Graduate Early Childhood Education Endorsement Program

promo picThe Iowa Board of Education Examiners has approved the Graduate Early Childhood Endorsement Program proposed by UNI's Early Childhood Division of Curriculum & Instruction. The endorsement program is designed for infant through Grade 3 teachers who currently hold an Iowa teaching license in elementary education. Classes begin in May of 2008.

The graduate endorsement program is delivered via online or ICN courses, or a combination of the two. Students will attain the ED100 unified endorsement, Prek-3rd Grade with Special Education after completing the 16 credit hours and practicum experiences. Courses will prepare these teachers to teach in the new statewide voluntary preschool classrooms which are inclusive settings.

Frequently asked questions

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FAQ

  1. I am concerned about doing field experiences while I am working full-time. How will this work?
  2. When do I have to come on-campus?
  3. I have a degree and teaching license that is not in Elementary Education. Can I still enroll in this program?
  4. Will this program be offered again in the fall 08 and spring 09?
  5. I need the ED100. Does this program provide that?
  6. What’s the difference between field experience and practicum?
  7. How can I do a practicum (student teach) at a distance?

I am concerned about doing field experiences while I am working full-time. How will this work?

Summer courses during the first year require field experience hours. You will need to find sites to do these hours. Your course instructors will give you guidelines for this. During the academic year, you will be allowed to complete your field experience hours within your own pre-k classroom. If you are not teaching pre-k currently, you will need to find a pre-k classroom with a teacher certified in Early Childhood Education for your field experience hours.

When do I have to come on-campus?

You will need to attend the on-campus orientation. The May 3 orientation has been postponed to later in the month. You may also be required to meet practicum requirements through one week on campus in July 2009. This 1-week practicum will be at the Infant/Toddler level, completed at the UNI Child Development Center during July. If you student taught for your elementary education degree in a classroom at the K-3 level, then the state will waive the third hour of practicum experience. That means you can take the final course via the ICN in July 09 and the 2 credit practicum in May 09 will suffice.

I have a degree and teaching license that is not in Elementary Education. Can I still enroll in this program?

No, this graduate program is designed specifically for elementary certified teachers who are moving into statewide voluntary preschool classrooms. We have designed courses with graduate level expectations for the coursework and experiences. We hope to provide coursework for others in the near future.

Will this program be offered again in the fall 08 and spring 09?

Currently our plans are to offer this program with an annual June start date. The second group would start through the 16 credit hours in June 09 and finish in July 2010. We truly do not yet know the demand for this program. If the need is there, we hope to hire more faculty to offer courses more often than the current plans allow.

I need the ED100. Does this program provide that?

UNI only offers the ED100 endorsement. The new program will complete this endorsement within the 16 credit hours.

What’s the difference between field experience and practicum?

Field experiences are hours that are embedded in coursework with assignments. The Practicum is equivalent to student teaching for graduate students. The ED100 requires at least 100 hours of field experience before student teaching/practicum. Up to 25% of the hours for any particular course may be waived based on the student’s experience. The student must provide documentation of this experience. UNI will determine the number of hours to be waived. Waiver of field experience hours does not relieve students of the responsibility for completing all course assignments.

How can I do a practicum (student teach) at a distance?

The first two credit hours may be done in your own classroom with supervision provided by UNI coordinators and work with an on-site mentor (may be your principal or a colleague), as well as use of videotape of activities that are mailed to UNI. UNI faculty are piloting this process in spring semester 2008. The third credit hour of practicum is required to be done in the infant or toddler classrooms at the UNI Child Development Center. ED100 requirements include experiences in high quality inclusive programs for these very young children. Students who completed their undergraduate student teaching at the Kindergarten through 3rd grade level may request waiver of this third hour of practicum. Students whose student teaching experience was at the 4th grade level or higher must complete this third practicum hour.