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Graduate Alternate Certification (Initial)
Early Childhood Education

Program Overview | Conceptual Framework | Program Details |  Program of Study
Field Experience | Candidate Assessment Information |  Program Faculty | Advising

Program Overview

The Early Childhood Graduate Alternate Certification program prepares candidates for teaching in Grades PK-3 and leads to an initial Louisiana teaching certificate. The UNO teacher education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the program is nationally recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The Graduate Alternate Certification program in Early Childhood Education is 29 credit hours and focuses on the knowledge, skills, and dispositions associated with effective education of students in Grades PK-3. Candidates must demonstrate content knowledge through the passage of the PRAXIS I (PPST) in reading, writing and mathematics and the approriate specialty area PRAXIS exam(s) prior to program admission.

Conceptual Framework

The program is aligned with the Conceptual Framework of the College of Education and Human Development. The Conceptual Framework establishes a goal to prepare reflective practitioners to address the needs of metropolitan schools. Within a theory-practice interaction model, the program prepares teachers to address six critical roles of teaching: 1) designing and delivering instruction, 2) managing time, tasks, and environments, 3) using inquiry to inform practice, 4) collaborating to support group practice, 5) advocating for students, services, and supports, and 6) improving classroom and system practice. The role-focused framework supports a performance-based preparation program.  Four critical themes are embedded within the program of study, including: assessment, communication, diversity, and technology. UNO programs of study are designed to assist teachers in creating an impact on children, schools, and communities.

Program Details

The Graduate Alternate Early Childhood Certification program of study is divided into 3 Levels. The program begins in Level 1 with coursework and field experiences that are aligned with national, state, and unit standards of the teaching profession. Candidates are introduced to the requirements of the program in the first internship and begin the development of an electronic portfolio through core and specialized coursework. Following a performance review, candidates enter Level 2 of the program and complete professional coursework aligned with the national, state, and unit standards associated with teaching in early childhood programs and classrooms. During Level 3, candidates complete the student teaching experience in a public school setting or the capstone internship experience in the accredited school in which they are employed as an Early Childhood teacher in Grades PK-3. The program of study is fully aligned with the certification requirements of the Louisiana Department of Education.

Program Plan (curriculum sheet)

Field Experience

The Graduate Alternate Early Childhood teacher certification program represents a performance-based model of personnel preparation and is divided into 3 Levels. The first two levels require field experience associated with the completed coursework and a series of 1 credit hour internships. Information on the field experience requirements of each course in the program of study may be found in the course syllabus. Following the completion of coursework and a successful performance review, candidates complete one semester of clinical practice in an early childhood school setting.

Throughout the program, candidates record site and grade level placements of field experiences in their Live Text electronic portfolio. These records are reviewed at each transition review by program faculty to ensure that candidates are developing a balanced set of field experiences that include work with appropriate age levels and in diverse school settings. More information on the Field Experience requirements may be found in the Graduate Alternate Certification Handbook .

Candidate Assessment Information

The Graduate Alternate Early Childhood certification program requires candidates to complete a variety of assessments as they progress through the program of study. In addition to the admissions review, the program includes three transition reviews, one to exit each Level. Assessments include unit assessments that are incorporated into each teacher education program of study, and program assessments unique to the Early Childhood program. The table below provides the key assessments used in the program to determine candidate progression. Specific information about each assessment and scoring information for each assessment may be found by clicking on the appropriate link.

Key Program Faculty

Judith Kieff
Sheehan McHugh (program coordinator)

List of Advisors

Candidates in the Graduate Alternate Certification program begin the advising process in the office of the College of Education and Human Development. Upon full admission to the program, candidates receive advising from a faculty member in the appropriate academic department.

Contact the Program Coordinator for more information.