2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog
Educational Studies, B.A. |
Educational Studies is a Bachelor of Arts degree program for students who wish to pursue a career in a field that works with or advocates for children. This program offers a strong foundation of child development, educational theories, and special education. The Educational Studies program supports students as they customize their learning towards many different educational fields. Features of the program include a minor in special education with the option for a second minor in a program of choice, and an internship during senior year. This degree provides a gateway to many different career paths. Educational studies is a non-certification education degree. The program provides opportunities for students who want to work in education, but do not want to be a classroom teacher. Educational Studies majors take classes focusing on Child Development, Teaching English Language Learners, Assessment in special education, Autism and Assistive Technology.
Career options include the ability to work for education-related agencies, children’s hospitals, preschool programs, and not-for profits that do not require state teacher certifications. Students that have graduated with an Educational Studies degree have pursued jobs at locations including the YMCA, Head Start, independent preschools, children’s museums, children’s hospitals, non-profit child advocacy programs. This degree would also lay the foundation for Master’s degrees in teaching, behavioral analysis, and speech and language theory, among others.
Program Outcomes
The following program outcomes are used to evaluate the success of the program and its students.
1. Planning and Preparation: Students demonstrate thorough knowledge of content and pedagogical skills in planning and preparation. Students make, plan, and set goals based on the content to be delivered to children in instructional, medical, or childcare environments.
2. Positive Environment:Students have the ability to establish and maintain a purposeful and equitable environment in which children feel safe, valued, and respected, by instituting routines and setting clear expectations for the child’s behavior.
3 . Professionalism:Students utilize qualities that characterize a professional person and adhere to the standards of integrity, ethical behavior and professional conduct as stated in local state and federal laws and regulations in any learning or childcare environment.
4. Communication:Students express ideas clearly in written and spoken forms; reason analytically and critically; and demonstrate appropriate use of research as evidenced by classroom presentations and discussions, and academic writing.
Progression in the Educational Studies major leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires students to:
- Maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
The Education Department has determined that all students are to be assessed according to the following grading scale for all undergraduate Education courses.
A
(Excellent)
96.00-100
B+
(Very Good)
92.00-95.99
B
(Good)
87.00-91.99
C+
(Above the Average)
83.00-86.99
C
(Average)
78.00-82.99
D+
(Below the Average)
74.00-77.99
D
(Poor)
70.00-73.99
F
(Failure)
69.99 or less
Limitation on Transfer Credit
In addition to the institutional requirement of a grade of “C” or better for all transfer courses, and in order to maintain the most current and highest quality of career preparation standards, transfer students are to refer to the following guidelines regarding the acceptance of transfer credits into the degree program:
- Transfer credits must be from a regionally accredited, degree-granting institution and current within a 10-year period. All stipulated transfer criteria as outlined in the University catalog must be met.
- Transfer credits earned more than 10 years ago may be accepted as elective credits, based upon a review by the Division Dean, in consultation with the University Registrar.
Field Experience
Throughout their four-year program at Neumann University, students participate in a clinical field experience sequence which is designed to help them connect theory to practice; enhance their observational, instructional, and analytical skills; and develop their professional ethos. Field experiences expose students to a variety of classroom settings with scaffolded involvement to include: observation, one-on-one interaction, instructional aide responsibilities, designing and delivering lessons in small groups, and full class instruction.
Course content and assignments are linked to field experiences. Students must obtain and submit to the Field Experience Coordinator all security clearances that meet current state-approved teaching requirements. For current security clearance requirements, contact the Field Experience Coordinator.
Major Requirements: 52 Credits
- ECE 101 Teaching as a Profession: PK-4 2 Credits
- ECE 204 Child Development and Cognition I (Prenatal - 5 Years) 3 Credits
- ECE 205 Child Development and Cognition II (6 - 9 Years) 3 Credits
- ECE 214 Language Development 3 Credits
- ECE 240 Engaging Young Children in the Learning Process: Integrating Curriculum and Instruction 3 Credits
- ECE 245 Integrating the Arts for the Developing Child 3 Credits
- ECE 402 Family Collaboration and Community Relationships 4 Credits
- EDU 215 Teaching ELLs: Language, Culture and Diversity in the Classroom 3 Credits
- EDU 230 Introduction to Exceptionalities 3 Credits
- SPEC 222 Learning Disabilities 3 Credits
- SPEC 212 Assistive Technology 3 Credits
- SPEC 320 Assessment methods: Summative, Formative, Diagnostic, and Benchmark 3 Credits
- SPEC 322 Foundations of Autism 3 Credits
- SPEC 380 Behavioral and Social Emotional Disorders 3 Credits
- SPEC 424 Collaboration and Communication 3 Credits
- EDU 461 Senior Seminar I 1 Credit
- EDU 462 Senior Seminar II 2 Credits
- EDU 498 Educational Studies Internship 4 Credits
Allied Requirements: 12 Credits
- HIST 102 The American Heritage: 1603–1865 3 Credits †
-
or
- HIST 103 The American Heritage: 1865–Present 3 Credits †
- PSYCH 101 General Psychology 3 Credits •
- Two courses of college level mathematics (6 credits) are also required
Suggested Four-Year Curriculum: 120 Credits
Freshman Year: Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
Freshman Year: Spring Semester (18 Credits) |
ECE 101 2 Credits | ECE 204 3 Credits |
ENG 101 3 Credits | ECE 214 3 Credits |
HIST 102 or HIST 103 3 Credits | ECE 240 3 Credits |
INT 101 1 Credit | EDU 125 0 Credits |
MATH CORE 3 Credits | ENG 102 3 Credits |
PSYCH 101 3 Credits | MATH CORE 3 Credits |
THEO 104 3 Credits | |
Sophomore Year: Fall Semester (18 Credits) |
Sophomore Year: Spring Semester (17 Credits) |
ECE 205 3 Credits | EDU 125 0 Credits |
ECE 245 3 Credits | EDU 230 3 Credits |
EDU 125 0 Credits | LANGUAGE 102 3 Credits |
EDU 215 3 Credits | PHIL 102 3 Credits |
ENG LITERATURE CORE 3 Credits | SCIENCE CORE 3/1 Credits |
FINE ARTS CORE 3 Credits | ECE 402 4 Credits |
LANGUAGE 101 or General Elective 3 Credits | |
Junior Year: Fall Semester (15 Credits) |
Junior Year: Spring Semester (15 Credits) |
EDU 125 0 Credits | EDU 125 0 Credits |
SPEC 222 3 Credits | SPEC 320 3 Credits |
SPEC 322 3 Credits | SPEC 380 3 Credits |
THEO CORE (200 level or above) 3 Credits | SPEC 424 3 Credits |
General Electives 6 Credits | General Elective 6 Credits |
Senior Year: Fall Semester (13 Credits) |
Senior Year: Spring Semester (12 Credits) |
EDU 125 0 Credits | EDU 462 2 Credits |
EDU 461 1 Credit | EDU 498 4 Credits |
SPEC 212 3 Credits | General Electives 6 Credits |
PHIL CORE (200 level or above) 3 Credits | |
General Electives 6 Credits |