Early Childhood Education

P.O. Box 70548
Phone: (423) 439-7688
Web Address: www.etsu.edu/coe/eced/

Chair: Dr. Pamela Evanshen
email: evanshep@etsu.edu
phone: (423) 439-7694

The Department of Early Childhood Education offers programs that focus on the application of developmental learning and other psychological principles in a wide variety of settings including home, school, workplace, and community. Teaching programs leading to licensure are offered. Courses in teacher education and the behavioral sciences are provided both for majors and students in other academic areas.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Department of Early Childhood Education is to engage in research, apply scientifically-based knowledge to enhance the development and learning of diverse peoples across the lifespan, and create models of service in the communities we serve.

Our Vision

We value high standards for teaching, learning, and inquiry through providing a well-rounded education for the professions of teaching and learning in an effort to enhance quality education in our region and beyond.

The Department is comprised of three programs: offering the following options within each program:

Early Childhood

PhD in Early Childhood Education
MA Early Childhood Education (with concentration in Initial Licensure PreK-3, Master Teacher, or Researcher
Bachelor of Science degree: Early Childhood Development (PreK-3 Licensure and Non-licensure degrees)
Early Childhood Education Emergent Inquiry Program (online master’s certificate program for individuals who have a bachelor or master’s degree in Early Childhood or a related field (e.g., Psychology, Special Education, Elementary Education, etc.)
Early Childhood Online Master’s Program
Minor in Early Childhood

Early Childhood Development (ECED)

Program Coordinator PreK-3 Licensure: Dr. Kathryn Sharp

email:sharplk@etsu.edu
Phone: (423) 439-7608

Program Coordinator Non-licensure: Dr. Rosemary Geiken

email: geiken@etsu.edu
Phone: (423) 439-7567

The Department of Early Childhood Education in the Clemmer College offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Development. The licensure program (Pre-K-3) is designed to provide academic preparation in the growth and development of young children (0-8), their families, and environmental factors influencing their development. The non-licensure program prepares candidates to work in the field of early childhood education in settings not requiring a license (e.g., childcare, community settings/agencies.) In addition, the early childhood education program offers a minor in Early Childhood Education and opportunity for adding an early childhood endorsement to existing education licenses.

Graduate Study

The Early Childhood Program offers a graduate program leading to a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with three concentrations: Initial Licensure PreK-3, Master Teacher, and Researcher. The master teacher concentration is offered both on-ground and online. A master’s certificate, Early Childhood Education Emergent Inquiry, is an online master’s certificate program for individuals who have a bachelor or master’s degree in Early Childhood or a related field (e.g. Psychology, Special Education, Elementary Education, etc.). In addition, a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education is offered beyond the master’s degree. Further information on these programs may be obtained from the School of Graduate Studies.