2013-2014 Brenau University Catalog 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2013-2014 Brenau University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Early Childhood Education (B.S.)


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Career Opportunities  Teacher in elementary grades, kindergarten, nursery school, child development centers; trainer, teacher in day care programs; curriculum developer; consultant or resource person; materials developer for publishers.

A concentration in early childhood education leads to certification by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for pre school through grade five. In the field experiences and appropriate professional courses, due attention is given to the education of the growing child. Utilization of individualized instruction in developing competencies necessary to meet the needs of the child from pre school through grade five is emphasized.

In addition to all the course requirements, students must pass the Teaching Field Content Exams for academic content area (GACE) prior to placement with a school system to student teach. Education majors must earn a grade of “C” or better in all ED/SE courses and courses in his/her major areas of concentration.

Liberal Education Requirements


Brenau University and its faculty are dedicated to the goal of providing students with a thorough background in the liberal arts, as well as academic and professional skills which will help them become enlightened and productive members of society. To that end, the faculty developed a liberal education curriculum based on expectations and learning outcomes.

This liberal education curriculum is divided into four learning portals: World Understanding, Scientific and Analytic Curiosity, Artistic and Creative Imagination and Communication and Language Fluency.

  • World Understanding Learning
  • Scientific and Analytic Curiosity
  • Artistic and Creative Imagination
  • Communication and Language Fluency

Courses applied in one portal may not be applied in another portal. However, courses applied in the Liberal Education may be applied toward a student’s major or minor.

Students with an A.A., A.S. or a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution are exempt from Liberal Education requirements for Brenau’s bachelor degree programs (does not include Brenau’s A.A. degree). This exemption does not does not extend to any other associate’s degree (ex. A.A.S., A.A.T). This exemption does not affect transfer credit. All college-level credit that conforms to Brenau’s transfer credit policy will be recorded on the student’s Brenau transcript. This exemption does not affect any major courses required or any major foundation courses required.

World Understanding Learning Portal


Historical Perspective - 3 hours


Demonstrate knowledge of major events and movements in history and use this knowledge to generate a more sophisticated understanding of current events.

Scientific & Analytic Curiosity Portal


Mathematics - 3 hours


Demonstrate quantitative reasoning through numeric, symbolic or geometric means.

Course taken will depend upon math placement of the student.

Artistic & Creative Imagination Portal


Communication & Language Fluency Portal


Writing - 6 hours


Compose effective and logical written communication.

Modern Language - 0-3 hours


  • Students must have modern language competency through the high beginner (102 or 115) level. It is possible for a student to place out of part or all of modern language via placement or CLEP. Please see the placement information section for specific guidelines. If the student takes 101, that course may be applied as the students communication elective, if needed.
  • International Students will exempt the Modern Language requirement with a TOEFL score of 500 or above.

Communication Elective - 3 hours


Choose from any course in the Communication and Language Fluency portal not already applied in the Liberal Education or choose from the courses below. If a student takes 101 and 102 of the same language to satisfy the modern language requirement, the 101 course may satisfy the communication elective.

Professional Development


Education Majors must earn a grade of “C” or better in all major classes, including concentration electives. See the program plan for courses that can be cross/dual used between the liberal education and the major. In addition to all the course requirements, students must pass the Teaching Field Content Exams for academic content area (GACE) prior to student teaching. Students must have a major and overall grade point average of 2.75.

Additional Content Coursework


This coursework may apply toward LE requirements and is required of all Early Childhood Education students for GACE content preparation.

Note: Until 07/29/14 BA 203 was listed as an additional content course. That was an error and was removed 07/29/14.

Total Required Hours


A minimum of 120 hours is required to graduate with this major. It is possible that the student may graduate with more than 120 hours based on placement and transfer credit.

Note: Courses marked with an * are Liberal Education courses.

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