Major code BS6355

The early childhood major, jointly offered by the College of Education and College of Health and Human Services, prepares you to teach children three years old through third grade. In addition to being qualified to teach in primary grades, you can also teach in preprimary programs such as public school preschools, nursery schools, child-care centers and Head Start programs.

You must meet the criteria for selective admission to and retention in teacher education as established by the College of Education (see “Admission to Professional Education” in the College of Education section). Enrollment in the program is limited to promote quality instruction, appropriate field placement and effective advising. Not all students who apply and meet the minimum criteria will be accepted. Contact your Office of Student Services or your academic advisor for details on the Early Childhood restrictive admission criteria and process.

Students interested in the early childhood major will enter Ohio University with a pre-major code of ND8834 (Pre-Early Childhood). If you are enrolled in a different major or college at Ohio University and you wish to transfer into this major, you must either declare the pre-major code, ND8834, if you don’t meet the admission criteria or apply for admission if you do meet them. You must have at least a 2.0 GPA to declare the non-degree code. To be admitted into the major, you must apply and be accepted after successful completion of the admission criteria.

Admission criteria and processes are:

1. Completion of 45 quarter hours of credit with an overall grade-point average (GPA) of 2.75. A current DARS and, if a transfer student, transcripts from previous coursework at other institutions must be submitted with the application materials.
2. You must complete the following courses with a grade of C (2.0) or better in each course. 
   

   COMS		103		Fundamentals of Public Speaking		Credit Hours: 4
   HCCF		160		Intro to Child Development		Credit Hours: 4
   HCCF		160A		Observation and Assessment		Credit Hours: 4
   HCCF		170		Intro to Early Childhood Education		Credit Hours: 3
   PSY		101		General Psychology		Credit Hours: 5
   				One science course with laboratory		Credit Hours: 5 or 6
   				One Tier I freshman composition course		Credit Hours: 5
   				Two math courses (MATH 120 or higher)

3. Satisfactory score on the PRAXIS I (PPST/CBT) Test. You must achieve scores of 172 or above in writing and mathematics and 173 or above in reading OR be exempt from the test due to a standardized test score. You must have a composite score of 21 or better on the ACT and/or 990 or better on the SAT to be exempt. Students can not enroll in education courses until this requirement is met.
4. Submission of a statement confirming that your record is clear of any felony convictions, obtained by Student Services in the College of Education.
5. Submission of results of the tuberculosis skin test (administered by Hudson Health Center or other appropriate office).
6. Submission of two professional references.

Transfer students must meet all of the above requirements. Official transcript(s) from the previous institution(s) attended must be submitted.

Procedure for application:

1. Compete the requested information online and submit application by June 1.
2. Submit in person or by mail items 3-5 above. These items must be received by June 1 of the year in which you apply at the School of Human and Consumer Sciences, Grover Center W324, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701.
   
   Students who are admitted to the early childhood major will automatically be admitted to Professional Education.
   
   Graduates of the program will be awarded the Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) degree. Upon conferral of the degree and after passing the Praxis II exam, you are eligible for an Ohio two-year provisional teaching license in Early Childhood Education.

Required General Education

Ohio requirements for teacher licensure state that you must complete a general studies program that include the arts, communications, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, sciences and the social sciences. In addition, the general studies curriculum should incorporate multicultural and global perspectives. You should work closely with your faculty advisor to select courses that would fulfill both Ohio University General Education Requirements (see the Graduation Requirements section) and the requirements for teacher licensure.