Undergraduate Program

Degree Offered

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Multicultural Education (B.S.)

Note: Early Childhood Multicultural Education programs are undergoing extensive review/revision. Therefore, students who plan to apply should seek advisement from program faculty.

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 credit hours of general education, and 75 credit hours of professional early childhood education that includes 42 credit hours of course work, 9 credit hours of supervised practicum, and 12 credit 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 credit 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- and 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.

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

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

Degree Requirements

			Credit Hours
A.		General Education Requirements:
		12 credit hours of English including: ENGL 110 (or 112; or 113); ENGL 120; 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, 185; ANTH 101, 130; ECON 105, 106; GEOG 102; LING 101; POLS 110, 200; PSY 105; SOC 101
		6 credit hours of Mathematics including: MATH 111 or 112; MATH 129 or MATH 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, 201, 202; DANC 105; MA 210; MUS 139; THEA 122
		Total General Education Requirements	57

B.		Core Requirements:
		Professional Education Requirements
	ECME 101	Child Growth, Development and Learning	3
	ECME 103	Health, Safety and Nutrition	2
	ECME 111	Family and Community Collaboration I	3
	ECME 115	Guiding Young Children	3
	ECME 117	Curriculum Development and Implementation I	3
	ECME 220	Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs I	3
	ECME 217	Curriculum Development and Implementation: Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3	3
	ECME 230	Professionalism	2
	ECME 202	Introduction to Reading and Literacy Development	3
	ECME 311	Family and Community Collaboration II	2
	ECME 317	Integrated Early Childhood Curriculum	3
	ECME 320	Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs II	3
	ECME 401	Research in Child Growth, Development and Learning	3
	ECME 402	Teaching Reading and Writing	3
	ECME 417	Methods and Materials for the Early Primary Grades	3
		Field-Based Courses
	ECME 117L	Curriculum Development and Implementation Practicum I	2
	ECME 217L	Curriculum Development and Implementation Practicum II	2
	ECME 317L	Integrated Early Childhood Curriculum Practicum	2
	ECME 402L	Teaching Reading and 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
		6 credit hours from:
	ECME 305	Research and Evaluation in Early Childhood	3
	ECME 315	Public Policy, Leadership, Ethics, and Reform in Early Childhood	3
	ECME 325	The Social, Political and Cultural Contexts of Children and Families	3
		Education Electives- Suggested Courses	6
		6 credit hours of Upper-Division Education Electives
		ARTE 420; ECME 499; EDPY 472; FS 306, 312, 403, 481, 484, 493; HED 310; LLSS 443; MSET 365; SPCD 450, 452.
		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 credit hours from among ECME 305, ECME 315 or ECME 325
		Total Professional Education Credit Hours	75

		Total Degree Requirements:	132
		General Education Credit Hours	57
		Education Credit Hours	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