Human Development and Family Sciences
Early Childhood Education Field Experiences
Early Childhood Education students participate in multiple field experiences throughout their four years in the program. These experiences supplement information discussed in classrooms, including instruction, curriculum planning and inclusive strategies.
- Freshman year: Observe children on the UD Children’s Campus.
- Sophomore year: A semester-long field experience in the Laboratory School.
- Sophomore and Junior year: Three semester-long placements with children ranging in age from infancy through early primary grades in early care and education centers and in public schools, for a total of 200 hours in the field prior to student teaching.
- Senior Year: Teacher Candidates will student teach for 12 weeks in the fall and 12 weeks in the spring, during which ECE majors are evaluated on the skills and dispositions necessary to become an early childhood educator or special educator.
- Candidates must also complete and successfully defend an electronic Mastery Portfolio demonstrating key competencies required for novice teachers.
- Candidates must also successfully complete Praxis subject tests and a performance assessment (i.e. edTPA or PPAT). For more information on state requirements see the Teacher Education site.
*Many of the placements will be in inclusive classrooms (i.e. those with typically developing children and some with identified special learning needs).
Please see the Office of Clinical Studies website for information about background and PPD clearances required for these placements.
Required Coursework with Field Experiences
| HDFS220 | Observations of infants and toddlers at the Early Learning Center. Recommended Freshman Year |
| HDFS221 | Observations of children at the Laboratory School and the College School. Recommended Freshman Year |
| EDUC210 | Tutoring experience one on one with children in public schools. Recommended Freshman or Sophomore Year |
| EDUC230 | Observation of a cross section of special education classes. Recommended Freshman or Sophomore Year |
| HDFS224 | Practicum experience with children in an early education setting. Experience with curriculum planning and guidance at the Laboratory School (60 hours). Recommended Sophomore Year |
| HDFS470 | Family home visit with an early intervention specialist. Recommended Sophomore or Junior year |
| HDFS431 | Field-based experiences at the Early Learning Center with infants and toddlers (36 hours). Recommended Sophomore or Junior Year |
| HDFS432 | Inclusive field-based experiences on the UD Children’s Campus or a public school with children ages three to six (60 hours). Recommended Junior Year |
| HDFS433 | Field-based experiences in a public school with children, kindergarten through second grade (60 hours). Recommended Junior Year |
| EDUC400 | Upon meeting the entry into student teaching requirements and mastering all required coursework, teacher candidates in ECE will complete two 12-week, full-time student teaching placements. Completed during fall and spring semesters during senior year.
Students will complete placements:
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Upon completion of all requirements for the ECE major, graduates of the program will be endorsed for certification in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education.