EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT TRACK Early Childhood Development majors take a variety of courses related to young children and their learning, development, and family environment. Students take a series of core and specialization courses to prepare them to work with children, parents, and families in a variety of settings. This degree culminates in a semester-long practicum.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the University General Education requirements or its equivalent, i.e. an AA degree from an approved Florida College System or State University System institution.
- Have a minimum 2.75 overall GPA, with provisional acceptance for one semester if GPA is 2.5 (GPA must be 2.75 by the second semester).
- Complete Child Development Common Program Prerequisite courses with a minimum letter grade of “C” (2.0) or better.
- Meet the Gordon Rule Requirement.
- Meet Foreign Language Admission Requirement.
Degree Requirements
- Students must seek advising through the Early Childhood Development and Education staff in the Education Complex, Suite 122 or by e-mail (ece@ucf.edu) prior to registering for classes.
- The courses designated in 1. (General Education) and 2. (Prerequisites) should be completed prior to admission to the major and upper division education courses.
- Students must earn a “C” (2.0) or better in each required Early Childhood Development and Education course. However, a minimum overall 2.75 GPA in all courses within the major is required.
General Education Program (GEP) (36 Credit Hours)
- Students are advised to take the preferred courses.
Communication Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Cultural & Historical Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- General Education Program elective from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 2: Credit Hours: 3
- MUL 2010 - Enjoyment of Music Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- or
- PHI 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- or
- THE 2000 - Theatre Survey Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- General Education Program elective from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1 to meet Gordon Rule Requirement. Credit Hours: 3
- General Education Program elective: Prefer a second course from GEP Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1. Credit Hours: 3
Mathematical Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- STA 2014 - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MGF 1106 - Finite Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- MGF 1107 - Explorations in Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- PSY 2012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Science Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- PSC 1121 - Physical Science Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- BSC 1005 - Biological Principles Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Common Program Prerequisites (CPP) (6 Credit Hours)
A grade of “C” (2.0) or better is required.
- EDF 2085 - Introduction to Diversity for Educators Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
1 For students interested in a career as a Child Life Specialist, select EDF 2130.
- EDF 2130 - Child and Adolescent Development for Educators Credit Hours: 3
- SOW 3104 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I Credit Hours: 3 1
Core Requirements: Basic Level (18 Credit Hours)
A grade of “C” (2.0) or better is required.
- MUE 2211 - Early Childhood Music and Movement Credit Hours: 3
- ARE 2000 - Early Childhood Art and Creativity Credit Hours: 3
- SYG 2010 - Social Problems Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 2732 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition for Young Children Credit Hours: 3
- Select 6 hours of Restricted Electives with advisor approval. Credit Hours: 6
Core Requirements: Advanced Level (60 Credits)
- All methods/specialization/foundations courses must be completed with a letter grade of “C” (2.0) or better before registering for Practicum: Early Childhood Development. However, a minimum GPA of 2.75 is required in the professional, specialization and overall for admission to Practicum: Early Childhood Development.
- A grade of “C” (2.0) or better is required.
Semester I (15 Credit Hours)
- EEC 3700 - Social and Emotional Development of Young Children Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4661 - Early Childhood Education Theory and Practice: Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 3613 - Observation and Assessment of Young Children Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 3214 - Child Development Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 3008 - Early Childhood Children’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
Semester II (15 Credit Hours)
- EEC 4604 - Classroom Management and Guidance of Young Children Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4402 - Cultural and Family Systems Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 3450 - Young Children With Special Needs Credit Hours: 3
- RED 3310 - Early Reading, Writing and Language Arts Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4414 - Parent-Child Relations Credit Hours: 3
Semester III (6 Credit Hours)
- EEC 4303 - Planning Creative Activities in Early Childhood Education Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4528 - Infant/Toddler Care and Education Credit Hours: 3
Semester IV (12 Credit Hours)
- PET 4050C - Motor Development and Learning Credit Hours: 3
Select Three Early Childhood Development Track Electives (9 Credit Hours)
Note: Students must consult with their advisor regarding approval for other elective options.
A grade of “C” (2.0) or better is required.
