Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society, BS
Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Overview
Admissions and Requirements
Courses You’ll Take
Tuition & Fees
Program Overview
The online Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society (ECEMS), BS is designed to prepare students to work in early childhood settings with young children whose family members are highly mobile.
Family mobility is increasingly prevalent in military families, immigrant families, families required to travel for a living, homeless families and families living in poverty.
Students in this program will:
- Use their understanding of young children's needs and characteristics to influence the child's development and learning.
- Learn to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging for each child.
- Understand how successful early childhood education depends upon partnerships with the child's family and community.
- Utilize knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for every young child.
- Know how to demonstrate, through practicum and clinical practice, the knowledge skills and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood.
- Understand the importance of ethical guidelines and professional standards as they relate to early childhood practice.
The Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society program is offered as part of the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (AG*IDEA). When you complete the program, you are utilizing coursework that is provided by seven universities. Students enroll in courses at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, even though courses may be taught by other AG*IDEA member institutions.
Career Outlook: Upon completion of the program students will be qualified to work in a variety of programs that offer early care and education for children birth to age eight and particularly those with highly mobile populations such as military installations.
Career options include:
- Head Start teaching or leadership positions.
- Infant/toddler and preschool programs.
- Childcare centers and homes.
- Before and after school programs for children ages birth to 8.
Admissions and Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
2.5 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
Completed coursework
Have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours. These credits may be transferred to UNL or the prerequisite credits may be earned online through UNL.
Taken the TOEFL or IELTS
(Only required if English is not your native language)
Official transcripts from all previous schools
Complete a successful criminal background check.
NOTE: If you reside in state(s) , contact a program adviser before applying.
To apply to this program:
- Complete and submit the online application as a transfer student or first-time freshman student
- Pay the $45 non-refundable application fee
- Submit your transcripts for proof of high school graduation or its equivalent such as a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). If you have completed any post-secondary credits, submit those transcripts as well.
Courses You’ll Take
Core Courses
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CYAF 406 | Diversity in the Lives of Young Children and Families | 3 |
Exploration of cultural diversity in daily life and beliefs in families with young children. The focus is on U.S. families, with attention to the multiple cultures from which they come. | ||
| CYAF 409 | Working with Families | 3 |
Application of an ecological model to the understanding of variation in parental roles, perspectives, relationships, approaches, and challenges. | ||
| CYAF 407 | Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 |
Important elements for planning, promoting and maintaining healthy and safe learning/care environments, understanding childhood illnesses and establishing healthy lifestyles, first aid, and care providers maintaining their own health. Maintaining safe relationships with others, including identifying and reporting abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children. Exploration of nutrients for life and feeding, food preparation and safety policies and guidelines, food allergies and intolerances, appropriate feeding practices. | ||
| CYAF 408 | Technology and Youth Children | 3 |
Students will learn how electronic technology impacts the development of young children in educational, home, and community environments, and how technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning. Students will be critical thinkers and informed consumers of technology related to young children. | ||
| CYAF 303 | Development of Curriculum for Children Ages 4 to 8 | 3 |
Prerequisite: Practicum I
In this course, students will (1) learn and utilize assessment and documentation to inform curriculum, (2) plan and evaluate developmentally appropriate activities, and (3) learn about effective ways to share curriculum information with families. This course addresses all areas of developmental domains and content areas, and issues related to diversity in family composition, culture, and individual abilities will also be addressed. | ||
| CYAF 305 | Practicum II | 3 |
Prereq: Practicum I Practicum in Early Childhood Education is an opportunity for ECE teacher candidates to have a guided learning experience in a professional agency that provides services to children and families. It is expected that learning experiences and projects at the practicum site will provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to utilize and implement theories and practices learned in other ECE classes. | ||
