Curriculum: Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (Birth - Age 5)

Next Term Application Deadline

03.15.2025

Total Credits

60-120

Next Term Starts

05.12.2025

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Curriculum at a Glance

With UC Online’s Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Care & Education (ECE), all of your coursework is completed online, providing the flexibility, accessibility, and control you need to complete your degree on your terms. With four (4) different concentrations to choose from, UC Online allows you to really personalize your educational experience.

Our courses give you information and strategies that you can learn today and apply in the classroom tomorrow! Graduates will be able to implement developmentally appropriate integrated activities and materials across the domains, including visual arts, music, movement, science and math, and early language development.

Four Concentration Options:

Preschool: In the Preschool concentration, you will dive into planning developmentally appropriate curriculum experiences for children age three (3) through five (5) to ensure that they are ready for Kindergarten.
Infant & Toddler: In the Infant & Toddler concentration, you will get an in-depth education on providing quality interactions and environments for children from birth to age three (3).
Nature-Based Early Learning: The Nature-Based Early Learning concentration will provide the knowledge base or dispositions to work in Nature-Based Early Learning programs. This concentration is specifically targeted to students seeking ways to use their greened-up playgrounds, playscapes, and nearby green space or those planning to obtain employment in nature-based early childhood programs or forest schools.
Administration: The Administration concentration is designed specifically for those in leadership positions in the field of early care and education.

This degree does not lead to Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 5 licensure.

Learn more about which courses are taken for each concentration by reviewing the Program Map and the below descriptions for all BS in Early Childhood Education courses that may be taken.

Graduation Requirements:

Obtain at least a 2.5 University Grade Point Average.
Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours (at least 30 credit hours must be completed at the University of Cincinnati).
- Electives: 24 credit hours
- Child Development Coursework: 87 credit hours
- Concentration Coursework: 9 credit hours
Be in good academic standing; that is, not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
Submit a formal application for the degree by the posted semester of graduation deadline.

Accreditation: The University of Cincinnati and all of its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Additionally, UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Rights (CECH) is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

CURRICULUM AT A GLANCE

Early Childhood Education Core Coursework Preschool Concentration Coursework Infant & Toddler Concentration Curriculum Administration Concentration Coursework Nature-Based Early Learning Concentration Curriculum

