Birth-Kindergarten, B.S.

Liberal Studies Hours: 42

Liberal Studies Program Requirements 

The major requires 60-69 hours as follows:

30 Hour Core

• BK 250 - Introduction to Birth-Kindergarten Credits: (3)
• BK 260 - Foundations of Child Study Credits: (3)
• BK 315 - Early Childhood Literacy, Birth-5 Credits: (3)
• BK 361 - Environments for Young Children Credits: (3)
• BK 363 - Child Development Credits: (3)
• BK 462 - Adult-Child Interaction Credits: (3)
• BK 470 - Early Childhood Curriculum Credits: (3)
• BKSE 345 - Adaptations and Modifications for Young Children with Disabilities Credits: (3)
• BKSE 415 - Evaluation & Intervention of Social-Emotional Competencies in Young Children Credits: (3)
• SPED 240 - The Exceptional Child Credits: (3)

Professional Education Concentration, B.S. 39 hours

• BK 312 - Kindergarten Curriculum Credits: (3)
• BK 316 - Mathematics and Science Credits: (3)
• BK 473 - Early Childhood Assessment for Responsive Instruction Credits: (3)
• BK 482 - Internship I Credits: (6)
• BK 483 - Internship Credits: (10, R20)
• BK 496 - Internship Seminar Credits: (2, R4)
• BKSE 313 - Assessment of the Young Child Credits: (3)
• BKSE 412 - Interagency Planning Credits: (3)
• BKSE 427 - Teaching Reading to Yng Children w/Disabilities Credits: (3)
• SPED 339 - Designing Classrooms as Responsive Learning Communities Credits: (3)

Early Childhood Concentration, B.S. 30 hours

• BK 366 - Infant Development and Curriculum Credits: (3)
• BK 414 - Theory and Practice in Early Childhood Administration Credits: (3)
• BK 457 - Action Research Credits: (9)
• BK 458 - Action Research II Credits: (9)
• BKSE 314 - Observational Assessment & Screening of Young Children Credits: (3)
• BKSE 411 - Family Collaborative Planning Credits: (3)

Guided Electives:

9-18 hours. Suggested courses: Courses approved by the BK program.

Additional Requirements:

Birth-Kindergarten majors must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 or better and passing grades of “C” in all courses required in the major, regardless of concentration. If a student earns a grade below a “C” in a required course or a student’s grade point average in the major falls below a 2.75, the student will not be permitted to enroll in any BK or BKSE course. All students must complete liberal studies or the equivalent before starting internship courses or action research courses.
Admission to the Professional Education Concentration:
Students in the professional education concentration must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program  and are subject to all of the teacher education requirements. Though there are other program requirements that may be taken, BK 250 is the only course in the professional education sequence that may be taken before admission to teacher education. The BK professional education sequence includes BK 250, BK 312, SPED 339, BK 473,  BK 482, BK 483, and BK 496.
Continuation in the B-K program: The requirements of continuing in the program are (1) a GPA of at least 2.75 on hours attempted (2) behavior which adheres to the code of ethics of the profession and the North Carolina BK standards (3) satisfactory participation in the required professional field experiences, which is prerequisite to internship. An evaluation of each field experience assignment will become a part of the student’s professional record. Students will also be evaluated on candidate dispositions by BK faculty.
Professional Education Concentration Internships: Students are allowed to take 6 hours with Internship I (BK 482) and are not allowed to take any classes with Internship II (BK 483) and Seminar (BK 496) unless the BK faculty grants permission.

 Visit the department’s website at http://www.wcu.edu//6397.asp for additional information.