Undergraduate Program

Major and Degree

Early Childhood Multicultural Education, B.S.

Early Childhood Multicultural Education (ECME) offers a baccalaureate program that leads to state licensure for teachers working with children from birth to age eight in classrooms that include children who are developing both typically and atypically. The program draws on content from child development, curriculum and instruction, family studies, language and literacy, special education, nutrition, physical education and health education. The program’s multicultural focus prepares professionals to work with young children and their families from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Prospective early childhood teachers are required to complete 57 hours of general education, and 75 hours of professional early childhood education that includes 42 hours of course work, 9 hours of supervised practicum, and 12 hours of student teaching as required by the NM Public Education Department. Students are required to complete all practica and student teaching in program approved placements. Students complete 30 hours of practica per credit hour.

Admission to the ECME program requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 and a minimum of 26 credit hours. Applicants are required to pass the New Mexico Teacher Assessment Test-Basic Skills and a Federal Background Check prior to admission. Applicants are also required to provide proof of liability insurance and register at the Field Services Center Portal in the Center for Student Success in the College of Education located in Travelstead Hall.

All 100 and 200 level courses must be passed with a C or better. All upper division ECME courses (300 & 400 level) and all upper division electives must be passed with a B or better. Students are required to register for ECME 402, ECME 402L, ECME 417, and ECME 417L in the same semester. Students must complete ECME 402, ECME 402L ECME 417, ECME 417L, and ECME 440L at UNM in order to graduate from our degree program. ECME 417L requires one full day of practicum in a program approved Kindergarten through Third Grade classroom. Students must be accepted into the ECME program two years prior to completing student teaching. Students are required to apply to student teaching by the 12th week prior to the student teaching semester.

Upon completion of the program and satisfactory performance on state approved competencies, student teaching and other exit requirements, students may apply to the State Department of Education for a Level 1 license.

Application Deadlines:
Summer Admission:	March 1
Fall Admission:	July 1
Spring Admission:	October 1

Student Information Contact
Contact program office at Simpson Hall, (505) 277-4535.

A.		General Education Requirements:
		12 credit hours of English including: ENGL 101, 102, CJ 220, LING 101 or ENGL 290	12
		12 credit hours of History including: HIST 101 or 102, HIST 161 or 162, HIST 260, History/Humanities elective	12
		12 credit hours of Science including: NTSC 261L, 262L, 263L	12
		6 credit hours of Social Sciences	6
		Choose 2 courses from the following: AMST 182, AMST 185, ANTH 101, ANTH 130, ECON 105, ECON 106, GEOG 102, LING 101, POLS 110, POLS 200, PSY 105, SOC 101
		6 credit hours of math including: MATH 111 or 112, MATH 129, 215 or STAT 145	6
		3 credit hours in Foreign Language	3
		Choose one course from the following Departments: Linguistics (includes signed language, Spanish and Portuguese, Foreign Languages and Literatures)
		6 credit hours of Fine Arts	6
		Choose 2 courses from the following: ARTH 101, ARTH 201, ARTH 202, DANC 105, MA 210, MUS 139, THEA 122
		Total General Education Requirements	57

B.		Bachelor Degree Core Requirements:
		Professional Education Requirements
	ECME 101	Child Growth, Development & Learning	3
	ECME 103	Health, Safety & Nutrition	2
	ECME 111	Family & Community Collaboration I	3
	ECME 115	Guiding Young Children	3
	ECME 117	Curriculum & Implementation I	3
	ECME 220	Assessment of Children & Evaluation of Programs I	3
	ECME 217	Curriculum & Implementation II	3
	ECME 230	Professionalism	2
	ECME 202	Introduction to Reading & Literacy Development	3
	ECME 311	Family & Community Collaboration II	2
	ECME 317	Integrated Early Childhood Curriculum	3
	ECME 320	Assessment of Children & Evaluation of Programs II	3
	ECME 401	Research in Child Growth, Development & Learning	3
	ECME 402	Teaching Reading & Writing	3
	ECME 417	Methods and Materials for the Early Primary Grades	3
		Field-Based Credits
	ECME 117L	Curriculum & Implementation Practicum I	2
	ECME 217L	Curriculum & Implementation Practicum II	2
	ECME 317L	Integrated Early Childhood Curriculum Practicum	2
	ECME 402L	Teaching Reading & Writing Practicum	1
	ECME 417L	Methods and Materials for the Early Primary Grades Practicum	2
	ECME 440L	Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education	12
		Program Required Electives
		Six hours from:
	305	Research & Evaluation in Early Childhood	3
	315	Public Policy, Leadership, Ethics, and Reform in Early Childhood	3
	325	The Social, Political and Cultural Contexts of Children and Families	3
		Six hours of Upper-Division Education Electives	6
		see below for options:
		Education Electives- Suggested Courses
	ARTE 420		3
	MSET 365		3
	ECME 499		3
	EDPY 472		3
	FS 306		3
	FS 312		3
	FS 403		3
	FS 481		3
	FS 484		3
	FS 493		3
	HED 310		3
	SPCD 452		3
	SPCD 450		3
	LLSS 443		3
		or other courses approved by ECME faculty
		Departmental Honors Sequence in ECME
	ECME 497	Reading and Research in Honors I	2
	ECME 498	Reading and Research in Honors II	2
	ECME 499	Honors Thesis	2
		Students completing the 3-course Departmental Honors sequence in ECME are waived from completing 6 credits from among ECME 305, ECME 315 or ECME 325
		Total Professional Education Credits:	75

		Total Degree Requirements:	132
		General Education Credits	57
		Education Credits	75

Departmental Honors

The Departmental Honors program is open to outstanding Early Childhood Multicultural Education majors who have an overall GPA of at least 3.20. Students must seek advisement from a faculty member willing to serve as mentor for the honors courses and research. An Honors thesis is written during the student’s final semester. Required courses are ECME 497, 498, and 499. These courses are in addition to those required for the major.

Keys and Symbols Reference