Early Childhood Education
With this major we are trying to produce thinking teachers. We want students to be able to prepare fresh, original lessons and not be bound to structured teacher's manuals.
Curriculum Highlights
- Freshman
- Introduction to Education
- Physical Science
- Biological Science
- Sophomore
- Mathematics for Teachers
- Early Childhood Education
- Classroom Communication
- Early Childhood Curriculum
- Child Health & Safety
- Teaching Language Arts & Social Studies
- Junior
- Instructional Technology
- Teaching Reading
- Teaching Techniques (PK-8)
- Diagnostic & Prescriptive Reading
- Practicum: PK-8th Grade
- Advanced Child Development
- Senior
- Trends & Issues in Society
- Teaching Music
- Children's Literature
- Directed Teaching
- Appreciation of Art
- Introduction to Exceptional Learners
For further details see complete major information:
Early Childhood Education Personal Opportunity Profile
You may also contact Admissions (1.800.BJ.AND.ME) to receive a printed copy of this information.
Key Courses
Instructional Technology This course has been evaluated by our graduates as one of the most practical they have taken at BJU. You will compare and evaluate various methods and teaching techniques for the elementary grades. This course also affords you opportunities to learn how to prepare lesson plans, teach lessons, and be videotaped and evaluated by an experienced instructor. You will also get "hands on" experience in the University's well-equipped media center, where you will learn how to operate and use state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment.
Early Childhood Education This is another practical course in the early childhood major. It provides the foundation for the remainder of the program. The student is introduced to the unique characteristics of the young child and the methods and materials, and curriculum most suitable for education at the kindergarten and primary school levels.
Teaching Mathematics, Language Arts, Reading, Art, Music, Science These six courses will give you all of the basics you will need for teaching in the elementary school. You will learn how to teach the fundamental principles of mathematics and language arts, together with applications especially practical for the elementary school child. Even if you thought that you "hated math," Teaching Math will change your mind. You will learn how to set reading objectives for your students and techniques to help slow readers. You will also learn how to develop creative expression through both art and music in your young students. Teaching Science will present you with methods and materials for teaching science on the elementary level; and Teaching Health and P.E. will help you learn how to teach your children a program of healthful living for their "total environment" of home, school, and community.
Directed Teaching Here you will have a chance to "try your wings" by teaching under the supervision of an experienced teacher. You will begin gradually and work into handling a teacher's normal load.
Career Opportunities
You will have at least three good teaching opportunities to choose from as you look for a place to teach. (We receive over three times as many requests for teachers as we have teachers to fill those requests.) And, in the future, this ratio is going to increase as we, as a nation, face a national teacher shortage. You will be qualified to help meet this need and train young people both in the states and abroad.
A major in Early Childhood Education is also unique preparation for parenting. A great deal of what a child learns is acquired in the first five years; with this training, you can give your child a tremendous head start.
If you choose to teach your child at home, you will be very thoroughly prepared to be the teacher of your home-school. Early childhood education will also train you for teaching either your own or other children on the mission field.