Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies: Concentration in Care and Education
The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies: Concentration in Care and Education is for students who wish to work primarily with young children (infants, toddlers, and preschoolers) and their families in settings such as child care centers and preschools. This concentration is aligned with multiple levels of the the California Child Development Permit (the teaching and supervision credential for preschool and younger) and the Early Childhood Special Education graduate program at SF State.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Promote and advocate for social justice and be culturally responsive across young children's ecological contexts.
- Understand the professional roles and responsibilities in inclusive early care and education settings.
- Apply developmental, learning, and cultural theories in the field of early childhood education to
a) engage and support young children in learning by including young children’s prior experiences and interests, funds of knowledge, language and sociocultural backgrounds.
b) create and maintain effective environments for young children’s learning.
c) understand and organize subject matter for children’s learning.
d) plan instruction and intervention and design learning experiences for all children. - Develop effective language and literacy instruction for children birth through five years that supports foundation skills, meaning making, language development, effective expression, and content knowledge.
- Understand assessment, evaluation, data collection, analysis and reporting in the context of birth through five years.
Early Childhood Studies (B.A.): Concentration in Care and Education — 45 units
All courses for the major must be completed with a grade of C or better.
Core Requirements (24 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CAD 210 | Introduction to Applied Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| Select One: | 3 | |
| Foundations in Early Childhood | ||
| Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Programs | ||
| CAD 260 | Children, Families, and Community: An Ecological Perspective | 3 |
| CAD 280 | Early Childhood Internship | 3 |
| CAD 300 | Professional Roles and Careers in Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| CAD 330 | Curriculum and Development in Early Childhood | 3 |
| CAD 410GW | Applied Developmental Science: Prenatal Through Early Childhood - GWAR | 3 |
| CAD 660 | Applied Advanced Developmental Science in Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
Observation and Assessment (3 units)
Select One:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CAD 420 | Assessment and Observation with Children | 3 |
| E ED 610 | Classroom Assessment and Evaluation for Young Children | 3 |
Concentration Electives (18 units)
Select 18 units from the following:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CAD 223 | Infants, Toddlers, and Families | 3 |
| CAD 326 | Developing Language and Literacy Skills in Young Children | 3 |
| CAD 423 | Administration of Programs for Young Children | 3 |
| CAD 500 | Research Methods in Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| CAD 510 | Adult Supervision and Leadership in Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| CAD 625 | Children, Youth, and Public Policy | 3 |
| CAD 680 | International Field Study in Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| CAD 685 | Projects in the Teaching of CAD | 1-4 |
| E ED 603 | Understanding and Supporting Children's Socio-Emotional Development | 3 |
| E ED 604 | Collaborating with Children, Families, and Communities in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| E ED 607 | Leadership and Administration in ECE | 3 |
| E ED 611 | Transforming Infant-Toddler Education and Care | 3 |
| E ED 614 | Science, Math, and Technology Curricular in ECE | 3 |
| E ED 616 | Multilingualism and Multiliteracies in the Early Years | 3 |
| E ED 668 | Multicultural Education and Social Justice for Young Children | 3 |
| KIN 487 | Motor Development | 3 |
| MUS 601 | Music for Children | 3 |
| SPED 330 | Introduction to Disability | 3 |
| SPED 370 | Early Development and Neurodiversity | 3 |
| SPED 620 | The Science of Early Intervention | 3 |
| SPED 671 | Inclusive Social-Emotional Development & Equitable Practices for Children & Families in Early Educ | 3 |
| SPED 672 | Inclusive Learning Environments for Young Children | 3 |
| SPED 675 | Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 691 | Autism in the Contemporary World | 3 |
First-Time Student Roadmap (4 Year)
The roadmaps presented in this Bulletin are intended as suggested plans of study and do not replace meeting with an advisor. For a more personalized roadmap, please use the Degree Planner tool found in your Student Center.
This degree program is an approved pathway (“similar” major) for students earning the ADT in Early Childhood Education
California legislation SB 1440 (2009) mandated the creation of the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) to be awarded by the California Community Colleges. Two types of ADTs are awarded: Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) and Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T).
