Education - Early Childhood: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Quick Links

Blackboard

Calendars

Early Childhood Education

For more information: Visit Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education (birth to kindergarten) program leads to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Students have two options to choose from in completing this degree: (1) Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) Certification Track and (2) Non-Certification Track. Students who wish to be certified to teach in Kentucky’s state-funded public school pre-kindergarten classrooms (serving 3- to 5-year-olds with and without disabilities) or in Kentucky’s early intervention system, First Steps (serving birth to 3-year-olds with disabilities), should declare a pre-major or major in IECE certification track. Students who wish to work in community childcare programs, Head Start, or Early Head Start programs, Kentucky’s Quality Rating System, STARS, or home visitation programs should select the non-certification track.

Students interested in the IECE certification track must have an overall minimum GPA of 2.75 and a minimum ACT of 21 (or SAT 990 or successfully complete all three portions of the Praxis I exam) to enter the College of Education and Human Services program. Upon successful completion of this program and successfully passing the IECE Praxis II exam, the graduate will qualify for an institutional recommendation for a Kentucky Provisional Certificate for teaching in early childhood settings (birth to kindergarten).

Students must earn a minimum grade of C (not C-) in all major courses, successfully complete all practica, and have a minimum GPA of 2.75 overall to graduate.

To apply for admission in the Non-Certification Program, students are required to successfully complete EDU 104, and to demonstrate computer proficiency by completing a computer course or passing a computer proficiency exam. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all major courses and successfully complete all practica, including final practicum. Additionally, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 overall to graduate. Students should meet with their advisor for specific course requirements and to sign a curriculum contract.

Click here for a 4-year plan showing one way a student can complete the program below in 4 years if the student requires no remedial courses.

Admission Criteria

The advisement process is particularly crucial for teacher education students. It is suggested that a student interested in education declare education as a major as soon as possible. This procedure will result in assignment to a teacher education advisor familiar with the current curricular and admission requirements and with any impending changes that may occur prior to the student's admission semester.

All students interested in secondary education will have two advisors. One advisor will be in the content department and the other one will be an education advisor.

Teacher Education Program

Students should enroll in the EDU 104 course during their first or second semester at NKU.
After successful completion of the EDU 104 course and the specific course prerequisites, students can take the following education courses:

EDU 300- pre-req: Psychology 100
EDU 305- pre-req: EDU 104
EDU 313
EDS 360- pre-req: Psychology 100

Criteria for the Admissions Practicum

Complete 45 semester hours of college coursework
Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale OR a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed.
Successfully complete the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) administered by the Educational Testing Service with the corresponding minimum scores:
- Pre-Professional Skills Test: Mathematics (0730) – 174 or
- Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Test: Mathematics (5730) – 174;
- Pre-Professional Skills Test: Reading (0710) – 176 or
- Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Test: Reading (5710) – 176;
- Pre-Professional Skills Test: Writing (0720) – 174 or
- Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Test: Writing (5720) – 174
Successfully complete a FBI fingerprint background check.
Complete the required application for admission.

Dates to apply for the admissions practicum:

Fall - March 1 - July 1
Spring - October 1 - December 1

To receive admission to the teacher education program a student must have:

Attained a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
Achieved at least a B in ENG 291 or equivalent or passed the writing sample examination.
Achieved at least a B in CMST 101 or equivalent.
Achieved at least a C in EDU 300, EDU 305, EDU 313, and EDS 360.
Achieved a "P" in the Admissions Practicum (EDU 303, EDU 307, EDU 309, or EDU 311).
Demonstrate the following skills: critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration. Demonstration of these skills will be determined in the following manner:
- Communication: CMST 101 and ENG 291 with a grade of B or better, or passed the writing sample evaluation.
- Creativity: Completion of any course under "Culture & Creativity: Arts and Humanities" with a grade of “C” or better.
- Critical Thinking: Completion of any course under "Scientific & Quantitative Inquiry: Natural Science OR Mathematics & Statistics" OR any course from "Self & Society: Individual and Society" with a grade of “C” or better.
- Collaboration: Completion of Admissions Practicum with a grade of “P”.
Earned 60 semester hours of course work.
Filed three teacher education recommendation forms by professional educators.
Signed a curriculum contract.
Received approval of the teacher education committee.
Presented an approved portfolio.

For more information contact:
Advising Center
859-572-6944

Catalog Info and More:

Lokesak honored for teaching

Lisa Lokesak, a graduate of NKU, was awarded the 2012 3C Outstanding Educator award, honoring innovative teachers who participate in the community beyond their teaching duties.

Lisa, a teacher at New Haven Elementary, also received special recognition when she was named runner-up for the 2011 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year Award from the National Center for Family Literacy. The award honored Lokesak’s programs to increase literacy to children in low-income areas.

The concept was simple: If kids don’t have access to books, they won’t read. The solution: Lisa started the Book Blazer, a car full of books to give to students so they could read during the summer.

The colleges of education at NKU, Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati presented the award.

In addition to the Book Blazer program, Lokesak also helped start Family Literacy Nights where families are offered transportation, a meal and take-home activities for at-risk children.

“We were trying to get the family involved and not just tutor the kids,” Lokesak said. “All of the great projects happening at New Haven are the product of many teachers working together.”

(photo courtesy of The Community Recorder).

What kind of help can I get with tuition?

Contact Us: Teacher Education Program | COEHS | Phone 859.572.5624 | Email TeacherEducation@nku.edu

Quick Links

Majors