Early Childhood Development, B.A.

When you invest in the earliest years,
the possibilities are endless.

The study of Early Childhood Development is designed to help you fully understand and facilitate growth and development of children from birth through eight years of age.

Faculty with decades of experience in the field provide a strong foundation in both theory and practice. You’ll learn to serve the unique needs of young children, including those with special needs.

Courses focus on best practices and teaching strategies for serving young learners based on guiding documents from the California State Department of Education.

Completion of the ECD degree prepares you academically, spiritually, and professionally through a hands-on, real-life approach to teaching and learning.

Program Highlights

• Choose between face-to-face or fully online program options
• Meet for class one night per week
• Progress through the entire program with a cohort of 12-22 adult students
• Engage with classmates from a variety of life stages and cultural backgrounds.
• Meet state standards with curriculum aligned with the California Preschool Learning Foundations, published by the California State Department of Education and the National Association for the Education of Young Children standards for baccalaureate degrees. Curriculum is also aligned with the California Teaching Performance Expectations, published by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Faculty

Catalog

Program Director: Carol Gossett, M.A.

Overview

Mission Statement. It is the mission of the Early Childhood Development program to prepare students with the knowledge, theory and practical experience necessary to plan, implement and evaluate developmentally appropriate experiences for young children and their families in a variety of settings while nurturing Christian commitment through integration of faith, values and ethics.

Benefits/Careers. This degree prepares graduates to pursue a career in early childhood education, including positions in public and private preschools, churches and businesses that offer preschool for the children of their employees. Graduates are also prepared to pursue additional credentials and certificates to become educators in PreK, TK, and K through 2nd grade levels in elementary schools and special education programs.  The program offers a firm foundation for graduate studies towards positions such as career counselors with child and family services organizations and in the area of social work and similar post baccalaureate programs.

Special Features. Threaded throughout the ECD program are topics which address the needs of children with exceptionalities, the application of technology for best practices in the classroom and beyond. The application of various guiding documents within the field of early childhood education, including Preschool Learning Foundations and Frameworks from the California Department of Education, the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) the CA Common Core State Content Standards and others are applied through the program.

Description. The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Development is interdisciplinary and designed to help students better understand the growth and development of children from birth through age eight years. Courses focus on the total environment of the child as part of the learning experience by incorporating a strong foundation in theory and practice through a holistic, constructivist approach, which addresses the diversity and special needs of the young child. Coursework also prepares students to work with children with exceptionalities/special needs. Curriculum is aligned with the Learning Foundations published by the California State Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards for baccalaureate degrees. Students meet subject matter competence in six categories identified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Admissions Requirements

• Application form and fee
• A minimum 2.4 GPA, below 2.4 can submit a petition
• Two years' postsecondary work experience.
  • Need a minimum of 6 transferable units, below 6 units can submit a petition
  • Note: need 60 units before starting the major

Program Student Learning Outcomes

FPU Early Childhood Development baccalaureate degree core program SLO's are based on NCATE national standards for initial licensure/baccalaureate degrees found at naeyc.org/files/ncate/file/initiallicensure.pdf

1. Students demonstrate their understanding of young children's characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on children's development and learning, by designing plans for environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for all children.
2. Students demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, and value of the importance and complex characteristics of children's families and communities.  They use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children's development and learning.
3. Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding about the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment.  Students show evidence of how to use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence children's development and learning.
4. Students integrate their understanding of and relationships with children and families; their understanding of developmentally effective approaches to teaching and learning; and their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for all children.
5. Students identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.
6. Students will submit assignments following APA Format and ECD Writing Skills Guidelines as instructed in course materials.

Credit-Bearing Grades

Students must earn a C- or higher in all Early Childhood Development core courses to receive credit.

Program Length/Semester Starts

Eighteen-month program, starting in January and July.

