More Information
Visit the online course catalog for more information on all majors and minors.
As an education major concentrating in early childhood education (PreK-2), you’ll gain the expertise, skills and confidence to teach young children.
Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, our programs provide you with the training required to earn your state teaching license in early childhood education. Bonus? Through hands-on learning opportunities, you’ll develop your education philosophy, create a portfolio and hone your classroom-management skills.
In the early-childhood education program, you will:
100% of education majors participate in at least one practicum. You’ll gain invaluable classroom experience during your pre-practicum and practicum student-teaching. It’s your chance to take what you’ve learned at Merrimack and apply it at one of the many schools in the area.
Upon successful completion of the education program, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue a career in education. Positions may include:
All early-childhood education majors take a combination of required and elective courses to satisfy human-development, teacher-education, and subject matter knowledge requirements. Of the 124 credits required for your degree, you must complete 24 credits of human development courses, 48 credits of teacher education courses, and 24 credits of subject matter knowledge courses in addition to a semester of student teaching.
You must have a minimum of a 3.00 GPA in your required courses prior to entering your student-teaching semester. To graduate with a degree in early-childhood education and teach in Massachusetts, you must also pass the MTELs.
Courses in the School of Education and Social Policy are scheduled to account for instructional time that is commensurate with credits earned.
Required Courses
Human Development Core (complete all four)
BIO 1106 |
Human Biology |
HDE 2130 |
Diversity, Social Justice and Ethics |
HDE 1000 |
Introduction to Human Development |
HDE 3000 |
Research Methods and Applied Statistics in Human Development |
Human Development Electives (choose one)
EDU 2230 |
Applied Adolescent Psychology |
EDU 2240 |
Adult Development |
EDU 3200 |
Language and Social Processes |
EDU 4500 |
Curriculum Design Across All Content Areas for Children with Moderate Disabilities |
HDE 1050 |
Applied Infancy Development |
PSY 3340 |
Developmental Psychopathology |
PSY 3380 |
Psychology of Aging |
SOC 3850 |
Sociology of Aging |
Teaching and Education (complete all of the following)
EDU 2210 |
Child Growth and Development |
EDU 2310 |
Introduction to Early Childhood Education |
EDU 2410 |
The Exceptional Learner |
EDU 3210 |
Psychology of Learning and Assessment |
EDU 3310 |
Teaching Reading and Language Arts |
EDU 3340 |
Teaching Mathematics and Technology |
EDU 3360 |
Teaching Science, Health and Physical Education |
EDU 4220 |
Differentiation and Instruction |
EDU 4221 |
Positive Learning Environments and Behavior Interventions |
EDU 4320 |
Teaching Social Studies |
EDU 4340 |
Children’s Literature |
EDU 4500 |
Language Acquisition and Literacy Development |
EDU 4582 |
Sheltered English Instruction |
EDU 2500 |
Pre-Practicum I |
EDU 2510 |
Pre-Practicum II |
EDU 2520 |
Pre-Practicum III |
EDU 4905 |
Practicum: Early Childhood Education, plus and Seminar |
EDU 4920 |
Seminar: Practicum Organization |
EDU 4921 |
Seminar: Practicum Implementation |
Electives I (choose one)
CRM 2000 |
Youth, Deviance and Crime |
HDE 3620 |
Diversity in Practice with Families and Communities |
HDE 4260 |
Foundations of Counseling Across Professions |
PSY 3250 |
Cultural Psychology |
SOC 3330 |
Racial and Ethnic Minorities |
SOC 3450 |
Sociology of the Family |
WGS 1010 |
Gender and Society |
WGS 2010 |
Intro to Ethnic Studies |
Electives II (choose seven, as outlined)
American Civilization: |
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Literature (choose one): |
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Math (complete all): |
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Science: |
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World Civilization (choose one): |
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Visit the online course catalog for more information on all majors and minors.