General Information about the Program

  1. Completion of the Unified Early Childhood Program of Study includes coursework in the School of Teaching & Learning, the Department of Special Education, the Department of Educational Psychology, and the Department of Educational Leadership. (See Program of Study). This course work is designed to prepare teachers to teach all children from the earliest ages to grade 3 (including those with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds) and results in eligibility for the following certificates:  Preschool (birth to 4 years); Prek/Primary (age 3 to grade 3); Prek Handicapped Endorsement.

    2.  
  2. Completion of the program includes a fifth year of study and results in a master's degree only for those students accepted to graduate school, otherwise this becomes a year of postbaccalaureate study. Admission to the junior year does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.


    3. Admission to the graduate program requires:

      a) Scoring at least 1000 on the GRE (Verbal + Quantitative) with a Verbal Score requirement of 400.

      or

      b) Maintaining an upper division GPA of 3.0


     
  3. Membership in a cohort:  Since students enter only in the fall, students remain with the same group for the 3 years of the program.

    4.  
  4. Attendance at semester portfolio meetings: At the end of each semester, Unified Early Childhood students meet with their advisers to reflect on the semester and share their developing portfolios. This experience is an important vehicle for professional development and attendance is mandatory.

    5.  
  5. Course attendance includes some evenings and Fridays.

    6.  
  6. The Unified Early Childhood Program is guided by the Florida Department of Education Code of Ethics and the Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida as well as the University of Florida ethical standards.  All students are expected to abide by these standards.

    7.  
  7. Participation in field placements each semester (field placements may require travel outside of Alachua County):

      8. a) Semester 1 (Fall): Students spend 3 hours every Monday morning in a local Head Start classroom as a requirement for EEC 3800 and EEX 3011. This placement begins the 2nd week of classes.
      b) Semesters 2 (Spring) and 3 (Fall): Students spend 10.5 hours weekly in an early childhood classroom. These placements may include preschool, preschool special education, early intervention, kindergarten and primary (1st or 2nd grade).
      c) Semester 4 (Spring) Instructors determine the nature of field experience.

  8. Academic Learning Compact