Birth through Kindergarten (B-K) Professional Studies
The Bachelor of Science (BS) program in birth–kindergarten professional studies provides real-world teaching experience throughout coursework in practicums, in addition to a two-semester student teaching internship during senior year.
Birth through Kindergarten (B-K) Professional Studies Program Overview
Turn your passion for early childhood development into a fulfilling career. Do you want to make a lasting impact during the most important years of a child’s development? Whether you see yourself teaching preschool or kindergarten or helping children thrive, ECU's birth–kindergarten professional studies program can help you turn passion into purpose.
ECU's program prepares future licensed educators to work with young children, including those with exceptionalities. Our graduates take on classroom leadership, create a bridge to school for families, and shape curriculum for early childhood programs in public schools, private learning centers and early intervention settings. With expert faculty, engaging coursework and extensive fieldwork, you will graduate with the skills and confidence to lead in any early childhood education setting.
ECU Advantage
Students in the Greenville area can complete practicums at the Nancy W. Darden Child Development Center (NDCDC). The NDCDC is a five-star, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)-accredited program serving children ages 3 months to 5 years old. Online students complete practicums and internships at high-quality centers in their local communities. Employed students (on campus and online) may also use their place of employment.
Our faculty have a strong history of supporting students to successfully prepare and pass the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA), with a 100% pass rate.
A bachelor’s degree in birth–kindergarten professional studies opens doors to careers in:
- Public preschool programs
- Public schools’ exceptional children’s preschool programs
- Kindergarten classrooms
- Early intervention programs
- Child development centers
- Opportunities to add on to your N.C. teaching license
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Chia Jung (Ruby) Yeh (129 Rivers West; 252-737-2878; yehch14@ecu.edu)
The Department of Human Development and Family Science offers the Birth through Kindergarten Professional Studies, BS. The degree program offers two concentrations: birth through kindergarten education (teaching licensure) and curriculum development (non-licensure).
Freshmen may declare birth through kindergarten (BK) professional studies as their major. Transfer students must have completed at least 12 s.h. at ECU with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 to declare.
Prior to enrolling in selected courses, majors must be admitted to the upper division of teacher education. Requirements for admission to upper division include, but are not limited to, satisfactory scores on all parts of PRAXIS Core and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7. In addition, majors must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all courses required for the major. Students earning less than a C (2.0) in a prerequisite major course must repeat the course before the subsequent upper-level course may be taken.
A semester-long internship is the culminating experience for BK teacher education majors. Applications for admission to internship (HDFS 4324, 4325) must be submitted to the internship coordinator one year prior to the semester in which the student will complete internship requirements. Prior to internship, BK majors must have completed the following courses with a minimum grade of C (2.0): HDFS 1103, 2000, 2001, 2123, 2124, 3150, 3306, 3321, 3715, 4121, 4122, 4123, 4200, 4201, 4300, 4320; EDTC 4001; EDUC 3002 or advisor approved course; EDUC 3200; READ 4500; SPED 2001. Students who successfully complete all requirements and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 are recommended for BK licensure. A minimum grade of C (2.0) in internship is required for licensure. Additional information about upper division, internship, and NC teacher licensure can be found in the handbook, Welcome to Teacher Education.
The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:
Core Requirements:
1. General education requirements including those listed below - 40 s.h.
(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)
- MATH 1050 - Explorations in Mathematics OR
- MATH 1065 - College Algebra OR
- MATH 2127 - Basic Concepts of Mathematics
- PSYC 1000 - Introductory Psychology
- Choose a literature course (GE:HU)
2. Core - 44 s.h.
- HDFS 1103 - Individual, Family, and Romantic Relationships
- HDFS 2000 - Child Development I: Prenatal Through Early Childhood
- HDFS 2001 - Child Development II: Middle Childhood Through Young Adulthood
- HDFS 2124 - Interaction Techniques for Working with Young Children
- HDFS 3150 - Introduction to Early Childhood Intervention
- HDFS 3306 - Guiding Children's Behavior
- HDFS 3321 - Infant and Toddler Curriculum
- HDFS 3715 - Global Perspectives in Early Childhood
- HDFS 4121 - Social Studies, Math, and Science Curriculum in Early Childhood
- HDFS 4122 - Language and Literacy Curriculum in Early Childhood
- HDFS 4200 - Assessing Development and Learning in the Early Childhood Classroom
- HDFS 4201 - Assessment for Intervention
- HDFS 4300 - Birth through Kindergarten Curriculum Adaptations for Diverse Learners
- HDFS 4406 - Early Childhood Leadership and Collaboration in Administration
- HDFS 4408 - Administration of Programs for Young Children
3. Concentrations - 31 s.h.
Choose one of the following:
a. Birth through kindergarten education concentration (teaching licensure) - 31 s.h.
Prior to enrolling in selected courses (HDFS 4123, 4320, 4324, and 4325), all BK majors must be admitted to the upper division of teacher education. Requirements for admission to upper division include, but are not limited to, satisfactory scores on all parts of PRAXIS Core and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7. In addition, BK majors must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all courses required for the major. Students earning less than a C (2.0) in a prerequisite major course must repeat the course before the subsequent upper-level course may be taken. A semester-long internship is the culminating experience for BK teacher education majors. Applications for admission to internship (HDFS 4324, 4325) must be submitted to the internship coordinator one year prior to the semester in which the student will complete internship requirements.
- EDTC 4001 - Technology in Education
- EDUC 3002 - Introduction to Diversity
- EDUC 3200 - Foundations of American Education
- HDFS 2123 - Early Experience in Birth through Kindergarten Education
- HDFS 4123 - Learning Environments and Teaching Methods in Early Childhood Education
- HDFS 4320 - Practicum in Teaching Birth-Kindergarten in the Public Schools
- HDFS 4324 - Internship in Birth Through Kindergarten Education
- HDFS 4325 - Internship Seminar: Issues in Birth-Kindergarten Education
- READ 4500 - Teaching Literacy in the Elementary Grades
- SPED 2001 - Individuals with Disabilities Across the Lifespan
b. Curriculum development concentration (non-licensure) - 31 s.h.
This concentration does not result in a NC teaching license. It will result in the completion of a micro-credential entitled the Trauma Informed Practice Certificate (HDFS 3010 and HDFS 4613).
- HDFS 3010 - Foundations in Trauma-Informed Practice
- HDFS 4613 - Professional Practices in Trauma-Informed School Systems
- Choose 2 of the following courses:
- HDFS 4710 - Practical Applications in Planning Curriculum to Support Learning in the Birth through Kindergarten Classroom
- HDFS 4711 - Practical Applications in Teaching Strategies to Support Learning in the Birth through Kindergarten Classroom
- HDFS 4712 - Practical Applications in Assessing Learning and Development in the Birth through Kindergarten Classroom
Advisor approved electives or approved minor (18-21 s.h.)
4. Electives to complete requirements for graduation
Licensure/Certification Requirements in North Carolina
The curriculum for all ECU Certificates, Degrees, and Minors have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to sit for licensure/certification exams in North Carolina. The various licensure boards in each state are responsible for setting requirements for licensure/certification in their state. Other states have their own requirements, and you'll want to make sure your program meets criteria in your home state (or state where you intend to work) before you apply.
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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