Early Childhood Education

For more than a century, the University of Northern Iowa has educated teachers of young children. Because of their preparation and dedication, these teachers have assumed leadership roles in the education field. Today, the early childhood education program, based in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction,  continues to prepare its graduates to assume leadership roles in education in Iowa, the United States and in countries throughout the world.

Our early childhood education majors engage in a blended curriculum that features both regular education and special education for early childhood, called the Unified Program. Teaching positions in this field include the following: infant and toddler teacher, early interventionist, public or private inclusive preschool, kindergarten and primary teacher, and early childhood special education teacher. Other careers that early childhood education graduates choose are those of child-care director, resource and referred consultants, and early childhood coordinator of programs for young children.

The undergraduate sequence of courses in early childhood education is based on an understanding of the development of young children who are typically developing and those with exceptionalities, working with children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and promoting meaningful participation in inclusive classrooms. The program of study is a planned series of academic courses in conjunction with practical experiences with young children and families in diverse programs in the Cedar Valley.