Early Childhood/Childhood Education Program

Start Strong: Teach, Inspire, Transform

Choosing a career in education is a bold commitment—and the Early Childhood/Childhood Education program at Fredonia gives you the strongest possible start. This dual-certification Bachelor of Science program prepares you to teach children from Birth through Grade 6, opening doors to in-demand teaching positions across New York State and beyond. From your very first semester, you’ll step into real classrooms, connect theory with practice, and learn what it takes to genuinely shape young minds. Backed by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a nationally recognized accrediting body, and decades of alumni success, Fredonia’s program is both an inspiring path for future educators and a reliable investment for families seeking a meaningful, stable career for their student.

What You’ll Gain

Dual Certification – Earn credentials in Early Childhood (Birth–Grade 2) and Childhood Education (Grades 1–6), expanding your employment opportunities.
Authentic Classroom Experience – Enter real classrooms in your first semester to apply instructional strategies, gather pupil data, and reflect on teaching practice.
Theory-to-Practice Integration – Connect coursework directly to fieldwork through four structured, well-supervised clinical experiences.
Instructional Confidence – Plan, teach, assess, and adapt lessons in general education settings under close faculty mentorship.
Professional Readiness – Graduate prepared for student teaching placements, certification requirements, and immediate entry into the workforce.
Global Perspective – Access study-abroad and exchange opportunities—including the long-running U.K. exchange—to deepen your understanding of diverse learning environments.
Career Pipeline Support – Gain access to internship and student-teaching partnerships that lead directly to job opportunities.
Financial Advantage – Benefit from scholarships made available through nearly two dozen education endowments.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Career Opportunities for Early Childhood/Childhood Education

Assistant Principal
Curriculum Specialist
Early Childhood Educator
Elementary Educator
Special Education Teacher

Childcare Center Director
District Administrator
Educational Program Director
Instructional Coach
School Principal

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

What does a 4-year degree look like?

First Year

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 105	Intro. to Contemporary Inclusive Edu.	3
EDU 106	Practicum in Inclusive Ed I	1
	Concentration Course	3
FF	Course	3
FF	Course	3
FF	Course	3
	TOTAL	16

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 225	Child Development	3
MATH 201	Concepts of Foundational Math	3
	Concentration Course	3
	Concentration Course	3
FF	Course	3

	TOTAL	15

Second Year

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 221	Intro. to Early Childhood Education	3
EDU 222	Practicum in Early Childhood	1
EDU 295	Intro to Educational Assessment	3
MUED 215	Music, Play, and Self	3
	Concentration Course	3
FF	Course	3
	TOTAL	16

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 250	Intro to the Exceptional Learner	3
EDU 251	Practicum in Inclusive Ed II	1
EDU 276	Literacy/Tech in Inclusive Edu.	3
MATH 202	Concepts of Foundational Math II	3
	Concentration Course	3
FF	Course	3
	TOTAL	16

Third Year

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 305	Cultural Diversity in the Classroom	3
EDU 313	Practicum in Inclusive Ed III	1
EDU 349	Educational Psychology	3
	Concentration Course	3
	Concentration Course	3
FF	Course	3


	TOTAL	16

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 303	SAVE/DASA/Fire & Arson	1
EDU 304	Safe Schools & Healthy Students	1
EDU 315	Early Childhood Curriculum Development	3
	Concentration Course	3
	Concentration Course	3
	Concentration Course	3
FF	Course	3
	TOTAL	17

Fourth Year

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 402	Teaching Math in Inclusive Ed	3
EDU 403	Teaching Science in Inclusive Ed	3
EDU 404	Teaching Social Studies in Inclusive Ed	3
EDU 405	Teaching Literacy in Inclusive Ed	3
EDU 406	Literacy & Assessment in Inclusive Ed	3
	TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 416	Capstone Seminar	3
EDU 438	Student Teaching, B-2	6
EDU 439	Student Teaching, 3-6	6


	TOTAL	15

GRAND TOTAL: 126

This Sample Degree Map is based on the requirements published in the University Catalog.