| CYAF 205 | Child Guidance and Classroom Environments | 3 |
This course is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice in child guidance. This goal will be accomplished through review of current guidance methods and programs in order to familiarize students with successful guidance techniques. By the end of this course, students will develop their own approach to guidance based upon practices best suited to their own unique skills and strengths. | ||
| CYAF 204 | Child Development - 4 to 8 | 3 |
This course will focus on development from ages four through eight. Major theories and research on development will be covered including growth patterns, the influences of disabilities and risk factors, environmental factors and their effects on attachment styles, language acquisition, brain development, cognitive development, social-emotional development, and perceptual and sensory motor skills. | ||
| CYAF 405 | Administration and Supervision in Early Childhood Settings | 3 |
The exploration of issues surrounding the administration of early childhood programs including identification of community needs, analysis of business opportunities, the evaluation and appropriate use of space and quality programming, consideration of policy and legal responsibilities, and professionalism in the field. In addition, the course explores best practices in staff selection, training, coaching, and supervision. | ||
| CYAF 302 | Development of Curriculum for Children Ages Birth to 3 | 3 |
Prerequisite: Practicum I
In this course, students will (1) learn and utilize assessment and documentation to inform curriculum, (2) plan and evaluate developmentally appropriate activities, and (3) learn about effective ways to share curriculum information with families. This course addresses all areas of developmental domains and content areas; issues related to diversity in family composition, culture, and individual abilities will also be addressed. | ||
| CYAF 203 | Child Development -- Birth To 3 | 3 |
This course will focus on development from birth to age three. Major theories and research on development will be covered including growth patterns, the influences of disabilities and risk factors, environmental factors and their effects on attachment styles, language acquisition, brain development, cognitive development, social-emotional development, and perceptual and sensory motor skills. | ||
| CYAF 306 | Introduction to ECEMS | 3 |
This course will explore the role of a professional as a teacher, administrator or advocate in early childhood programming. Students will learn about professionalism and ethics, identifying child abuse, and applying universal precautions. Discussion of qualities of the early childhood educator role, program models, and working with children and professional colleagues. | ||
| CYAF 307 | Practicum I | 3 |
Prerequisites: CYAF 203, 204, 205, 206 Practicum in Early Childhood Education is an opportunity for ECEMS teacher candidates to have a guided learning experience in a professional agency that provides services to children and families. It is expected that learning experiences and projects at the practicum site will provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to utilize and implement theories and practices learned in other ECE classes. | ||
| CYAF 301 | Assessing Young Children and their Environments to Enhance Development | 3 |
Practicum I – Students will learn to select, evaluate, and use appropriate assessment tools for children birth to age 8. Students will use assessment data to inform decisions about teaching (environments and practice) and intervention. There will be an emphasis on the ethical use of assessments, validity of assessments, multicultural sensitivity, and assessments for children with special needs. | ||
| CYAF 410 | Practicum 3 | 6 |
Prerequisite: Practicum II The teaching practicum is a 15 week experience designed to allow the student to demonstrate practical application of developmentally appropriate early childhood teaching techniques and skills, actual teaching experience and developmental feedback. Practicum students will be involved in observation and evaluation of classroom experiences, environmental design, classroom management, and parent communication. | ||
| CYAF 304 | Understanding and Adapting for Developmental Differnces | 3 |
Prerequisite: Practicum I
Knowledge of disability conditions, assessment and identification, interventions in inclusive environments, and collaborations among family members and service providers. | ||
Tuition & Fees
Nebraska Residents
Per Credit Hour
- Tuition
- $427.00
- Fees
- $0.00
- Total
- $427.00
3 Credit Hours
- Tuition
- $1281.00
- Fees
- $0.00
- Total
- $1281.00
Out of State Residents
Per Credit Hour
- Tuition
- $427.00
- Fees
- $0.00
- Total
- $427.00
3 Credit Hours
- Tuition
- $1281.00
- Fees
- $0.00
- Total
- $1281.00
Soo-Young Hong, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Soo-Young Hong’s research interests encompass three key areas in early childhood education and development: academic and social competence in early childhood; professional development in early childhood science education and preschool inclusion; and educational interventions and their relation to, or effect on, young children’s learning and development. She has received several awards for both her research and teaching.
Application Deadlines
Rolling admissions. Application review will begin upon receipt of all required application materials.