Early Childhood Development
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The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences offers a broad education aimed at developing the professionals of tomorrow for men and women interested in working in careers associated with Early Childhood, Fashion Merchandising, Interior Design, and Vocational Family & Consumer Sciences Education. The Early Childhood Development program prepares individuals to work with children ages birth through eight, families, and programs serving individuals and families within communities. |
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Program of Study
Core courses
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Student teaching: Students complete a student teaching experience in two settings. They are in the child development preschool lab for a part of their experience and then either in a Head Start program or an infant/toddler program. The second placement depends on each individual student's career goals. All early childhood develoment students are directed toward this experience.
Internship: In addition to student teachig students have the possibility to complete an internship. These are where students participate in an internship to further develop their area of expertise related to their specific goal. Under rare cercumstances students complete an internship in place of a student teaching experience. This must be approved by the student's advisor to serve as a substituition.
Electives: Student can focus electives on what will best prepare them for their chosen career. Common choices are in the areas of program leadership, physical education, intervention or literacy.
PSU Early Childhood Laboratory
The Child Development Laboratory provides an onsite opportunity for observation of and interaction with preschool age children. Students participate with children as they implement curriculum and practice using child management and guidance skills learned in lecture courses. Instructors in the labs provide supervision of the students as they work with the children.