Education of Young Children, B.A.

Name of Program Coordinator: Hengameh Kermani

Brief Program Introduction: The Education of Young Children (EYC) program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree leading to Birth through Kindergarten (B-K) teacher licensure in North Carolina, as well as courses for individuals who wish to add Birth-Kindergarten or Preschool Add-on licensure to an existing degree or license.

Target Audience: The Education of Young Children program is designed for people who will assume leadership roles as teachers, consultants, and directors of early childhood education programs in public and private schools. Program Goals: The goal of the Education of Young Children program at UNCW is to assist in providing an appropriate education of young children (birth through kindergarten) through the preparation of teachers who are well educated and professionally competent.

Upon completion of the undergraduate Education of Young Children program (EYC), the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the typical and atypical course of development, including the underlying processes and prominent characteristics, of children from birth through kindergarten.
• Delineate major philosophical, historical, and legal bases and characteristics of the field of early childhood education, including special education.
• Acquire knowledge and skill in creating and adapting learning environments which are developmentally appropriate (including methods for sensorimotor, cognitive, adaptive, language/communication, social, aesthetic, emotional and physical development) for young children with a wide range of learning and maturational needs.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the trends, issues, and research in early intervention and early childhood education.
• Demonstrate the ability to create environments and engage in interactions that are sensitive to diversity (e.g., cultural, linguistic, geographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic), as well as promoting an anti-bias perspective.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and respect for differences in families, view parents as partners in the education process, and establish collaborative relationships with them.
• Establish a pattern of reflective learning and inquiry leading towards confidence, professionalism, and effectiveness in the role of educator of young children.