Beginning in fall 2012, the SOE is proud to launch a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (BS-ECE) The BS-ECE is a state-approved teacher education program that leads to State of Florida professional teacher certification in Birth to Age 4 and Age 3 to Grade 3 with three endorsements: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Prekindergarten Disabilities, and Reading. Students completing this degree are able to become teachers in early childhood centers and public/private schools. This degree program satisfies all Head Start mandates.

Requirements for Admission

The requirements for full admission into the BS-ECE are as follows:

• Degree and/or credits
• Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree or
• 60 credits (including all General Education requirements)
  Note: Students with AS-ECE degrees may need to take additional courses to complete the General Education requirements in order to be fully admitted.
  Humanities- 3 additional credits
  Behavioral/Social Sciences- 3 additional credits
  Mathematics- 3 additional credits
• Grade Point Average- Minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Testing- All sections of the General Knowledge Test (first section of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination) passed- English, Reading, Mathematics, Essay
• Required Education Prerequisites Courses (must earn a grade of "C" or better)
• EDF1005 Introduction to the Teaching Profession
• EDF2085 Introduction to Diversity
• EME2040 Introduction to Educational Technology
• Additional requirements
• Foreign language- Students must complete two consecutive years of advanced foreign language in high school (must provide transcript) or complete 8-10 credits of college coursework in foreign language
• Diversity- students must complete nine (9) credits of diversity at the lower division
• Computer competency- students must pass CGS1060 with a minimum grade of "C" or be exempt from the course through testing
• Additional ECE Courses Required
• EEC2224 Emergent Literacy through the Use of Children’s Literature (3 credits)
• EEC2271 Working with Children with Special Needs and their Families (3 credits)
• EEC2401 Family Interaction and Cultural Continuity (3 credits)
• EEC2407 Facilitating Social Development (3 credits)
• EEC2601 Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education (3 credits)

BS-ECE courses:
Professional Education Core- 15 credits (3 credits each)

• EDF3115 Child Development for Inclusive Settings
• EDG3343 General Teaching Methods in ECE*
• EEX3226 Positive Behavior Supports in Inclusive Settings*
• EEX3226 Assessment of All Young Children*
• RED30009 Emergent and Early Literacy*

Discipline Content- 21 credits (3 credits each)

• EEC3211 Science, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) Methods for ECE I*
• EEC3212 Integrated Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts*
• EEC4219 Science, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) Methods for ECE II*
• LAE4211 Methods and Resources for Literacy Development in the Young Child**
• EEC4268 Designing and Implementing an Integrated Curriculum (Practicum in ECE)***
• TSL3080 ESOL in ECE I*
• TSL4310 ESOL in ECE II*

Student Teaching/Internship- 12 credits

• EEC4940 Internship in Early Childhood Education**** (5 credits)
• EEC4936- Seminar in Early Childhood Education (1 credit)
• EEC4940c Internship in Early Childhood Education**** (5 credits)
• EEC4936c- Seminar in Early Childhood Education (1 credit)
  • Prior to Internship the following must be completed:
    • All parts of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (General Knowledge Test, Professional Test, and Subject Area Test) must be passed
    • Florida Educator Accomplished Practices portfolio must be approved
    • All previous coursework completed with a minimum grade of “C”

* Course requires 15 hours of field experience
** Course requires 20 hours of field experience
***Course requires 60 hours of field experience
****Course requires full-time field experience

Graduation Requirements

Students must see an SOE advisor to ensure that all Graduation Requirements are met before beginning internship. Requirements are based upon the year and term of entry into the SOE baccalaureate program The BS-ECE degree in Education will be awarded to students who meet the requirements:

• Pre-Internship requirements
  • Nine credits of diversity at the lower division
  • Foreign language requirement
  • Passing scores on all parts of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination: General Knowledge Test, Professional Exam, Subject Area Examination
  • Computer competency
• Coursework
  • Junior and Senior Years-Minimum 60 credits
  • "C" or better in each professional education course
  • Overall GPA of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale
  • At least 30 hours at MDC
• Clinical Experiences teaching level and type of setting(Birth-age 2; ages 3-4; K-3)
• SOE E-Portfolio approved demonstrating all FEAPs
• Recommendation of the faculty of the SOE

There may be changes in these requirements based upon revisions in State certification requirements or MDC program revisions. Students must see an SOE advisor for clarification.

