Professors: Mary Bucy, Maria Dantas-Whitney, Mark Girod, Rachel Harrington, Chloë Hughes, Marie LeJeune, Mickey Pardew, Adele Schepige, Dana Ulveland
Associate professors: Carmen Cáceda, Kenneth Carano, Melanie Landon-Hays, Cindy Ryan, Alicia Wenzel, Greg Zobel
Assistant professors: Natalie Danner, Xiaopeng Gong, Katrina Hovey, Annie Ittner, Maria Peterson- Ahmad, Joshua Schulze

Mission

Prepares skilled and reflective early childhood teachers who can effectively respond to the unique learning needs of diverse young children and their families. Grounded in the principles of educational equity, cultural sensitivity professionalism and an intellectually vital learning community, we are committed to facilitating the learning and development of our early childhood practitioners who, in turn, can successfully affect the learning and development of young children from birth-4th grade in inclusive settings.

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop reflective teacher leaders who are advocates for young children and their families.
2. Create an inclusive climate where diversity is valued.
3. Demonstrate evidence of appropriate content knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to provide quality care and early education for all young children (birth-4th grade) and their families.

This major prepares students to work in inclusive early childhood settings (including Head Start, child care, preschool and K-4 elementary schools). Early childhood studies majors are required to complete all pre-education courses (all 200 and 300 level) required for the major prior to entry to the education core.