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  • Bachelor – Interdisciplinary Studies – Early Childhood
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Interdisciplinary Studies - Early Childhood, Bachelor

Do you want to work with preschool and primary school-aged children? Do you plan to enter an occupation that requires a broad general education? Are you seeking career advancement or personal intellectual enrichment? Are you considering a pre-professional plan? Our degree will enhance your teaching skills and will prepare you to succeed. We have a flexible program that will help you accomplish those goals.

The College of Education is technologically advanced, culturally responsive, and student-focused. Small class sizes guarantee that you will receive lots of individual attention. You'll also do plenty of classroom teaching.

This flexible bachelor's degree offers you an opportunity to design a plan of studies, in consultation with an advisor, to meet your individual educational needs. You may choose this degree if you plan to enter an occupation that requires a broad general education, if you are seeking career advancement or personal intellectual enrichment, or if you are considering a preprofessional plan.

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Requirements Accordion Open

University Requirements

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's liberal studies, diversity, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
    The full policy can be viewed here.

     

Overview Accordion Closed

Overview

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 24 units of Early Childhood specialization requirements
  • Completion of a Concentration, Minor, or Certificate
  • Completion of Computer Literacy, Communication Skills, and Science or Language Requirements
  • Up to 9 units of specialization prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy specialization requirements.
  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units

Please note that you may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion120
Major GPAC
Highest Mathematics RequiredMAT 114
Emphasis, Minor, CertificateRequired
Foreign LanguageOptional
University Honors ProgramOptional
Progression Plan LinkView Progression Plan

Purpose Statement

The Interdisciplinary Studies, Early Childhood Education degree program provides students with a framework for entering an occupation that requires a broad general education, for seeking career advancement or personal intellectual enrichment, or for considering a pre-professional plan. This program’s major requirements include an early childhood specialization, the option of a concentration, minor, or certificate, and interdisciplinary coursework in the areas of communication, language or science, and computer literacy.

This flexible bachelor’s degree offers students the opportunity to design a plan of studies, in consultation with an advisor, to meet individual educational needs, and the purpose of this degree, which does not lead to teacher certification, is to provide a general knowledge of child development, early literacy development, and preschool curriculum and assessment. Students who complete this program will have an early childhood education background that will enrich them both personally and professionally.  This degree does not lead to teacher certification.
 

Details Accordion Closed

Details

Liberal Studies Requirement
    • Students who have completed the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) from an Arizona public or tribal community college, the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), or California State University General Education (CSUGE) from a California public community college are considered to have satisfied NAU’s Liberal Studies Distribution Blocks and Foundation requirements as well as the US Ethnic and Global Diversity requirements.
    • Up to 9 units of specialization prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy specialization requirements.
    • You may not use the specific courses in your Concentration to satisfy liberal studies requirements.
Major Requirements
  • This major requires 39 to 74 units distributed as follows:

    • Early Childhood Specialization: 24 units
    • Minor, Concentration or Certificate: 15 to 25 units
      • Minors: 18 to 24 units
      • Concentration: 15 units
      • Certificates: 15 to 25 units
    • Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements: 24 to 25 units
      • Communication Requirement: 6 units
      • Foreign Language or Science Requirement: 18 to 19 units

     

  • Multi-use of coursework is not permitted within the Major Requirements. Major Requirements include Specialization, Communication, Computer Literacy, Language and Science.

  • Take the following 63-67 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:

    Early Childhood Specialization (24 units)

    • BME 480 or ECI 526 (3 units)
    • CSD 350 or equivalent course approved by your advisor (3 units)
    • ECI 312, ECI 410, ECI 497C (9 units)
    • EDF 301W (3 units)
    • EPS 340 (3 units)
    • ESE 436 (3 units)

    Please note that the Interdisciplinary Studies degree does not lead to teacher certification.

    Please be aware that if you wish to transfer credit from community colleges into this Specialization, you may only use courses designated in the Arizona Higher Education Course Equivalency Guide (AGEC) as either Direct Course Equivalencies or as Departmental Elective Credit. Courses transferred from institutions outside Arizona or from Arizona colleges or universities that don't have formal articulation agreements with Northern Arizona University require the approval of the department chair.
     

  • Minor, Concentration, or Certificate

  • Select one of the following (15-18 units):

    Concentration (15 units)
    Take at least 15 units that include a minimum of 3 units in each of the follow ing blocks: Ethical Reasoning; Creative Inquiry; Scientific Reasoning; Changing Worlds; and Cultural Perspectives. Courses used to satisfy this requirement may not have been used to satisfy any other requirement for this degree. At least 9 units must be taken at Northern Arizona University and at least 6 units of the 9 units must be upper-division (300 or 400-level).

