Student teacher with preschoolers

Early Childhood Education (B.A.)

Undergraduate
  • Major

About this Program

The early childhood education program is designed to prepare and certify teacher candidates to teach young children in preschool, kindergarten and grades 1-3.

Program Overview

The Phase III teaching internship requires two placements, one in prekindergarten or kindergarten and one in a primary classroom. Beginning in the prerequisite phase, students have the unique opportunity to observe in the Onica Prall Child Development Laboratory School on campus, which offers preschool for children ages 3-4. The ECE program includes many field experiences and is based conceptually on the InTASC Standards and the National Association of Educators of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards as well as on the Maryland State Department's "Redesign of Teacher Education".

The early childhood education major is divided into sequential steps consisting of Prerequisite, Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. The departmental unit assessment plan features a checkpoint at each step through which students must pass before advancing to the next phase. 

The minimum requirement for a major in early childhood education is the successful completion of Phase II coursework and field experiences. Completion of the certification program is contingent upon completion of Phase III and upon meeting Maryland’s minimum passing score on the Praxis II tests specific to early childhood education and attaining a rating of "Proficient" or higher on the Exit Folio.

Degrees Offered

  • BA

Department Offering

LEAP Program

Gain professional development through our Leadership for Emergency Academic Preparedness program.

Experiential Learning

Collaborate with teachers and students at the Georgetown Hill at Hood College Lab School.

Local Connection

Internships with Frederick County Public Schools and other partners put you directly in the classroom.

Program Contact

Associate Professor of Education

Phone
301-696-3838

Our faculty...

are active in national professional organizations and in local schools as supervisors of teacher candidates.

All Faculty
Kristine Calo

Kristine Calo

  • Professor of Education
  • Chair, Department of Education
  • Program Coordinator, Early Childhood Education
Christy Graybeal

Christy Graybeal

  • Professor of Education and Mathematics
  • Program Director, Mathematics Education and Math Instructional Leadership
Rebecca Grove

Rebecca Grove

  • Associate Professor of Education
  • Program Coordinator, Secondary Education
  • Director of First Year Seminar
Amy

Amy Kilpatrick

  • Assistant Professor of Special Education
  • Program Director, Master's in Multidisciplinary Studies in Education

Ellen G. Koitz

  • Associate Professor of Education
  • Program Director, Master's in Reading Specialization

Linda Stuart

  • Director, Professional Development Schools
  • Georgetown Hill at Hood College Lab School Liaison

Marisel N. Torres-Crespo

  • Associate Professor of Education
  • Coordinator of Online Instruction
  • Program Director, Master's in Curriculum & Instruction
A photo of Remy Anderson on the playground at Georgetown Hill Lab School

Remy Anderson '24 | Early Childhood Education

Student Q&A Undergraduate Student

Remy Anderson ’24 discusses her experiences in the early childhood education program.

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The 2024 Teachers of Promise participants.

2024 Teachers of Promise

Hood Education Majors Join TOP Undergraduate Student

“Becoming a Hood College Teacher of Promise showed me that hard work and persistence pay off. If you can dream it, you can do it.”