Note: no specific degree is required for admission as an upper-division student. However, the ADT includes specific guarantees related to admission and graduation and is designed to clarify the transfer process and strengthen lower-division preparation for the major.
An ADT totals 60 units and in most cases includes completion of all lower-division General Education requirements and at least 18 units in a specific major. (The Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science AS-T degrees defer 3 units in lower-division GE area 3 and 3 units in lower-division GE area 4 until after transfer.) Students pursuing an ADT are guaranteed admission to the CSU if minimum eligibility requirements are met, though not necessarily to the CSU campus of primary choice.
Upon verification that the ADT has been awarded prior to matriculation at SF State, students are guaranteed B.A. or B.S. completion in 60 units if pursuing a “similar” major after transfer. Determinations about “similar” majors at SF State are made by faculty in the discipline.
Degree completion in 60 units cannot be guaranteed when a student simultaneously pursues an additional major, a minor, certificate, or credential.
A sample advising roadmap for students who have earned an ADT and continue in a "similar" major at SF State is available on the Roadmaps tab on the degree requirements page for the major. The roadmap displays:
- How many lower-division units required for the major have been completed upon entry based on the award of a specific ADT;
- Which lower-division requirements are considered complete upon entry based on the award of a specific ADT;
- How to complete the remaining 60 units for the degree in four semesters.
Students who have earned an ADT should seek advising in the major department during the first semester of attendance.
General Advising Information for Transfer Students
- Before transfer, complete as many lower-division requirements or electives for this major as possible.
- The following courses are not required for admission but are required for graduation. Students are strongly encouraged to complete these units before transfer; doing so will provide more flexibility in course selection after transfer.
- a course in U.S. History
- a course in U.S. & California Government
For information about satisfying the requirements described in (1) and (2) above at a California Community College (CCC), please visit http://www.assist.org. Check any geographically accessible CCCs; sometimes, options include more than one college. Use ASSIST to determine:
- Which courses at a CCC satisfy any lower-division major requirements for this major;
- Which courses at a CCC satisfy CSU GE, US History, and US & CA Government requirements.
Remedial courses are not transferable and do not apply to the minimum 60 semester units/90 quarter units required for admission.
Additional units for courses that are repeated do not apply to the minimum 60 units required for upper-division transfer (for example, if a course was not passed on the first attempt or was taken to earn a better grade).
Before leaving the last California Community College of attendance, obtain a summary of completion of lower-division General Education units (IGETC or CSU GE Breadth). This is often referred to as a GE certification worksheet. SF State does not require delivery of this certification to Admissions, but students should retain this document for verifying degree progress after transfer.
Credit for Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or College-Level Examination Program courses: AP/IB/CLEP credit is not automatically transferred from the previous institution. Units are transferred only when an official score report is delivered to SF State. Credit is based on the academic year during which exams were taken. Refer to the University Bulletin in effect during the year of AP/IB/CLEP examination(s) for details regarding the award of credit for AP/IB/CLEP.
Students pursuing majors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines often defer 6-9 units of lower-division General Education in Areas C and D until after transfer to focus on preparation courses for the major. This advice does not apply to students pursuing associate degree completion before transfer.
Transferring From Institutions Other Than CCCs or CSUs
Review SF State's lower-division General Education requirements. Note that, as described below, the four basic skills courses required for admission meet GE Areas 1A/A2, 1B/A3, 1C/A1, and 2/B4 in the SF State GE pattern. Courses that fulfill the remaining areas of SF State’s lower-division GE pattern are available at most two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
Of the four required basic skills courses, a course in critical thinking (1B/A3) may not be widely offered outside the CCC and CSU systems. Students should attempt to identify and take an appropriate course no later than the term of application to the CSU. To review more information about the 1B/A3 requirement, please visit bulletin.sfsu.edu/undergraduate-education/general-education/lower-division/#AAEL.
Waiting until after transfer to take a single course at SF State that meets both US and CA/local government requirements may be an appropriate option, particularly if transferring from outside of California.