Locations Offered

North Fresno, Merced, Visalia Campuses and Online

Degree Pathways

Early Childhood Development, B.A. (DC) Two Year Pathway  

Early Childhood Development, B.A. ADT Pathway  

General Education Requirements

See General Education: Degree Completion Students  

Required Courses (39 Units)

The following units must be earned at Fresno Pacific University:

• BIB 314 - Jesus and the Christian Community Credits 3
• BIB 438 - Biblical Perspectives for Educators Credits 3
• ECD 300 - Advanced Child Family and Community Credits 3
• ECD 305 - Advanced Child Growth and Development Credits 3
• ECD 310 - Human Diversity and Relations Credits 3
• ECD 400 - Children's Play and Learning Theory Credits 3
• ECD 420 - Guidance in Social and Emotional Behaviors Credits 3
• ECD 430 - Early Childhood Physical Education Methods Credits 3
• ECD 440 - Students with Exceptionalities in School and Community Credits 3
• ECD 450 - Children's Art and Literature Credits 3
• ECD 460 - Math and Science for Young Children Credits 3
• ECD 470 - Curriculum Development for Early Childhood Education Credits 3
• ECD 484 - Child Observation Methods Credits 3

Electives

Elective units as needed to meet the Bachelor of Arts minimum. This requirement may be met through allowable college coursework, Advanced Placement exams, College Level Examination Program, International Baccalaureate exams, and Military or ACE credit.

Graduate & Degree Completion Admission

Phone: 559-453-3690

Email: GDC.admissions@fresno.edu

Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Information

1. Child and Adolescent Development (AA-T) to Early Childhood Development, B.A.

BA courses fulfilled through ADT:

• All lower-division General Education requirements fulfilled
• BA major has no lower-division major or co-requisite courses that could be fulfilled by the ADT.
• All BA major courses are upper-division and are completed at FPU.
• This program is offered as evening accelerated and online accelerated

ADT Guarantee is the completion of BA/BS degree in 68 units.

2. Early Childhood Education (AS-T) to Early Childhood Development, B.A.

BA courses fulfilled through ADT:

• All lower-division General Education requirements fulfilled
• BA major has no lower-division major or co-requisite courses that could be fulfilled by the ADT.
• All BA major courses are upper-division and are completed at FPU.
• This program is offered as evening accelerated and online accelerated

ADT Guarantee is the completion of BA/BS degree in 68 units.

3. Psychology (AA-T) to Early Childhood Development, B.A.

BA courses fulfilled through ADT:

• All lower-division General Education requirements fulfilled
• BA major has no lower-division major or co-requisite courses that could be fulfilled by the ADT.
• All BA major courses are upper-division and are completed at FPU.
• This program is offered as evening accelerated and online accelerated

ADT Guarantee is the completion of BA/BS degree in 68 units.

4. Sociology (AA-T) to Early Childhood Development, B.A.

BA courses fulfilled through ADT:

• All lower-division General Education requirements fulfilled
• BA major has no lower-division major or co-requisite courses that could be fulfilled by the ADT.
• All BA major courses are upper-division and are completed at FPU.

This program is offered as evening accelerated and online accelerated

Transfer Agreements

Non-traditional Admission

Two-year Graduation Guarantee

Two-Year Transfer Guarantee for ADT Pathways

State Authorization

Cost & Financial Aid

Student Financial Services

Phone: 559-453-2041

Fax: 559-453-5595

Cashier: 559-453-5586

Toll free: 866-321-7502

FAFSA code: 001253

Email: sfs@fresno.edu

Tuition & Financial Aid

Alexandra Green

Mathematics

The grants, the academic awards, the transfer scholarship – all of it makes it so much more affordable to attend FPU. I know that school isn’t cheap for anyone, but FPU helped me realize that I could actually come to this school because they were going to help me so much financially.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared for careers in early childhood education or to pursue credentials and certificates to become educators in elementary schools and special education programs, or work as career counselors with child and family services.

Career Possibilities

• Public preschool teacher
• Private preschool teacher
• Private childcare provider

Career Development Center

Phone: 559-453-7150

Email: rose.winn@fresno.edu

Career Development Happens Here