T100 - Early Childhood Education (B.S.)

The mission for the Early Childhood Education (E.C.E.) Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program is to prepare students to become highly effective prekindergarten through grade 3 teachers in public and private school settings.

The program offers affordable, flexible, yet targeted courses that focus on providing developmentally appropriate teaching practices to future educators through both hybrid and online class formats. The B.S. curricula are evidence-based and strive to meet and exceed the Florida Department of Education requirements. Students graduate with the ability to earn the Florida Educator Certificate (prekindergarten/primary education) and an ESOL endorsement.

The curriculum is designed to provide a practical hands-on application approach to understanding early childhood education. With the lower-division component of the B.S. degree built on the College’s Associate in Science (A.S.) degree program in Early Childhood Management, students who have completed the A.S. degree will, in most cases, be able to apply their technical coursework toward the B.S. degree.

The prerequisites for entering the B.S. in E.C.E. are a completed A.S. in Early Childhood Management or A.A. degree and completion of one prerequisite course for Florida Teacher Preparation Programs:

• EDF1005 - Introduction to Education

A minimum grade of C or higher must be achieved in all upper division courses.

To meet the minimum requirements for consideration for acceptance to the B.S. in Early Childhood Education program, applicants must satisfy the bachelor’s degree general admission requirements. The B.S. in Early Childhood Education degree program has rolling admissions throughout the term; a bachelor’s degree admissions application may be submitted at any time throughout the term.

Additionally, applicants must:

1. Hold an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education degree or a General Education Associate in Arts degree.

2. Have a grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the general education component of their A.S. or A.A. degree or have completed the requirements for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (Fla. Stat. § 1004.04).

3. Submit a typed essay (350-500 words in a Word document) on their reasons for becoming a teacher. Students submit their essays to TeacherAdmissions@fscj.edu.

4. Complete the state required prerequisite course EDF1005 - Introduction to Education with a grade of C or higher.

To receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Florida State College at Jacksonville, students must:

1. Earn a grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the general education component of A.S. or A.A. degree or have completed the requirements for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as required by Fla. Stat. § 1004.04.

2. Successfully complete all required courses with a C or higher and a 2.5 cumulative GPA.

3. Take and pass all three of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) prior to EEC 4940C - Internship Early Childhood and RED 4941C - Reading Practicum placement. For more information on the cost or how to register for the examinations, visit fl.nesinc.com. The FTCE include the following:

   1. General Knowledge Test (all four parts).

   2. Prekindergarten/Primary Education.

   3. Professional Education Test.

4. Submit an approved portfolio prior to EEC4940C - Internship Early Childhood and RED4941C - Reading Practicum placement demonstrating mastery of the program course objectives.

eceinformation@fscj.edu.

• Bright Futures Florida Academic Scholars Guaranteed Baccalaureate Admissions Program

• Florida Department of Children and Families Director’s Credential