Course	Title / Description	Credit
ENGL1001	English Composition Course: ENGL1001 Credit: 3 This course emphasizes critical reading, writing, and textual analysis with particular focus on argument and research-based writing.	3
ENGL2089	Intermediate Composition Course: ENGL2089 Credit: 3 This course emphasizes critical reading and writing, advanced research and argument skills, and rhetorical understanding of language as it is used in different discourse communities.	3
CI1001	Educational Technology Course: CI1001 Credit: 3 This course encompasses effectively analyzing, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating educational technology as an instructional resource in the classroom as related to principles of learning and assessment. Students will develop increased classroom communication and management skills through discussions, modeling, laboratory experiences, and completion of a comprehensive project.	3
ECE1005	Learning Early Care & Education Online Course: ECE1005 Credit: 3 This course provides a basic overview of the skills needed to be a successful online student inEarly Care & Education. Topics include: developmentally appropriate practice in preschool classrooms, national and state standards in early care and education, professional communication, academic writing, using references in writing, best practices for an online student, and study skills.	3
ECE1020	Health, Safety and Nutrition Course: ECE1020 Credit: 3 The goal of this course is to explore concepts of theory and practice in early childhood education about health, safety, nutrition, and other relatedtopics, such as gross motor development, recognition and response to maltreatment, support for inclusion of children with disabilities and special needs, and considerations for creating linkages between schools, families, and communities.	3
ECE2000	Introductory Child Development Course: ECE2000 Credit: 3 This course is a study of the growth and development of the child prenatal through age 8 inthe areas of physical, cognitive, language, and social/emotional development. Students develop an understanding of theories of development, current research, and influences on development such as nature and nurture. Observational techniques for assessing development are examined. Students will need to have access to a child for this course.	3
ECE2005	Developmental Transitions: Childhood to Adulthood Course: ECE2005 Credit: 3 This course focuses on the growth and development during the middle childhood, adolescent and adult periods of development. It examines topics relatedto the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of individuals during these periods ofdevelopment. This course also addresses the role of families, individual differences, culture, and schools in development; the impact of media on childhood development; and the challenges faced byadolescents.	3
ECE2010	Classroom Organization and Guidance Course: ECE2010 Credit: 3 This course provides an introduction to developmentally appropriate methods of guiding young children's behavior including communication skills for use with young children, staff, and parents. The student will construct concepts and develop skills which will provide a foundation forclassroom environmental design, organization and guidance. During this course students must have access to a classroom other than their own.	3
ECE2015	Language Arts & Literacy in Early Care and Education Course: ECE2015 Credit: 3 This course focuses on understanding how young children birth to five develop oral language and emergent reading and writing skills. It also examines ways teachers can provide developmentallyappropriate, literacy rich experiences in an integrated early childhood classroom through play,environmental design and knowledge of children's literature. This course requires access to children ages 2 - 5 years.	3
ECE2020	Creative Arts in Early Care and Education Course: ECE2020 Credit: 3 This course is an introduction to the creative arts, including visual arts, block design, sensoryexperiences, music, and drama. It is designed for students to explore both the theoretical and practical aspects of creative expression as they relate to young children birth to age five. Students will construct knowledge and understanding of these creative domains as well asdemonstrate implementation of strategies and techniques for involving children in aesthetic experiences.	3
ECE2025	Families, Communities, and Schools Course: ECE2025 Credit: 3 This course explores educational considerations inworking with young children and families from a variety of cultural, ethnic, and other diverse backgrounds. This course also addresses issues related to working with families in early care andeducation and to learning strategies for building partnerships, communicating about child progress, and accessing community resources.	3
ECE2040	Infant and Toddler Care and Education Course: ECE2040 Credit: 3 This course addresses specific caregiving of infants and toddlers in both individual and group care settings. Course content will cover environmental design, curriculum implementation, and responsive adult-child interaction. Students will need access to a child between the ages of 3-30 months who is not a child living in their home. Students will also need access to a child care center for a classroom observation.	3
ECE2080	Preschool Student Teaching Course: ECE2080 Credit: 3 This course is a student teaching experience where students will work with preschoolers in an early childhood setting. This is the first of two preschool experiences in a classroom setting. This course focuses on student interaction skills with children and examines how she/he uses communication and effective guidance strategies to promote children's self esteem and prosocial behavior and managing an effective and positive learning environment. This course also requires students to observe children, plan, and implement curriculum that is both individually and developmentally appropriate. This course requires access to a preschool classroom, where 150 hours of in-class practice will be completed. In addition, videotaped documentation will be a reflective tool used in this course for students, mentors, and supervisors. It is required that a significant amount of appropriate coursework be completed in order to be successful in this course. Please speak with a program official for details.	3
ECE3015	Children's Literature in Early Care and Education Course: ECE3015 Credit: 3 This course focuses on the critical analysis of reading material for young children infants through age five. The course is designed to acquaint students with the great wealth of trade books, and literary materials which are available to support young children's reading development. Evidence-based practice using developmentally and culturally appropriate literature to support the development of early reading and writing is emphasized. A study of the literacy environment inthe early childhood classroom is included. Students will need access to a childcare classroomthat is not their own.	3