- EEC 4268 - Curriculum Activities in Early Childhood Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4524 - Organization and Management in Early Childhood Credit Hours: 3
- EXP 3604 - Cognitive Psychology Credit Hours: 3
- PEO 3041 - Games Analysis Credit Hours: 3
- PET 3820 - Teaching Sports Skills I Credit Hours: 3
- PET 4710 - Methods for Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents Credit Hours: 3
- TSL 4080 - Theory and Practice of Teaching ESOL Students in Schools Credit Hours: 3
- SOW 4650 - Child Abuse: Treatment and Prevention Credit Hours: 3
- SOW 4654 - Children’s Services Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4744 - Child Life: Psychosocial Care of Children in Health Settings Credit Hours: 3
- SOW 3104 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 4751 - Parent Involvement in Education Credit Hours: 3 or
- DEP 3202 - Psychology of Exceptional Children Credit Hours: 3 or
- EEX 3221 - Assessment of Exceptional Students Credit Hours: 3 or
- EEX 3241 - Methods for Academic Skills for Exceptional Students Credit Hours: 3 or
- EEX 4066 - Curriculum, Theory and Instructional Strategies for Students with Special Needs Credit Hours: 3 or
- EEX 4601 - Introduction to Behavior Management Credit Hours: 3 or
- PPE 3003 - Personality Theory and Research Credit Hours: 3 or
- SOP 3004 - Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3 or
- SOW 3740 - Social Work Practice with Loss & Life’s Transitions Credit Hours: 3
Semester V (12 Credit Hours)
- EEC 4940 - Practicum: Early Childhood Development Credit Hours: 12
Restricted Electives
Capstone Requirements
Electives
Foreign Language Requirements
Admissions
- State University System foreign language admission requirement: Two years in high school or one year of college instruction in a single foreign language. (This requirement applies to those students admitted to the University without the required two units of foreign language in high school.)
Graduation
Additional Requirements
Required Minors
Departmental Exit Requirements
- Achieve a minimum overall 2.75 GPA in all courses within the major.
- Achieve a minimum 2.75 GPA in the education core coursework.
- Achieve a minimum 2.75 GPA in the specialization coursework.
- Achieve a minimum overall 2.75 GPA
- You must upload key assignments using the Via by Watermark platform. Key assignments are assessed by faculty to provide evidence of candidate proficiency in all Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs).
- All teacher education candidates, Lifelong Learning majors and Early Childhood Development & Education majors (all ECDE tracks) are required to complete all Via requirements for graduation. See https://ccie.ucf.edu/explore-via/.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 UCF GPA
- 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Additional Information
Honors In Major
Related Programs
Certificates
Related Minors
Advising Notes
- In addition to EDF 2085, a minimum of 6 hours with an international or diversity focus is required. The foreign language admission requirement may be used to meet this requirement.
- Students interested in a Child Life Specialist Certification should seek advising from the ECDE program faculty for electives selection.
- Students interested in Child Life Specialist Certification: Take EEC 4744 - Child Life: Psychosocial Care of Children in Health Settings as an elective course
Transfer Notes
- Courses taken at Florida College System institutions may substitute for select courses in prerequisites with the permission of the department.
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
Program Academic Learning Compacts
- Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm
Plan of Study
- Note: This recommended sequence may vary at selected regional campus locations. Consult with your Education advisor and review your degree audit for more recent information.
Freshman Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)
- EDF 2085 - Introduction to Diversity for Educators Credit Hours: 3
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
- MGF 1106 - Finite Mathematics Credit Hours: 3
- PSY 2012 - General Psychology Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- SYG 2010 - Social Problems Credit Hours: 3
- PSC 1121 - Physical Science Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 2732 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition for Young Children Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- MUL 2010 - Enjoyment of Music Credit Hours: 3
- PHI 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
- THE 2000 - Theatre Survey Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)
- ARE 2000 - Early Childhood Art and Creativity Credit Hours: 3
- MUE 2211 - Early Childhood Music and Movement Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 1005 - Biological Principles Credit Hours: 3
- Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1 elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective with Advisor approval Credit Hours: 3
- STA 2014 - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3
- Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 3 Elective (Prefer course from Cultural & Historical Foundation, Area 1) Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective with Advisor approval Credit Hours: 3
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
- EDF 2130 - Child and Adolescent Development for Educators Credit Hours: 3
- SOW 3104 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- EEC 3700 - Social and Emotional Development of Young Children Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4661 - Early Childhood Education Theory and Practice: Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 3613 - Observation and Assessment of Young Children Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 3214 - Child Development Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 3008 - Early Childhood Children’s Literature Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- EEC 4604 - Classroom Management and Guidance of Young Children Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4402 - Cultural and Family Systems Credit Hours: 3
- EEX 3450 - Young Children With Special Needs Credit Hours: 3
- RED 3310 - Early Reading, Writing and Language Arts Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4414 - Parent-Child Relations Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)
- EEC 4303 - Planning Creative Activities in Early Childhood Education Credit Hours: 3
- EEC 4528 - Infant/Toddler Care and Education Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall (12 Credit Hours)
- PET 4050C - Motor Development and Learning Credit Hours: 3
- Select Three Early Childhood Development Track Electives Credit Hours: 9
Senior Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- EEC 4940 - Practicum: Early Childhood Development Credit Hours: 12
