Education Course Descriptions

ED 101 Foundations of Education

This introductory course covers the historical, legal, philosophical, social, and practical aspects of American education. Students evaluate current educational trends, issues, and practices. They also explore teaching as a career and other career opportunities in contemporary education. Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 120. Three hours lecture/discussion each week.

ED 102 Field Experience in Education

Provides a structured field-based experience. Students observe and interview teachers in local public and private schools. They examine the concept of a professional teaching portfolio based on national performance standards. They also interact with students in public and private schools. Applying concepts learned in ED 101, they examine student learning. Experiences in structured sequential observations, tutoring, and small group instruction. PRE- or COREQUISITE: ED 101. Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 120. 45 hours of practicum each semester.

ED 119 Introduction to Early Childhood Education

Covers curriculum modes, a teacher's roles, and family relationships. Topics include historical development, significant issues, current trends, ethics, and national standards in early childhood education. Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 120. Three hours lecture/discussion each week

ED 120 Child Growth and Development

Provides students with the principles of child growth and development necessary for them to work in programs serving children from infancy through age eight. Emphasizes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children and the implications for developmentally appropriate teaching practices in educational settings. Attention is given to research methods, assessment techniques, and experience of interacting with children in a learning environment. Students who pass the courses will receive 45 of the 90 classroom hours needed to become senior staff in programs licensed by the Office of Child Care Licensing and Regulations.  Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 110.  Three hours lecture/discussion each week

ED 121 Curriculum Planning in Early Childhood Education

Provides the student with principles of developmentally appropriate curriculum planning for programs serving children from infancy through age eight.  Emphasizes activity planning, teaching methods, and materials selection, and classroom management appropriate to the areas of curriculum in an early childhood program.  Attention is given to staff and parent communication and community resources.  Students who pass the courses will receive 45 of the 90 classroom hours needed to become senior staff in programs licensed by the Office of Child Care Licensing and Regulation.  PREREQUISITE: ED 120 or consent of department. Three hours lecture/discussion each week.

ED 122 Practicum in Early Childhood Education  

Experience in working with young children in a naturalistic setting; learning to identify the children’s interests and to adapt curriculum to children’s needs; planning and implementing large and small group activities; practicing effective communication skills and class management skills; and evaluating a quality child care program. 90 hours of field experience and 15 hours of lecture are required for this course. PREREQUISITES: ED 120, ED 121. Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 120.

ED 123 Infant and Toddler Development and Curriculum Planning

Introduces the theory and practice of caring for infants and toddlers in a group setting.  Topics include: the significance of the early years; learning and development of infants and toddlers; socio-physical environment of group care setting; appropriate activities and interactions; the health, safety, and nutritional needs of infants and toddlers. Upon completion of this course, the student meets the coursework requirement for the position of Infant/Toddler Senior Staff in a child care center. Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 110.  Three hours each week

ED 124 School-Age Child Care

Covers necessary elements for providing before-and-after-school programs serving children ages five to thirteen; quality, standards, and care issues; the growth and development of five through thirteen year olds; teacher’s roles and qualifications; working with families and communities. Topics also include activity planning, environment designing, scheduling, building relationships with children, guiding children’s behavior and caring for children with special needs. Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 110. Three hours each week.

ED 125 Child Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Examines the health, safety, and nutritional needs of young children.  Emphasizes common childhood illnesses and chronic conditions, health assessment tools and effective control measures; emergency care and first aid, safety management and practices; nutritional guidelines and activities. Offers opportunities for students to develop a curriculum that enhances children’s education on health, safety, and nutrition. 

Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 120.  Three hours each week.

ED 130 First Start: Care of Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities

Provides an overview of a variety of disabling conditions and chronic illnesses that can afflict infants and toddlers.  Students will learn about the care needs of these children, legal issues, parental issues, and child   and family   advocacy.   This course   will include sessions with health and education professionals from the community who specialize in specific disabling conditions.  Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 110. Three hours lecture/discussion each week.

