StudyQA — Bachelor: Early Childhood Studies — California State University (Page 221)

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Description Contents Requirements

Early Childhood Studies at California State University is a comprehensive program designed to prepare students for impactful careers in early childhood education, development, and related fields. This program emphasizes a strong theoretical foundation coupled with practical experience, equipping graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster positive developmental outcomes for young children from diverse backgrounds. Students will explore key areas such as child growth and development, curriculum planning, classroom management, family engagement, and policy analysis. The curriculum incorporates current research and best practices, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to serve in a variety of settings including preschools, childcare centers, Head Start programs, and community organizations. The program also emphasizes culturally responsive teaching and the importance of inclusivity, preparing students to support the needs of all children and families. Through coursework, fieldwork placements, and internships, students gain hands-on experience working directly with young children and their families, nurturing skills in observation, assessment, and individualized instruction. The faculty members bring extensive expertise from academic and professional backgrounds, providing mentorship and guidance throughout the program. Graduates of the Early Childhood Studies program at Cal State will be equipped to contribute positively to early childhood education communities, advocate for young children’s rights, and pursue advanced degrees in related fields such as education, social work, or public policy. With a focus on both academic excellence and practical application, this program ensures that students are prepared to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families.

Major Courses (30 Units)
Course Name	Units	Prerequisites, GE & Comments
ART 102 - Multicultural Children’s Art	3	G.E., C1, C3b
BIOL 100 - Exploring the Living World	4	G.E., B2
OR
BIOL 170 - Foundations of Life Science	4	G.E., B2
PHSC 170 - Foundations in Physical Science	4	G.E., B1
COMP 101 Computer Literacy	3	G.E., B4
ECS 101 Introduction to Early Childhood Education	3	G.E., D
ECS 221 Child, Family and Community in California in the 21st Century	3	__
HIST 211 World Civilizations: Origins to 1500	3	G.E., D
ENGL 212 Introduction to Children’s Literature	3	—
MATH 208 Modern Mathematics for Elementary Teaching I: Numbers & Problem Solving	3	G.E., B3
PSY 150 Foundations of Child and Adolescent	3	__
One Semester of Spanish I	4	G.E., C3a

American Institutions Requirements (6 units)
Course Name	Units	Prerequisites, GE & Comments
HIST 275 The United States to 1900	3	U.S. History & Constitution Requirement
POLS 150 American Political Institutions	3	Local Government Requirement

UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS (49 UNITS)

Course Name	Units	Prerequisites, GE & Comments
ECS 320 Early Childhood Service Delivery Models & Programs for Young Children	3	—
ECS 322 Early Childhood Program Administration	3	—
ECS 325 Typical & Atypical Development: Birth-Age 8	3	—
ECS 456 Working with Parents	3	—
ECS 460 Infant/Toddler Assessment & Intervention	3	—
ECS 461 Infant/Toddler Student Teaching & Seminar	4	—
ECS 468 Early Numeracy & Literacy for Children Ages 3-8: Multicultural/Multilingual	3	—
470 Preschool/Primary Assessment & Teaching Strategies	4	—
ECS 471 Preschool/Primary Student Teaching & Seminar	4	—
EDML 461 Theory, Methods and Applications In Bilingual Education	3	Senior Standing
EDMC 560 Application of Mainstream & ELD Methods	2	Senior Standing
EDUC 512 Equity, Diversity & Foundations of Schooling	3	G.E., C3b, Senior standing
ENGL 475 Language in Social Context	3	—
HIST 369 California History & Culture	3	—
PHED 302 Motor Learning, Fitness & Development in Children	2	G.E., E
HLTH 322 Health Issues in Education	2	G.E., E
SPED 345 Individuals with Disabilities in Society	3	PSY, G.E., D E,
SPED 546 Consultation & Collaboration with Families and State and Professionals	3	Senior Standing

University Electives (23–24 Units)

Requirements	Units	Prerequisites, GE & Comments
Electives	17	Students preparing for the multiple subjects or special education credentials are strongly urged to take MATH 308
Interdisciplinary Electives	6	G.E., C2

Total Units for Graduation

Requirements	Units
Electives Lower Division Requirements	47-48
Upper Division Requirements	49
University Electives	23-24
Total	120

International Freshmen Checklist

International Transfer Checklist

Financial Affidavit for Undergraduate applicants

Submit all application documents to the Center for International Affairs.

*Transfer Students: We are currently accepting applications from all community colleges in the U.S. Please make sure that you have at least 60 units and have completed “Oral communication”, “Written communication”, “Critical thinking” and “College level mathematics/quantitative reasoning” with “C” or better. Please note that the Nursing programs are closed for international students.

English Score

Submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or other acceptable test (see below for list of tests). Scores must be sent directly to CSUCI from testing agency.

Acceptable English Placement Exams

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language with a minimum Paper-Based score of 500, a minimum Computer Based score of 173 or a minimum Internet Based score of 61.

IELTS – International English Language Test System with an overall band score of 6.0.

*Transfer students: It’s not necessary to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score if you have completed the required Freshman Composition Class at your community college.