ECE Program Philosophy and Description

The City College Undergraduate Program in Early Childhood Education is a New York State-approved teacher education program that is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).  Students who successfully complete all required coursework, fieldwork, student teaching, and teacher certification examinations are awarded a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Early Childhood Education and recommended for New York State Teacher Initial Certification (Birth-8 years) by the City College School of Education.

ECE students take general education courses, a liberal arts co-concentration, and early childhood teaching methods courses. As a clinical teacher education program, the ECE Program culminates in a semester-long student teaching internship during which each teacher candidate is mentored by a classroom teacher (“cooperating teacher”) and supervised and observed by a student teaching supervisor selected by the School of Education.

The ECE Program’s curriculum is designed to support and challenge our teacher candidates to become reflective teacher-practitioners who will

• be knowledgeable about young children's development in and across all domains

• understand how to observe and record children's behavior

• be capable of responding to the needs of diverse learners, including children with special needs

• design learning experiences based on observations of and interactions with young children

• deeply reflect about their teaching practices

• value the diversity of children, families, and colleagues

• make ethical and responsible decisions that prioritize the safety and well-being of children

• conduct themselves as professionals and work respectfully and collegially with others

Many of our graduates have earned Master’s degrees and professional teacher certification in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Bilingual Education, and Literacy Education from CUNY Teacher Education Programs, Bank Street College, and Columbia University Teacher’s College.

It is our mission to diversify the teaching field and support students for whom working in their home communities is a goal.
 

Last Updated: 03/04/2021 22:26