ED 140 Introduction to Special Education

Covers psychological, sociological, and medical characteristics of the exceptional learner: mental retardation, learning disabilities, emotional or behavioral disorders, communication disorders, hearing impairments, visual impairment, physical disabilities, and giftedness. Topics also include classroom practices, current issues and trends, history and legal aspects, multicultural and bilingual implications. PREREQUISITE: ED 101/102, ED 120, or PY 215. Three hours lecture/discussion each week

ED 141 Field Experience in Special Education

This course provides field-based experience for students to observe and interview teachers in special education classrooms in local public and private schools. Applying concepts learned in ED 140, they study diverse student populations. Experiences in observations, tutoring, and small group instruction provide a transition from theory to practice. PREREQUISITE: ED 101/102, ED 120, or PY 215. PRE- or COREQUISITE: ED 140. Forty-five (45) hours of practicum each semester.

ED 200 Children's Literature

A survey of the most significant and interesting children's books and materials for preschool through elementary school with emphasis on the history and development of children's literature, including the study and evaluation of a wide range of materials.  Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 110.  Three hours lecture each week.

ED 206 Principles of Educational Assessment --This course is an introduction to tests and measurements in an educational setting. Students develop, use, and interpret classroom assessments, including tests, performance assessments, rating scales, portfolios, and observations. Basic standard setting, grading, testing ethics, locating and evaluating measures, program evaluation, and classroom research are also presented. This course meets the Maryland State Department of Education Assessment for Students requirement for an initial certificate in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education. This course also meets the MSDE Assessment, Diagnosis, and Prescriptive Techniques required for the initial certificate in Generic Special Education Infant/Primary, Generic Special Education Elementary/Middle, and Generic Special Education Secondary/Adult. Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 120. Three hours lecture/discussion each week

ED 207 Methods of Teaching Secondary Students

This course provides an overview of teaching methodology for effective instruction for prospective and non-certified secondary teachers. Students plan, design, and conduct instruction. Topics include theory and practices, research-based instructional models, multiculturalism, classroom management, and inclusion of students with special needs. This course meets the Maryland State Department of Education Teaching Methodology requirement for an initial certificate in Secondary Education. Assessment levels: EN 101/101A, RD 120. Three hours lecture/discussion each week.

ED 210  Curriculum Seminar--Science and Mathematics for Young Children - Science and mathematics concepts appropriate to the developmental levels of young children will be presented and analyzed.  The student will develop curriculum activities and test these activities with young children to determine their usefulness in promoting logical thinking through interaction with concrete materials.  PREREQUISITE: ED 121.  Two hours each week.           

ED 211 Curriculum Seminar -Language Arts for Young Children - Explores the techniques, materials, and attitudes that encourage language development in young children in an educational setting. Offers opportunities for the student to develop a curriculum and activities that enhance language development and to practice skills in working with materials and a repertoire of resources. PREREQUISITES: ED 121 and EN 101. Two hours each week.         

ED 212  Curriculum Seminar--Expressive Arts for Young Children - Enables the student to comprehend the process by which the young child, through exploration and manipulation of open-ended materials like clay, water, paper, paint, cloth, metal, space, and others, develops skill and mastery over his/her environment. PREREQUISITE:  ED 121. Two hours each week.

ED 213 Social Development in Young Children

Enables the student to comprehend the process by which a young child, through interactions with peers and adults, develops social attitudes and skills. The focus will be on the role of the adult in fostering the child's growth.   PREREQUISITE: ED 121. Three hours each week.

ED 215 Planning and Administering Child Care Programs

Designed to prepare the student with the basic skills and techniques necessary to operate a child care center. Topics covered include facility operation and management; the development of relationships necessary to deal with child care staff, regulation agencies, children, and parents; and the planning of an overall program.  PREREQUISITE: ED 121 or its equivalent. Three hours each week.

ED 216 Processes and Acquisition of Reading

Intended for the pre-service, undergraduate teacher candidate in early childhood, elementary, or special education, this course explores an instructional approach for teaching literacy skills: speaking, reading, spelling, and writing. It also addresses fluency, comprehension, orthographic knowledge, and writing from an emergent to advanced level. Students examine how observation, documentation, interpretation, evaluation, and planning result in appropriate instruction based on children's strengths and needs. The course also focuses on the process of language development, including the impact of phonemic awareness and how the brain responds to reading acquisition. PREREQUISITES: EN 101/101A and a grade of C or better in ED 101, ED 102, ED 140, and ED 141, or consent of department. Three hours each week