Getting your Florida Department of Education Teaching Certificate

In order to be eligible for a Professional Teaching Certificate from the Florida Department of Education, you must:

• Successfully pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE):
  • The FTCE is comprised of three parts: The General Knowledge Test (GKT), the Subject Area Examination, and the Professional Examination.
  • All students must take and pass the GKT within the first 9 credits of their upper division work.
  • By the completion of 48 upper division credits, students must take and pass the remaining two portions of the FTCE Students will not be allowed to intern unless they have passed all three parts of the FTCE.
• Successfully complete the E-Portfolio of the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs):
  • All assignments in the program were designed to assist the student in developing the FEAPs E-Portfolio The E- Portfolio is assessed as the student progresses through the program, after courses, and with major benchmarks
  • The E-Portfolio must be complete with all assignments that indicate mastery of competencies and that are well-written and conform to proper English grammar and syntax by the beginning of internship Students whose E-Portfolio is not complete will not be allowed to intern.

The Associate in Science (AS) degrees in Early Childhood Education (ECE) build on the CCCs, increasing the student's knowledge base and career opportunities. AS-ECE holders can serve as assistant teachers in childcare centers and paraprofessionals within public and private schools.

The AS-ECE, a 63-credit degree, has three components: Area of Concentration (12 credits), General education requirements (24 credits), and ECE electives (15 credits). Those considering a baccalaureate degree must also take required Education electives (12 credits).

Area of Concentration (12 credits each)	Code
Early Childhood Education- General Track	27014
Early Childhood Education- Preschool Track	27031
Early Childhood Education- Infant-Toddler Track	27032
Early Childhood Education- Administrator Track	27033

General Education Requirements (24 credits):

• Communications: 6 credits
• Oral Communications: 3 credits
• Humanities: 3 credits
• Behavioral/Social Science: 3 credits
• Natural Science: 6 credits
• Mathematics: 3 credits

Early Childhood Electives (minimum of 15 credits):

• EEC2224- Emergent Literacy through the Use of Children's Literature (3 credits)*
• EEC2271- Working with Children with Special Needs and their Families (3 credits)*
• EEC2407- Facilitating Social Development (3 credits)*
• EEC2401- Family Interaction and Cultural Continuity (3 credits)*
• EEC2601- Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood (3 credits)*
• EDG2943- Field Experience (3 credits)**

*   required for bachelor's degree program in ECE.
** required for Florida Child Care Professional Certificate

---

Required Education Electives (12 credits):
AS-ECE students who wish to pursue a BS-ECE must also complete 12 credits in the required Education electives as follows:

• EDF1005 Introduction to the Teaching Profession
• EDF2085 Introduction to Diversity
• EME2040 Introduction to Educational Technology

Students who complete all of the above may be eligible for the BS-ECE or other SOE baccalaureate programs

Fingerprinting
All Early Childhood courses require clinical experience hours. In order to complete the clinical experience hours, you must be fingerprinted and receive a Level II security clearance.
How to get fingerprinted and background cleared:

• Visit Miami-Dade County Public Schools at 1500 Biscayne Boulevard. Have your clearance information sent to the SOE. Clearance cards will be provided by the Office of Student Teaching 305-237-6653 and must be picked up in person.
• If you have any criminal background, you will not clear the background check. If you have attended to the issue, you must provide Department of Children and Families with your information.

