Division of Early Childhood Education
Website: https://twu.edu/education/early-childhood-education/
Division Head: Dr. Sharla Snider, Professor
Phone: 940-898-2684
E-mail: ssnider@twu.edu
The Division of Early Childhood Education offers coursework that prepares students for careers in early childhood settings. Specialized coursework is aligned with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) advanced standards. In addition to the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, students can also select post-baccalaureate certificates in curriculum development or leadership and advocacy. Doctoral coursework in early childhood education can be added as an emphasis area on the Ph.D. in Literacy, Language and Culture.
Graduate Degrees Offered
Admissions
All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.
The academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.
Faculty
Courses
Contact hours identified in the course descriptions are based on a 15-week term. Students who enroll in Summer or mini-terms are expected to meet the same total number of contact hours as a 15-week term.
ECE 5203. Language and Literacy in Early Childhood. In-depth study of language and literacy for ages birth through eight, including strategies for promoting early literacy development at home and at school. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5213. Curriculum Development in Early Childhood. In-depth study of basic principles underlying curriculum construction and innovative instructional practices for ages birth to eight; emphasis on research related to organization and sequential arrangement of materials. Observations/Field Experience: Fifteen clock hours. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5263. Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood. Designed to provide a comprehensive knowledge base concerning assessment of young children. Areas of emphasis include development of skills in selection; use and interpretation of developmentally appropriate formal, informal, and holistic instruments and procedures; measurement terms and principles; procedures and legal requirements for record keeping; use of technology in assessment; and managing an assessment team. Observation/Field experience: Fifteen clock hours. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5283. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) in Early Childhood Education. Examination of research, techniques, and strategies useful for teachers and parents in supporting young learners in the understanding of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) approaches to learning. Design and integration of the five curricular areas and the importance of home/school connections and policy from an ecological perspective. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5413. Leadership, Advocacy and Public Policy for Young Children. Review of research on early childhood education and public policy affecting families, content knowledge, developmentally appropriate practices, and child development. Focus on leadership, ethics, advocacy, and professionalism. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5433. Brain-Based Learning for the Young Child. Emerging research, theories of brain development, physiological and social effects on learning, metacognition, problem-solving, and neuroscientific patterns affecting learning such as motivation, rewards, attention, and memory incorporated into strategies to inform educational practices within school and home settings. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5583. Action Research in the Early Childhood Classroom. Practical approaches to research and evaluation theory and practice with a focus on schools and early childhood classrooms. Action research methodologies as a resource for classroom teachers to examine teaching in context and to better understand research-based strategies for improving teaching practices and learning. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5773. School, Family, and Cultural Diversity: Community Connections. Techniques and strategies for developing and implementing programs in early childhood settings including incorporation of community resources and partnerships. Investigation, critique, and reflection on how school, family, community and cultural diversity affect ethical decision-making by early childhood teachers. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5903. Special Topics. Organized study of Early Childhood subject matter normally not included in other ECE courses. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5911. Independent Study. Intensive study of a problem of individual or professional interest in early childhood. Credit: One hour.
ECE 5913. Independent Study. Intensive study of a problem of individual or professional interest in early childhood. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5931. Portfolio. Development and maintenance of a professional portfolio documenting the attainment of goals and skills acquired in the course of graduate study. Reviewed periodically with the advisor and presented to committee during last semester of the graduate program as the student's final examination. Credit: One hour.
ECE 5983. Thesis. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 5993. Thesis. Prerequisite: ECE 5983. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6513. Language and Cognitive Development in Young Children. Origins and development of language; cognition as a function of language, stages, and environment; interrelationships of language and cognitive development. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6593. Practicum in Early Childhood Education. Professional supervised experience in working directly with children, families, or consumers in selected business, institution, or agency appropriate for Early Childhood Education. Assignment based on student interests, skills, and degree program. Individual conferences and work hours to be arranged. Twelve practicum hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6623. Social and Cultural Dimensions of Early Language Development. Analysis of psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic research in early childhood language development; determination of patterns of language use in early childhood classes focused on the understanding of the literacy processes embedded in social practices; methods for continuing language growth in the classroom based on the demonstrated processes of language development. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6653. Seminar in Developmental Theory. An analysis and integration of theories and research on early childhood development. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6663. Foundations of Early Childhood Education. Historical, philosophical, sociological, physical, and psychological bases for understanding and implementing programs of early childhood education. Prerequisite: Six hours of child development or permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6673. Advanced Seminar in Early Childhood Education. Analysis of current research, practices, and related theories in early childhood education. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6903. Special Topics. Organized study of Early Childhood subject matter normally not included in other ECE courses. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6911. Independent Study. Intensive study of a problem of individual or professional interest in early childhood. Credit: One hour.
ECE 6913. Independent Study. Intensive study of a problem of individual or professional interest in early childhood. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6921. Research in Early Childhood Education. Individual investigation of a specific area in early childhood. Credit: One hour.
ECE 6923. Research in Early Childhood Education. Individual investigation of a specific area in early childhood. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6983. Dissertation. Credit: Three hours.
ECE 6993. Dissertation. Prerequisite: ECE 6983. Credit: Three hours.