ECE3025	Assessment and Evaluation in Early Care and Education Course: ECE3025 Credit: 3 Assessment is an important and ongoing responsibility of professionals who serve young children and their families. This course fosters an in-depth study of authentic assessment practices for children ages birth to five including identification of children with special needs. Use of data for curriculum planning and measurement of quality in early childhood programsis included. Students need access to one child between the ages of 3 and five who is not their own child.	3
ECE3030	Social Issues in Early Care and Education Course: ECE3030 Credit: 3 In this course, students will investigate and analyze the problems and possibilities preschools and child care centers face in educating students from diverse backgrounds. The course is designed to assist pre-service and in-service infant, toddler and preschool teachers in working effectively with all children and families, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or exceptionality. This course studies the particular social issues and complexities that arise in early childhood settings. Topics to be addressed include, but are not limited to: superhero play, atypical gender play, cultural norms, and cultural and socioeconomic bias in classroom materials and pedagogical practices.	3
ECE3035	Administration and Leadership in Early Care and Education Course: ECE3035 Credit: 3 This course provides an overview of the principlesand characteristics of leadership and administration in the early care and education profession. Students will explore the importance of leadership skills, center administration, and working with families. Students will need access to preschool children and a center for an observational interview and assessment.	3
ECE3040	Play and Development Course: ECE3040 Credit: 3 This course focuses on the role of play in children's development from birth to five. Throughobservation of children the focus will be on the following: ways children learn through play, play theories, developmental stages of play with typical and atypically developing children, and the teacher's role in supporting children through their play. Students must have access to a child care center or a Family Day Care Home serving children ages three through five.	3
ECE4025	Language Development in Young Children Course: ECE4025 Credit: 3 This course is an introduction to typical and atypical language development in young children, birth to age 5. Emphasis will be put on ethnic, linguistic, psychological, and cultural differences for language learning as well as the role of the teacher in supporting the development of language in young children.	3
ECE4045	Collaborative Teaming in Early Childhood Special Education Course: ECE4045 Credit: 3 This course is designed to develop student understanding of and skill in working collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to provide services for young children. Special emphasis will be placed on collaboration with early intervention and early childhood education fields to create inclusive environments for children.	3
ECE4050	Responsive Environments for Infants and Toddlers Course: ECE4050 Credit: 3 This course explores the role of the environment in infant and toddler care settings. Course content will examine environmental design, emergent curriculum and implementation, and how the environment is responsive to the developmentalneeds of infants and toddlers. Students will need access to infant and toddler classrooms for this course.	3
ECE4090	Reflections on Teaching in Early Care and Education Course: ECE4090 Credit: 3 This capstone experience course is designed to provide an opportunity for pre-service and in-service teachers to reflect upon the historicalfoundations and the principles of developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education and their own development as infant, toddler, or preschool teachers. This course serves as a reflection at the end of the teacher's undergraduate education and challenges the teacherto analyze her own teaching practices, values, andgoals. This course explores the teacher's past development and future growth as a professional educator.	3
ECE1001	Foundations in Early Childhood Education Course: ECE1001 Credit: 3 This course is designed for beginning early childhood education students. The course introduces the students to the current knowledge base related to families, how young children develop and learn, and early childhood education programs. The course content includes: (a) currenttheories on how young children develop and learn, (b) the historical, philosophical, and social foundations of contemporary programs, (c) the roleof the early childhood professional, and (e) current early childhood education issues. Depending on the section that students register for, students may need to have background checks and physicals completed as part of course requirements.	3
EDST1002	Educational Psychology Course: EDST1002 Credit: 3 This course covers the major theories of human development and learning, motivation, instructional strategies, assessment, and examinessimilarities and differences in learners. The roleof factors in students' development and learning are considered.	3
SPED1001	Individuals with Exceptionalities Course: SPED1001 Credit: 3 This is a survey course addressing identification,developmental characteristics, and intervention strategies for individuals with exceptionalities across educational and community settings.	3
ECE3110	Math, Science and Social Studies for ECE Course: ECE3110 Credit: 3 This course focuses on understanding the conceptual development of mathematics, science, and social studies in preschool children and aligns with Ohio Learning and Development Standards in these areas. Students learn to design and implement appropriate curriculum within an integrated curriculum.	3
ECE3114	Developmental Concerns Birth-5 and Family Partnerships Course: ECE3114 Credit: 3 Issues related to children birth to age 5 (who are at risk, demonstrate developmental delays, are gifted/creative/talented or have identified disabilities) and their families including the identification/placement process, IEPs, instructional considerations, parents' rights and family-centered practices.	3
ECE4124	Learning Strategies for Inclusive Birth - 5 Course: ECE4124 Credit: 3 This course is designed to develop student understanding and skill in supporting children with and without disabilities in inclusive early childhood Birth to age 5 education environments (birth to age 5). In addition, the focus is on strategies and techniques to use evidence-based practices to intervene with children who challenge program integrity. The course content is predicated on the belief that all children (birth to age 5) benefit from an environment that addresses individual learning needs.	3

