Early Childhood Education  PreK-Grade 4

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification program at Moravian University prepares knowledgeable and competent professionals to become educational leaders. We provide a comprehensive approach to mentoring pre-service teachers through teaching and research.

Moravian University's early childhood pre-service teachers are knowledgeable about the organization and philosophy of early childhood education, developmentally appropriate practices, child development, the pre-kindergarten through fourth grade curriculum, strategies and skills for effective practice and management, the use of data to inform instruction, current skills in the use of educational technology, and the design of successful interventions responsive to the needs of individual children.

Early Childhood certification candidates are required to complete a liberal arts core of studies, an academic major in any discipline, education courses for teacher certification, and a sequence of field experiences that are developmentally appropriate, linked directly to education coursework, and occur in a variety of educational settings.

Major Requirements 

Students seeking certification in Early Childhood Education (ECE) must complete a major of their choice as well as Moravian's program of general education (Learning in Common). If preferred, early childhood education certification candidates may complete a pre-approved interdisciplinary program, which is composed of either 8 or 9 course units. Students must select Mathematics 120 to fulfill the Learning in Common Quantitative Reasoning (F2) requirement. (Students pursuing Early Childhood certification who choose a major in Math are exempted from this course and requirement.) Students also need an additional half-unit course in Math. (Again, students majoring in Math are exempted from this requirement.)

In the multidisciplinary (M) categories, students must take either History 113 or 114 to fulfill the requirement in Historical Studies (M1); English 101, 102, 103, 104, or 105 to fulfill the Literature (M2) requirement; Education 160 to fulfill the Ultimate Questions (M3) requirement; and both Education 213.2 and 214.2 to complete the Aesthetic Expression (M6) requirement. Early Childhood candidates must complete an M4 or M5 (but not both), which may be a part of the major. The requirement not completed – M4 or M5 – is waived. In addition, Early Childhood candidates must complete only one of the Upper-Division (U) categories, which may be a part of the major.

Professional Education Courses Required for Certification

Recommended for Freshman Year
  • EDUC 100.2 Intro. to the Education of English Language Learners (Fall)
  • EDUC 160 Culture, Community & Diversity: Intro. to Critical Teaching (Spring; 40-hour Stage 1 & 2 Field Experience/ fulfills M3)
  • EDUC 214.2 Music and Movement (Spring)
Recommended for Sophomore Year
  • EDUC 210 Child Development & Cognition I: Pre-natal to 5  (Fall, 40-hour Stage 1 & 2 Field Experience)
  • EDUC 213.2 Imagination & Creativity in Young Children (Fall)
  • EDUC 216 Early Childhood Theories, Practices, & Family Partnerships (Fall)
  • EDUC 244 Including Students with Disabilities (Fall)
  • EDUC 211 Child Development & Cognition II: 6 to 9 years  (Spring, 40-hour Stage 1 & 2 Field Experience)
  • EDUC 222 Emerging Language & Literacy, PreK-4 (Spring, EDUC 211 Co-requisite, Stage 1 & 2 Field Experience)
Recommended for Junior Year
  • EDUC 312 Data Driven Analysis & Decision Making in ECE (Fall)
  • EDUC 322 PreK-4 Instructional Strategies for Math Thinking  (Fall)
  • EDUC 323 PreK-4 Instructional Strategies Scientific Reasoning (Fall)
  • EDUC 358.2 Pre-Student-Teaching Field Experience (Fall, 75-hour Stage 3 Field Experience)
  • EDUC 218.2 Movement, Health, Safety Education for Young Children (Spring)
  • EDUC 321 Language Arts for Children, PK-Grade 4 (Spring with 359.2)
  • EDUC 324 PreK-4 Social Studies (Spring)
  • EDUC 359.2 Pre-Student-Teaching Field Experience (Spring, 75-hour Stage 3 Field Experience)
Recommended for Senior Year
  • EDUC 370 Seminar for Early Childhood: Advocacy, Ethics, Leadership, Collaboration
  • EDUC 375-7 Student Teaching Experience (Fall recommended, Stage 4 Field Experience)

Important Guidelines

  • Students must complete all foundation (100 level) courses with a grade of C or better in order to continue taking upper level courses. Students in the early childhood program should take Education 100.2 in their first term of study at the University.
  • Students must have an overall QPA of 2.7 in order to take education courses at the 200 level or above.
  • A lab science (F4) course with a grade of C or better is required prior to enrolling in EDUC 323. MATH 120 with a grade of C or better is the pre-requisite for EDUC 322, and an American history course with a grade of C or better is the prerequisite for EDUC 324.
  • All education courses must be completed prior to the start of student teaching. No other courses should be taken during the student teaching semester which is completed in the senior year.
  • Any of the above courses which you plan to complete at another institution must have prior written approval of the program coordinator.

Content Area Tests - required prior to certification

  • 8006  Module 1 - Early Childhood Education PK-Grade 4
  • 8007  Module 2 - Early Childhood Education PK-Grade 4
  • 8008  Module 3 - Early Childhood Education PK-Grade 4

Visit this site for information on these assessments - https://www.pa.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/PA006_TestPage.html

Test scores should be reported to Moravian University (RA2418) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

Jean DesJardin

Program Coordinator

Dr. Jean L. DesJardin

Education Department Chair, Program Coordinator and Advisor
desjardinj@moravian.edu