First Year - JCC

Fall Semester

Course JCC	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
EDU 1510	EDU 105/106 Intro Contemp Inclusive Ed/Practicum I	3
PSY 1510	PSY 129 Foundations of Psychology	3
ENG 1510	ENGL 099 Non Major Transfer Elective	3
Concentration Course	Concentration Course	3
INT 1555	LART 099 Liberal Arts Elective	2
World Lang: Rec ASL 1510/SPA 1510/FRE 1510	ASL 110 Intro to Sign Lang/SPAN 1TR 100 Level Elect/FREN 1TR 100 Level Elective	3
	TOTAL	17

Spring Semester

Course JCC	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
PSY 2520	EDU 225 Child Development EC/CH	3
MAT 1500 or MAT 1540	MATH 099/STAT 099 Statistical Methods	3
Concentration Course/SUNY Gen Ed Diversity	Concentration Course/SUNY Gen Ed Diversity	3
World Lang: Rec ASL 1520/SPA 1520/FRE 1520	ASL 215 Interm Sign Lang; SPAN 110 Essent Spanish/FREN 110 Essent French	3
ENG 1530	ENGL 100 Craft of Writing	3
	TOTAL	15

Second Year - JCC

Fall Semester

Course JCC	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
EDU 2450/2460	EDU 250/251 Intro Except Learner/Practicum II	4
Concentration Course	Concentration Course	3
HIST 1530 or 1540	HIST 222 Surv Early US Hist or HIST 223 Surv Modern US Hist	3
EDU 2510	EDU 315 Early Child Curr Dev	3
MAE 2510	MATH 201 Concepts Found Math I	3
	TOTAL	16

Spring Semester

Course JCC	Fredonia Equivalent	Credits
BIOL 1510	BIOL 099 Non Major Elective	3
Concentration Course	Concentration Course	3
EDU 1290	EDU 221/222 Intro Early Childhood Ed/Pract	3
EDU 2500	EDU 276 Literacy & Tech Inc Ed	3
MAE 2520	MATH 202 Concepts Found Math II	3
	TOTAL	15

Third Year - Fredonia

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 295	Intro Educational Assessment	3
EDU 305	Cultural Diversity in the Classroom	3
EDU 313	Practicum Inclusive Ed III	1
Concentration Course	Concentration Course	3
Concentration Course	Upper Level Concentration	3
Concentration Course	Upper Level Concentration	3
	TOTAL	16

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 303	SAVE/DASA/Fire and Arson	1
EDU 304	Safe Schools & Hlthy Student	1
MUED 215	Music, Play and Self	3
EDU 349	Educational Psychology	3
Concentration Course	Upper Level Concentration	3
Concentration Course	Upper Level Concentration	3
Concentration Course	Concentration Course	3
	TOTAL	17

Fourth Year - Fredonia

Fall Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 402	Teaching Math in Inclusive Ed	3
EDU 403	Teaching Science in Inclusive Ed	3
EDU 404	Teaching Social Studies in Inclusive Ed	3
EDU 405	Teaching Literacy in Inclusive Ed	3
EDU 406	Teaching Literacy, Gr 3-6	3
	TOTAL	15

Spring Semester

Course	Title	Credits
EDU 416	Capstone Seminar	3
EDU 438	Student Teaching Birth-2	6
EDU 439	Student Teaching Gr 3-6	6
	TOTAL	15

GRAND TOTAL: 126

*Students must earn a B or higher in EDU 1510 (105/106), PSY 2520 (EDU 225) , EDU 1290 (221/222) and a B- or higher in EDU 2450/2460 (both 2450 and 2460 must be taken to earn credit for EDU 250/251)
*Students have a minimum 3.0 cumulative average for admission to the department.
*HIS 1530 or 1540 US Hist I/II to satisfy a SUNY Gen Ed requirement
* A concentration is a minimum of 30 credit hours. Depending on the concentration selected, it may take longer than 4 semesters to complete the BS degree. Or, students may opt to take more than 15 credits a semester.

Concentrations:
Students must select a concentration for the major and should take a minimum of 12 credits in the concentration at JCC. Concentrations are listed below.

*ENGLISH: ENG 1540 is a required course for the major and should be taken at JCC
- A maximum of 6 additional credits will transfer to Fredonia at the 200 level; students may transfer courses that transfer as ENGL or WRTG subject codes
-The following courses transfer as upper level ENGL courses (9 credits maximum):ENG 2570 (315), 2660 (3TR), 2870 (408), 2890 (363)

*MATH: MAE 2510 (201); MAE 2520 (202), MAT 1710/1720/2650 (122/123/223); additional course: MAT 2670 (231)

*MUSIC: 1570 (1MT in place of 101); 1580 (1MT in place of 102), 1630 (113); 1680 (MUED 210); 1700 (MUED 211), 1530 (350)
electives: MUS 1510 (115); 1590 (262); 1730 (MUED 291); A total of 6 ensemble credits may be applied to the concentration.