The College Credit Certificate is designed for students who want to obtain the Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) or the National Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and enhance their knowledge beyond the 45-hour Department of Children and Families Training. Each CCC is comprised of four 3-credit courses. The CCC enables the student to enter the early childhood workforce and provides an academic pathway into the Associate in Science degree program.

Code	Area of Concentration	Courses Required
67014	Infant- Toddler Track	EEC2407- Facilitating Social Development [Mind in the Making] EEC1522- Infant-Toddler Environments EEC2700- Developing Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers EEC1001- Introduction to Early Childhood Infant/Toddler Education
60003	Preschool Track	EEC1000- Introduction to Early Childhood Education EEC1200- Early Childhood Curriculum I EEC1311- Early Childhood Curriculum II EEC2202- Program Development in Early Childhood Education
60004	Administrator Track	EEC2002- Operation of an Early Childhood Facility EEC2520- Early Childhood Organizational Leadership and Management EEC2523- Programming and Management for Early Childhood Administrators EEC2527- Legal and Financial Issues in Childcare

Florida Child Care Professional Certificate (FCCPC- formerly CDA)

Requirements:

• Must have a High School or General Education Diploma (GED)
• Must complete all six items below:
  1. 45 hours: Three training certificates required by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)
  2. Four Courses in Early Childhood Education (12 credits) Choose One Track:

     Preschool Track #60003:

     • EEC1000- Introduction to Early Childhood Education
     • EEC1200- Early Childhood Curriculum I
     • EEC1311- Early Childhood Curriculum II
     • EEC2202- Program Development in Early Childhood Education

     OR

     Infant - Toddler Track

     • EEC2407- Facilitating Social Development [Mind in the Making]
     • EEC1522- Infant-Toddler Environments [Ten Components of Quality Care]
     • EEC2700- Developing Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers
     • EEC1001- Introduction to Early Childhood Infant/Toddler Education
  3. PLUS: EDG2943 (3 credits) - Field experience (taken at the conclusion of above classes plus an on-site observation by a qualified ECE professional is conducting during this course)
  4. 480 hours of documented field work in an ECE setting
  5. Completion of an FCCPC Resource File
  6. Current Pediatric First Aid/ CPR Certificate

FCCPC Renewal

In order to renew the FCCPC, students must take a 3-credit course that begins with the prefix EEC and that is different from other courses already taken by the student.

Additional Information

For additional information concerning the FCCPC or renewal, go to www.myflorida.com/childcare/training and click on the heading “Staff Credential.” Complete the form, complete any additional requirements that you may need, and attach a copy of all your transcripts.

Questions- call the Child Care Training Information Center at 1-888-352-2842.

In order to support and serve Early Childhood Center directors, the SOE ECE department offers the Director’s Credential and the Advanced Director’s Credential coursework.  These courses are focused on the skills and competencies that Center Directors need in order to provide high quality early childhood education in a safe and nurturing environment to our county’s youngest citizens.

Director’s Credential

Students who hold a Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) or National Child Development Associate (CDA) are eligible to take the course below in order to obtain either a Level 1 or Level 2 Director’s Credential:

EEC2002- Operation of an Early Childhood Facility (3 credits)

Students with no experience will earn a Level 1 Director’s Credential
Students with experience will earn a Level 2 Director’s Credential

Advanced Director’s Credential and Renewal

Students who have completed the Director’s Credential and seek either renewal or the Advanced Director’s Credential may take the courses as follows:

• EEC2520- Early Childhood Organizational Leadership and Management (3 credits)
• EEC2523- Programming and Management for Early Childhood Administrators (3 credits)
• EEC2527- Legal and Financial Issues in Childcare (3 credits)

Additional Information

For additional information concerning the Director’s Credential, renewal, or the Advanced Director’s Credential, go to www.myflorida.com/childcare/training and click on the heading “Director Credential.”  Complete the form, complete any additional requirements that you may need, and attach a copy of all your transcripts.

Questions- call the Child Care Training Information Center at 1-888-352-2842.