Contents
Catalog Links

BS Birth to Kindergarten Education - Online

Program Description

As a student in the Birth to Kindergarten program at GWU, you will learn about the development stages children experience from birth through age five. By studying the learning characteristics of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, you will acquire useful techniques and strategies to measure cognitive, social, emotional, and communication development. Students may choose a licensure or non-licensure track. The 120-credit-hour program is delivered online.

This degree plan is an example of student progression through the program. The academic program requires a minimum of 120 credit hours for the bachelor’s degree. The degree consists of a major field of concentration in the liberal arts or in a professional or pre-professional area, a General Education program, and elective courses. This example degree plan focuses Years 1 & 2 on the General Education program and Years 3 & 4 on the Major/Minor areas. It is recommended that students incorporate Major/Minor courses into Years 1 & 2 as much as possible.

  • Note 1: Academic departments reserve the right to alter the term in which a course is offered.
  • Note 2: GWU Online courses run in continuous 8-week terms. Students can start anytime.
  • Terms 1 & 2 = Spring
  • Terms 3 & 4 = Summer
  • Terms 5 & 6 = Fall

Learn more

Years 1 & 2: General Education (48-51 hours)

See General Education requirements

 

 

Year 3: Term 1 (6 hours)
 EDU 250  4  Teaching in the 21st Century Schools
 MED 204  3  Math for Elementary Teachers

 

Year 3: Term 2 (6 hours)

 
 BKE 380  3  Early Childhood Curriculum
 BKE 390  3  Kindergarten Curriculum

 

Year 3: Term 3 (3 hours)
 BKE 300  3  Technology in the BK Environment

 

Year 3: Term 4 (3 hours)
 PSY 301  3  Child Psychology

 

Year 3: Term 5 (8 hours)
 BKE 370  4  Infants and Toddlers
 BKE 410  4  Language and Literacy for the Young Child

 

Year 3: Term 6 (7 hours)
 BKE 260   3  Assessment and Observation
 BKE 280  3  Guiding and Supporting Young Learners
 LIB 303  1  Information Literacy for Education

 

Year 4: Term 1 (6 hours)
 BKE 290  3  Child Development
 BKE 360  3  Child, Family, and Community: Building Supportive Relationships

 

Year 4: Term 2 (7 hours)
 BKE 420  4  Math, Science, Social Studies, and the Arts for Young Children
 PSY 303  3  Educational Psychology

 

Year 4: Term 3 (3 hours)
Elective 3 Elective

 

Year 4: Term 4 (3 hours)
Elective 3 Elective

 

Year 4: Term 5 (11 hours)

Admission to the College of Education required

 
BKE 430 3 Internship: BK Practices, Procedures, and Policies
EDU 350* 4 Diverse Populations in 21st Century Schools
EDU 435*  4 Facilitating Learning in 21st Century Schools 

 

Year 4: Term 6 (11 hours continued)

Admission to the College of Education required

 
BKE270 3 The Exceptional Child
EDU 350* continued 4 Diverse Populations in 21stCentury Schools
EDU 435* continued 4 Facilitating Learning in 21stCentury Schools

 

Year 5: Term 1 (12 hours)

Admission to the College of Education required

 
EDU 450* or BKE 440* 12 Student Teaching or Professional Administrative Seminar

 

Year 5: Term 2 (12 hours continued)

Admission to the College of Education required

 
EDU 450* continued or BKE 440* continued 12 Student Teaching or Professional Administrative Seminar

* 16-week class

As a student in this program, you will:

  1. Apply leadership skills to assume leadership roles in an educational setting.
  2. Describe and apply the various stages and substages of growth and development in young children, the unique patterns with which children progress through these stages, and the factors that distinguish the wide range of typical from atypical development.
  3. Explain and create the design and implementation of developmentally appropriate learning environments for young children.
  4. Explain and demonstrate the most effective ways to support families in facilitating their young children’s development.
  5. Analyze data, including screening and assessment procedures focused on individual development, and program evaluation.
  6. Synthesize data from screening and assessment procedures to inform instruction.
  7. Apply current instructional principles, research, and appropriate assessment practices to the use of age-appropriate technology and applications.
  8. Differentiate instruction in an effective and appropriate manner.
  9. Implement developmentally appropriate management processes in an educational setting.
  10. Use research and data to adapt instruction.
  11. Demonstrate professional dispositions in varied settings with regard to all members of an organization.