    • Ethical Reasoning, select from the following (3 units)

      • COM 150
      • HUM 175, HUM 371, HUM 373, HUM 395
      • PHI 105, PHI 331
      • PADM 411
    • Creative Inquiry, select from the following (3 units)

      • ANT 355,
      • ARH 252, ARH 351, ARH 353
      • ART 100, ART 300
      • CCJ 215
      • CMF 382
      • ENG 121, ENG 308, ENG 364W
      • HUM 101, HUM 102, HUM 351, HUM 352, HUM 353, HUM 370, HUM 375
      • MUS 260, MUS 333
      • PHI 240, PHI 320, PHI 321, PHI 322, PHI 351, PHI 352
      • REL 325
      • TH 101
    • Scientific Reasoning, select from the following (3 units)

      • BIO 301, BIO 302
      • ECO 284, ECO 285
      • FOR 222, FOR 230
      • PHI 203, PHI 223, PHI 359
      • POS 303
      • PSY 101, PSY 240
      • SOC 365
    • Changing Worlds, select from the following (3 units)

      • AIS 202, AIS 304
      • ANT 105, ANT 253, ANT 301, ANT 303, ANT 306, ANT 350, ANT 351
      • CCJ 101, CCJ 250, CCJ 325, CCJ 340, CCJ 360, CCJ 380
      • CST 365
      • GSP 201, GSP 240, GSP 241, GSP 348, GSP 376
      • HIS 240, HIS 241, HIS 291, HIS 292, HIS 394, HIS 397
      • PADM 310, PADM 401
      • PHI 357
      • POS 100, POS 110, POS 210, POS 224, POS 230, POS 241, POS 250, POS 254, POS 320, POS 344, POS 355, POS 356, POS 357, POS 359, POS 361, POS 362, POS 364
      • PSY 250, PSY 375
      • REL 390
      • SOC 101, SOC 210, SOC 301, SOC 316, SOC 333, SOC 339
    • Cultural Perspectives, select from the following (3 units)

      • AIS 101, AIS 202, AIS 210, ANT 102, ANT 103, ANT 104, ANT 205, ANT 305
      • CCJ 314, CCJ 360
      • COM 301
      • CST 323
      • ENG 245, ENG 345, 
      • ES 191, ES 215, ES 356, ES 391
      • HIS 102, HIS 221, HIS 230, HIS 231, HIS 240, HIS 241, HIS 249, HIS 250, HIS 251, HIS 280, HIS 281, HIS 293, HIS 295, HIS 312, HIS 314, HIS 325, HIS 332, HIS 366, HIS 379, HIS 381, HIS 382, HIS 396
      • HUM 130, HUM 261, LAS 101, HUM 291, HUM 362, LAS 381, HUM 382
      • MUS 360, MUS 365
      • PHI 150
      • POS 120, POS 366, POS 370, POS 374
      • REL 150, REL 201, REL 312, REL 313, REL 306  REL 380
      • SOC 204, SOC 215, SOC 315
      • WGS 191, WGS 260, WGS 360
  • Minor (18 units)
    You may also fulfill this requirement by completing a minor outside your specialization field, instead of either a concentration or certificate. The minor, which will require at least 18 units, must be completed according to the requirements listed in your catalog of graduation. Refer to specific academic areas within this catalog for information about the coursework requirements for particular minors you may be interested in. (Please note that not all minors are available statewide or online.)

  • Certificate (15 units)
    You may also fulfill this requirement by completing a certificate outside your specialization field, instead of either a concentration or a minor. The certificate, which will require at least 15 units, must be completed according to the requirements listed in your catalog of graduation. Refer to specific academic areas within this catalog for information about the coursework requirements for particular certificates you may be interested in. (Please note that not all certificates are available statewide or online.)
Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements
  • Communication Requirements (6 units)

    Select 6 units in the following two categories. 

    • Performance-based courses, select one from the following (3 units)
      • CST 111, CST 311, CST 312, CST 314, CST 315, CST 318 (Performance-based courses are defined as having at least 51 percent of the evaluation of the student being based upon oral performance.)
      • Or advisor approved
    • Theory-based courses, select one from the following (3 units)
      • COM 101, COM 200 
      • CST 151, CST 271, CST 321, CST 323, CST 361, CST 365, CST 424, CST 451, CST 465, CST 472, CST 475 , CST 477
      • Or advisor approved
  • Please note that you cannot use CLEP or locally prepared exams to satisfy this requirement. Transfer credit used to satisfy this requirement must be approved by the program director.


  • Foreign Language or Science Requirement Option (18-19 units)

    Foreign Language Requirement Option (19 units)

    Foreign Language Requirement (16 units)
    You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or by testing out of all or part of it by taking CLEP, or other exams.
     
    AND

    Computer Literacy (3 units)
    This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Subject to advisor approval.

    • Complete 3 units of ISM 120 or BBA 293
  • OR

    Science Requirement Option (18 units)
  • Science Requirement, select from the following (12 units):

    • ANT 101, ANT 250
    • GSP 130, GSP 150
    • Courses with Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physical Science, Physics, Statistics prefixes. Please note that other courses must be approved by the program director.
  • AND

    Computer Literacy (6 units)

    This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Subject to advisor approval.

    • Select ISM 120 or BBA 293 (3 units)
    • BBA 340 or Advisor Approved coursework including the CIS or CS prefix (3 units)

     
General Electives
  • Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit. 

    You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)

Additional Information
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information click on the course or see your advisor.
     

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