HDFS Undergraduate Programs
Early Childhood Development & Education Option
This program option focuses on the nature and process of development from conception through early childhood and is generally designed to prepare undergraduates for careers working with young children and their families. Course work in this program option provides students with knowledge of child development, principles of guidance and discipline, curriculum and best practices in the education of young children, approaches to multicultural programming, and educational practices for working with exceptional learners.
There are three different areas of specialization within the Early Childhood Development and Education option. Area One (Early Education and Care) provides a specialization in the professional field of early childhood care and development for students interested in working specifically with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers as teachers or administrators. Area Two (Early Intervention of Developmentally Delayed Children) provides a focus on the early education of young children (birth to age 3) with developmental disabilities. Finally, Area Three (Early Childhood Education Age 3 to Grade 3) serves as excellent baccalaureate preparation for students interested in applying for admission to a Master of Education (M.Ed.) or post-baccalaureate licensure program to earn Ohio teacher licensure in early childhood education (pre-kindergarten through grade 3).
What Can I do With This Degree?
- Provides preparation to attend an M.Ed. or licensure only program to become a licensed teacher (pre-k through grade 3)
- Child Care Information and Referral Specialist
- Child/Family Advocate
- Early Intervention Specialist (birth to age 3)
- Infant-Toddler/Preschool Teacher
- Infant-Toddler/Preschool Director
Human Development and Family Science: Early Childhood specialization will stop admitting students Spring 2012. The last date a student can declare the HDFS: Early Childhood major is March 30, 2012. To declare the HDFS: Early Childhood major or pre-major, students should attend an EHE Information session (http://ehe.osu.edu/students/ugss/info-sessions.php), students who have questions about EHE Information sessions should contact Derraya Miller, dmiller@ehe.osu.edu.
Early Childhood Development & Education Program Sheet (pdf) - Applies to students admitted to the College of Education and Human Ecology from Summer 2010 to Spring 2011.
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