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 - Internship in Early Childhood Assessment 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
• BKSE 350 - Early Childhood Disorders and Interventions 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:

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.  All students must submit to a background check for program admission through the system currently used by the college.  Any legal incidents after the background check has been done must be reported to the Office of Field Experiences within 72 hours of its occurrence.  A second background check is required as part of the application for Internship/Action Research.  All students must complete the Professional Dispositions Contract.   Admission to the Professional Education Concentration: Students seeking admission to the Professional Education Concentration must declare their major and meet the requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program. Admission to the Professional Education Sequence Students in the Professional Education Concentration must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program and are subject to all of the teach education requirements.  BK 250 is the only course in the professional education sequence that may be taken prior to admission to teacher education.   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.  In addition, students in the Professional Education Concentration must meet the requirements for continuation in the Teacher Education Program. Professional Education Concentration Internships: Students are allowed to take 9 hours with Internship I (BK 482) and are allowed to take one class in addition to Internship II (BK 483) and Seminar (BK 496).  Visit the department’s website at http://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/CEAP/ceap-depts/humanserv/bk/.