Course	Title / Description	Credit
ECE2085	Preschool Internship Course: ECE2085 Credit: 3 This course requires students to work with preschoolers in an early childhood setting. This is the second part of the preschool experience sequence. This course emphasizes development of interactive learning that stretches across curriculum areas. Students are expected to assume and manage the full range of teaching and care giving responsibilities for a group of preschool children. It is an expectation that students will produce a portfolio that represents a culmination of their teaching experiences throughout the degree program. This course requires access to a preschool classroom, where students complete 200 hours of in-class practice. In addition, videotaped documentation will be a reflective tool used in this course for students, mentors, and supervisors. Successful completion of ECE2080 Pre-K Student Teaching is required for enrollment to this course.	3
ECE2045	Physical, Cognitive, and Language Development in Infant and Toddlers Course: ECE2045 Credit: 3 This course explores the domains of physical and cognitive development, including language and pre-literacy skills, of infants and toddlers. The course provides guidance for planning experiences that enhance physical, cognitive, and language development including dual language learning.	3
ECE2050	Social Emotional Development and Guidance for Infants and Toddlers Course: ECE2050 Credit: 3 This course explores the domains of social and emotional development of infants and toddlers including guidance strategies. It provides direction for planning experiences that promote and support social and emotional development.	3

Course	Title / Description	Credit
ECE4055	Infant and Toddler Practicum Course: ECE4055 Credit: 3 This course is a practicum experience where students will work with infants and toddlers in anearly childhood setting. The course content examines infant and toddler caring practices that focus on respectful, responsive, and reciprocal interactions between infants and toddlers and early care professionals. This course also emphasizes student implementation of curriculum materials captured through videotape documentationthat serves as a reflective tool for students and supervisors. Students will be required to spend 70hours in an infant classroom and 70 hours in a toddler classroom.	3

Course	Title / Description	Credit
ECE2075	Operation of an ECE Program Course: ECE2075 Credit: 3 This course focuses on the business and operational aspects of an early care and educationprogram. Topics will include business practices (budgeting, financial systems, and accounting practices), program evaluation, facilities management (including equipping the center) and strategic planning to meet the needs of families and the community.	3
ECE2070	Supervision and Organization of ECE Programs Course: ECE2070 Credit: 3 This course focuses on the supervision and organizational structure of staff in early care and education programs. Topics will include recruitment and orientation of new staff, staff development, reflective supervision and the development of systematic observation of staff to inform continuous improvement.	3
ECE3045	Creative and Instructional Environments for Young Children Course: ECE3045 Credit: 3 This course will focus on creating developmentallyappropriate environments, curricula, and instructional strategies to foster the intellectual, creative, and social-emotional development of young children.	3

