Early Care and Education

Atlanta, Henry, Douglas, and Newnan Academic Centers

The Bachelor of Science in Education degree, with a major in Early Care and Education, is designed for individuals who wish to be certified to teach children from birth to five years of age. The Early Care and Education program will assist the student in acquiring a broad educational foundation that will prepare him or her for a profession in early care and education. In addition to the broad educational foundation, the student will complete studies in Child Development and Child Care Administration. The Child Development studies will focus on knowledge of how typical and atypical infants, toddlers, and young children grow, develop, and learn. The Child Care Administration studies will serve to provide education in the theory and practice of leadership/ management and human resource issues in child care centers and other early care and education settings.

Goals

1. To prepare early care and education professionals for positions in Georgia

Graduates of the Early Care and Education program will be qualified for administrative, certified teaching, or social service positions with child care centers, Head Start programs, pre-kindergarten programs, social services agencies, and other facilities designed for the care and development of young children.

2. To help meet the growing demand for highly trained early care and education professionals in Georgia.

Leaders in the early care and education profession in consistently indicate the need for a larger body of educated professionals to fill teaching and administrative positions.

3. To provide an alternative for early care and education employees seeking an undergraduate degree.

Mercer University's Early Care and Education degree program will provide opportunities for those employed in early care and education settings to achieve personal and professional growth as they pursue Bachelor of Science in Education degrees.

4. To develop partnerships with early care and education settings, professional organizations, and community agencies.

Mercer University recognizes the importance of developing partnerships with other institutions and agencies to improve the educational development of the community and state.

Program Outcomes

Candidates who complete the Bachelor of Science in Education degree, with a major in Early Care and Education, are professionals in early care and education who will promote the success of all young learners (birth to five years of age) by:

• using understanding of typically and atypically developing young children's  characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on children's development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, supportive, and challenging for all young children. To Know,To Do
• knowing about, understanding, and valuing the importance and complex characteristics of children's culturally diverse families and communities; and using this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families and to involve all families in their children's development and learning. To Know, To Do
• knowing about and understanding the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment; and knowing about and using systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to influence children's development and learning positively. To Know, To Do
• knowing, understanding, and using positive relationships and supportive  interactions as the foundation for work with young children. To Know,To Do
• knowing, understanding, and using a wide array of developmentally  effective approaches, strategies, and tools to influence children's development and learning in positive ways. To Know, To Do
• understanding the importance of each content area in young children's  learning; knowing the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects; and identifying resources to deepen understanding. To Know, To Do
• using knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate  meaningful, challenging curricula that promote comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for all young children. To Know, To Do
• using knowledge and resources to design and administer quality programs  that encourage and support collaboration between families, child care professionals, and community agencies concerned with the positive growth and development of all young children. To Know, To Do
• identifying and conducting themselves as members of the early childhood  profession; knowing and using ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice; becoming continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective, and critical perspectives of their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources; and serving as informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies. To Be

Resources

• Program Plan (Word Doc)
• Mercer-DTAE Articulation Agreement (PDF)
• Program Contact: Margaret McCall, 678-547-6386