Research Methods 3
CDFS 413Stress in Families3
CDFS 415Family Interaction and Communication3
Select two of the following:6
CDFS 420
Leadership in Early Childhood
CDFS 421
Child Care Center Administration
CDFS 422
The Business of Child Care Management and Financial Strategies
CDFS 430Best Practices in Pre-K Movement3
CDFS 431Infant Toddler Language and Literacy3
CDFS 432Early Socio-Emotional Development3
CDFS 491AProfessional Field Experience3
SPED 304Special Education in Contemporary Society (GEF 8)3
ECSE 311Developmental Assessment for Young Children with Special Needs3
ECSE 312Differentiated Instruction for Young Children with Special Needs3
ECSE 314Center-Based Programs Early Intervention3
ECSE 315Home-Based Programs for Early Intervention3
ECSE 316Behavior Support Young Children Special Needs3
ECSE 317Technology for Young Children with/without Special Needs3
SPED 491Professional Field Experience9
C&I 410Early Childhood Education 13
C&I 414Creative Experiences in Early Childhood3
RDNG 423Literacy and the Young Child3
General Electives12
Total Hours121

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3CDFS 2123
CDFS 110 (GEF 4)3SPED 304 (GEF 8)3
CDFS 1911GEF 23
CDFS 112 (GEF 8)3GEF 33
CDFS 1723GEF 53
GEF 63 
 16 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3C&I 4143
CDFS 2503CDFS 2103
ECSE 3123ECSE 3113
GEF 23GEF 73
General Elective3GEF 83
 General Elective3
 15 18
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
C&I 4103CDFS 4153
ECSE 3143CDFS 4313
ECSE 3153RDNG 4233
General Elective3ECSE 3163
Select one of the following:3ECSE 3173
CDFS 420
  
CDFS 421
  
CDFS 422
  
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
CDFS 491A3SPED 4919
CDFS 4133General Elective3
CDFS 4303 
CDFS 4323 
Select one of the following:3 
CDFS 420
  
CDFS 421
  
CDFS 422
  
 15 12
Total credit hours: 121

At the completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Implement high-quality early childhood special education services in traditional and inclusive settings
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues surrounding early childhood special education and inclusive education
  3. Provide a developmentally appropriate classroom setting for Pre-K students by:
    1. Constructing a positive and enriched early childhood environment where all children can develop skills for lifelong learning.
    2. Planning developmentally appropriate activities for diverse learners in an inclusive setting.
    3. Developing data-driven instruction from effectively implemented formative, summative, and formal assessments
  4. Advocate for children, parents, the profession and promote and engage in lifelong learning
  5. Summarize knowledge and skills from the curriculum and profession to apply in the classroom setting
  6. Describe the legal and professional standards required of teachers in inclusive settings
  7. Reflect on one's knowledge and skills of teaching and interacting with young children

Courses

ECSE 311. Developmental Assessment for Young Children with Special Needs. 3 Hours.

PR: SPED 304. Biological and environmental factors associated with developmental disabilities, delays and at risk conditions in young children, their impact across developmental domains, and assessment procedures to identify needs and plan interventions in the early childhood years.

ECSE 312. Differentiated Instruction for Young Children with Special Needs. 3 Hours.

PR: SPED 304. This course is designed to prepare future general and special education teachers to differentiate instruction for students with exceptional learning needs. The course emphasizes the utilization of an individualized, data based decision-making process in the organization, adaptation, and implementation of methods, materials, and curriculum.

ECSE 314. Center-Based Programs Early Intervention. 3 Hours.

PR: SPED 304 and ECSE 312 and passing scores on all components of Core Praxis. This course is designed to examine policies and practices for center-based early childhood special education for young children from ages 3-6, and individual education plans and intervention programs to promote early learning and child-peer interactions in preschool settings.

ECSE 315. Home-Based Programs for Early Intervention. 3 Hours.

PR: SPED 304. This course is designed to show policies and practices for home-based early intervention for young children with special needs from ages 0-3; individual family service plans and intervention programs to support early development and parent-child interactions in the home setting.

ECSE 316. Behavior Support Young Children Special Needs. 3 Hours.

PR: SPED 304 and ECSE 312. Emotional and social development in young children; causes and characteristics of problem behaviors in early childhood; assessment of behavior; and positive behavior supports for individuals and groups in- home and center- based preschool settings.

ECSE 317. Technology for Young Children with/without Special Needs. 3 Hours.

PR: SPED 304. This course is designed to prepare future general and special education teachers to differentiate instruction for students with exceptional learning needs. The course emphasizes the utilization of an individualized, data based decision-making process in the organization, adaptation, and implementation of methods, materials, and curriculum.

  • School of Counseling and Well-​being
  • School of Education
    • Early Childhood Special Education
    • Elementary Education
  • School of Sport Sciences
  • Multidisciplinary Studies

WVU Morgantown

Undergraduate Catalog Information

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P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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