*NATURAL SCIENCE: students will complete courses in 3 science fields: Physical, Life, or Earth/Space Science
Physical Science: 6 credits from: PHY 1610 (121/123), PHY 1620 (122/124); any Chemistry course
Life Science: 6 credits from: BIO 1500 (110), 1570 (133/134), 1580 (131/132), and one of the following: BIO 1550/1551/2570/ or ANT 2600 or CMM 2600 or PHL 2570 all equate to ESCI 105
Earth/Space Science: 6 credits from: GLG 1510 (165/169); 1810 (160), AST 1510 (PHYS 118)
9 elective credits at any level from the Natural Science Disciplines listed above

*SOCIAL SCIENCES: Students must take HIS 1510 (243); and 1530 (222) AND/OR 1540 (223)
12 credits can transfer at the lower division (100/200) and 12 credits can transfer at the upper division (300/400) from at least TWO different disciplines from the following subjects: Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
The following transfer at the upper level (300/400): GEO 1520 (POLI 352), HIS 2590 (356), HIS 2610 (335), HUS 2250 (POLI 382), POL 2530 (371), POL 2570 (322), POL 2860 (348), PSY 2530 (345), PSY 2560 (356), PSY 2580 (358), SOC 2510 (320), SOC 2540 (310), SOC 2580 (HIST 359), SOC 2590 (306)

*STEM: MAE 2510 (MATH 201), MAE 2520 (MATH 202) 18 credits from two of the following subjects: chemistry, computer science, geoscience, math, physics, statistics

*WORLD LANGUAGES: Spanish : SPA 2510 (215), 2520 (216), 2530 (315), 2550 (313) or French FRE 2510 (215), 2520 (216)
Electives:
Students will choose one option below. Both options will require students to complete upper level courses in their primary major at Fredonia
1 - Approved study abroad experience (3-15 credits) in a non-English Speaking country which will develop fluency in the primary language/and or additional 300/400 level language courses in literature, civilization, or advanced language courses in the primary major.
OR
2- Nine credits in literature, civilization or advanced language courses in the primary language plus beginning level courses (6 credits) in a secondary language (xx1510/1520).

This Sample Transfer Path is based on the requirements published in the University Catalog.

Transfer Policy:
SUNY General Education/Fredonia Foundations: Students who earned an AA/AS SUNY Degree in 2015 or later, or completed the SUNY Gen Ed requirement prior to transferring, will have satisfied Fredonia Foundations, our local general education requirement. Students who earned any other SUNY Degree may need to complete additional Fredonia Foundation courses at Fredonia. Such students should consult with their current advisor regarding the SUNY Gen Ed requirement and applicable courses. All SUNY General Education courses will be verified by the General Education Transcript Addendum, GETA, which is sent with the SUNY transcript.

Transfer Credit Policy:
Please refer to our Transfer Credit Policy in the College Catalog for current information.

What are all the required and elective courses offered to obtain this degree?

View Full Curriculum

EDU 315 Early Childhood Curriculum Development

A methods class designed to help candidates further their knowledge and skills to plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning activities for young children (birth - age 8). Emphasis on integrated curriculum planning to meet developmental needs of young learners.

MUED 315 Music, Play, and Self

A course primarily for students with little or no previous musical knowledge or skill. Examines the relationships among music, play and self, especially with regard to children. Emphasizes activity, creativity and personal expression.

EDU 305 Cultural & Linguistic Diversity of Students and Families

An introduction to basic concepts, theories, and issues involving multicultural education, cultural diversity, and the educational system. Emphasis is on the development of a sound theoretical framework from which practical application to classroom situations will evolve. Candidates will teach, interact with, and/or observe children and youth from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and employ a variety of teaching strategies.

It's Different Here

Starting Day 1

Real classroom experience begins your first semester and continues across four structured placements.

$50,000

Education students benefit from nearly $50,000 in available scholarship funding through dedicated endowments.

25 Year Exchange

The U.K. Exchange Program has been running for 25 years, offering international study opportunities.

Why Early and Childhood Education at Fredonia?

Faculty and students working together in a classroom

Mentored, Connected Fieldwork

Each field placement is directly linked to a required education course, ensuring you apply what you learn immediately with close faculty and mentor support.

AAQEP National Accreditation

Fredonia’s educator preparation programs are nationally accredited by AAQEP, ensuring rigorous academic and professional standards.

Fredonia student in a classroom during field experience

Hamburg Internship Program

This long-standing program provides a direct pathway to student teaching and employment opportunities in a respected local district.

Fredonia student working with elementary kids during their field experience

Shape Young Minds. Build Your Career.

Internship and student-teaching partnerships lead directly to job opportunities.

Explore Student Services

You Belong at Fredonia

One of my favorite things about Fredonia is that I have been in a classroom since my freshman year. So every year, at least one semester, I'm in a classroom getting hands on experience with students, doing lesson plans and working on reading and development. So I'm automatically applying what I'm learning in the classroom into a real life classroom with children. And it's helped my experience immensely.

— Kayla Makosiej