Course	Title / Description	Credit
ECE1060	Nature-Based Early Learning Course: ECE1060 Credit: 3 This course sets the foundation for nature-based early learning. Students will study the principles, philosophical underpinnings, and models for nature-based education in early childhood education, exploring various models of nature-based early learning. Students will study the tenets of early childhood environmental education and explore the propensities of a nature-based educator and how nature lends itself to a child-driven curriculum.	3
ECE2160	Movement, Storytelling, and the Arts in Nature Course: ECE2160 Credit: 3 This course focuses on how teachers can build on children’s enjoyment of play to encourage the development of environmental understandings and 21st Century skills for diverse groups of children. Through creative arts, music, movement, and stories, students will learn how to plan and implement joyful instruction that links to children’s immediate surroundings, later expanding to larger environmental concerns and contexts.	3
ECE2165	Becoming an Early Childhood Teacher-Naturalist Course: ECE2165 Credit: 3 This course aims to develop both teachers’ and children’s penchant for nature (biophilia) in exploratory, contemplative, and knowledgeable ways. The quintessence of curiosity about natural phenomena will be fostered throughout the course. Students will explore ways to advocate for children’s rights to experience a connection to nature. They will also be introduced to the role of science and the nature of expertise.	3
ECE3060	Natural History for Teachers and Young Learners Course: ECE3060 Credit: 3 This course employs cross-disciplinary inquiry of organisms in their natural environments and their relationships to other species. The focus is on students’ local biomes and will require students to explore local habitats and natural history organizations in their respective communities. Students will use their learning in this course to create a nature playscape for young children that reflects the indigenous habitats in their respective communities.	3
ECE3065	Inquiry and Early STEM Learning in Nature Course: ECE3065 Credit: 3 This course explores the numerous ways science, mathematics, engineering, and technology can be integrated into nature-based early learning. It introduces Whitehead’s learning cycle of romance, precision, and generalization with regard to a nature and play-based curriculum for young children. It focuses on a reflective, educative STEM curriculum that fosters eco literacy development within a framework of early childhood environmental education. (APELS videos)	3
ECE3070	Interpreting Nature with Young Children Course: ECE3070 Credit: 3 Students will self-select a venue for a field experience in a nature-based learning setting (nature-based school, nature camp, zoo, museum, etc). Upon approval of the venue by the university course instructor, the student will engage in 20 hours during the semester supporting the lead instructor and employing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions inherent in the pre-requisite coursework. Students will engage in scheduled seminars and fulfill the documentation requirements for this practicum experience.	3
ECE4060	Leadership in Nature-Based Early Learning Programs Course: ECE4060 Credit: 3 This course will delve into the complex responsibilities of a leader or administrator for a nature-based early learning program. Students will examine personal and professional traits for effective leadership, risk management, licensing, budgets and funding, sustainable approaches to sharing natural spaces, high-quality curriculum and instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion in nature-based programs, and developing dynamic family and community partnerships.	3
ECE4070	Nature Pedagogy, Assessment, and Program Evaluation Course: ECE4070 Credit: 3 This course focuses on integrating disciplinary content, including literacy, with formative and summative assessments within other content disciplines in a nature-based curriculum to document children’s progress in ways that align with early childhood standards, learning outcomes, and environmental education guidelines. It will also provide a framework for using these and other data to conduct a program evaluation.	3
ECE4075	Internship in Nature-Based Early Learning Programs Course: ECE4075 Credit: 3 This capstone experience may be a volunteer or paid position in a nature-based early learning program, but the student must be able to have opportunities to demonstrate initiative and leadership in planning and implementing a significant portion of the program. At least three internship hours per day or 15 hours per week are expected to fulfill the requirements for this course. The instructor for the course must approve students’ internship placement. Students will engage in scheduled weekly seminars and fulfill the documentation requirements for the internship.	3
EDST2055	Introduction to Education for Sustainability Course: EDST2055 Credit: 3 This course will present information on sustainability principles set forth by UNESCO and environmental education practices. Student will learn about the history of Environmental Education and will focus on preparing lessons using an eco-pedagogical approach for teaching about environmental sustainability across disciplines. Students will delve into research and phenomena regarding the interconnections between physical, living, and human systems.	3
EDST3058	Education for Sustainability: Principles and Practices Course: EDST3058 Credit: 3 Students will learn about the impacts of individual and collective consumption of resources on the biosphere. They will analyze the political and economic barriers and different individual and cultural perspectives that prohibit sustainable actions. Students will use conservation ethics to challenge and alter their personal and civic responsibilities towards creating more ecologically sustainable communities. Students will then apply this knowledge and their personal ethics to the development of educational and interpretive curricula and assessment of planned outcomes. They will discuss ways to communicate this information to a wide range of audiences using a variety of media.	3
EDST4065	Applied Research & Eval in Environmental Education and Sustainability Practices Course: EDST4065 Credit: 3 This course will serve as the capstone for the Education for Environmental Sustainability certificate and present models for applied research, educational assessment of learning outcomes, and program evaluation in education for environmental sustainability. Students will use UNESCO’s framework or other appropriate tools for analyzing environmental issues. They will be encouraged to use logical analysis and reasoning in discussions and communications about environmental and sustainability issues, developing dispositions based on conservation ethics. They will create a research plan as part of a grant proposal and will be encouraged to conduct the research and present their findings.	3
HDCE3010	Child and Youth Environments Course: HDCE3010 Credit: 3 This course will focus on environments in which children and youth live, play, work, and learn and how these respective environments influence human development.	3
HDCE4000	Educational and NGO Grant Writing and Project Management Course: HDCE4000 Credit: 3 The purpose of this course is to investigate sources of grant funding at the federal, state, and local level that are best suited to serve communities with diverse populations. Another primary purpose is examine grant announcements, RFPs (Request for Proposals), and example grant proposals. Students will also practice developing a grant proposal with a focus on human development, community engagement, and/or families and children with diverse needs.	3