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This proposed credential program will be designed to foster the development of diverse educators who apply evidence-based practices in designing developmentally and culturally responsive curricula and assessment strategies for children enrolled in preschool through third grade. The future program courses will emphasize the sociocultural constructivist approach to pedagogy and practice. Teacher candidates will be expected to nurture and prepare all children in their classrooms from an equity-minded lens. Teacher candidates will also develop a broader understanding of the diversity of families in urban settings and apply that expanded understanding to the curriculum and interactions with families. Coursework may be completed as a full-time or part-time student.

The proposed program will prepare candidates for mastery of the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential's Teaching Performance Expectations (TPE). At the conclusion of this program, students will be prepared to successfully pass the Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) by completing courses that equip them with knowledge and skills to:

1. Identify, organize, and implement a developmentally appropriate core curriculum for ALL children’s learning in the subjects of literacy, mathematics, health, and science in PK-3 settings; 
2. Create and maintain effective environments that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive of multilingual learners and children with disabilities or other special learning needs; 
3. Monitor, support, assess, and document children’s development and learning through clinical practice opportunities; 
4. Articulate the importance of taking an asset-based approach and build on children’s individual strengths and levels of growth and development; and 
5. Develop as a professional early childhood educator. 

Prerequisites (6 units)

• EDEC 400: Introduction to Early Childhood Education  
• EDEC 422: Developing Family, School, and Community Partnerships 

* You must earn a "C" or better grade in the pre-requisite courses to be admitted to the PK-3C Program.

Corequisites (9 units)

• EDEC 410: Social-Emotional and Cognitive Learning in Early Childhood Education  
• EDEC 420: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Early Childhood Education 
• EDEC 430: Advocating for Early Intervention with Young Children and their Families  

Methods (15 units)

• EDEC 450: Teaching Early Language and Literacy (Birth-K)  
• EDEC 455: Teaching Early Language and Literacy (K-3rd Grade)
• EDEC 460: Integrated History-Social Science Concepts in Early Childhood Education  
• EDEC 465: Mathematics in Early Childhood Education  
• EDEC 470: Nutrition and Health Science in Early Childhood Education 

* You must receive a "B" or better in all subject-specific pedagogy courses. 

Student Teaching (10 units)

• EDEC 481A: Student Teaching in Kindergarten – 3rd Grade 
• EDEC 481B: Student Teaching in Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten 

Equivalency Option 1: 

PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential candidates who meet both the requirements outlined in subsections (A) and (B) below shall be granted equivalence for at least 200 hours of the required clinical practice experience. 

(A) Valid Child Development Permit at the Teacher level or higher or verify employment as a lead teacher in a Head Start program or a childcare and development center serving preschool-aged children. 

(B) Verify six (6) years or more of satisfactory, full-time teaching experience as a lead teacher in a public or private center-based childcare and development program serving preschool-aged children that is or holds a license as defined in section 101152(l)(1), Article 1, Chapter 1, Division 12, of Title 22. Verification of candidates with satisfactory full-time teaching experience shall include a statement by the employer confirming that the teacher’s performance was rated satisfactory or better. 

The candidate must provide the of prior experience and a copy of their Child Development Permit. 

Equivalency Option 2:  

Candidates who have completed a practicum course at a regionally accredited institution of higher education shall be granted clinical practice equivalency for these hours commensurate with the number of hours served in the practicum course, up to a maximum of 200 hours, provided that all of the following conditions are met: 

(A) The practicum course is credit bearing and degree applicable towards a Teacher Level or higher-level Child-Development Permit or a degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Child and Adolescent Development, Early Childhood Studies, or Human Development. 

(B) The practicum hours completed were in a preschool or early childhood setting serving 3- to 4-year-old children. 

(C) The practicum was supervised at minimum by a trained faculty member/instructor with expertise in Early Childhood and Child Development pedagogy who provided observation and feedback to the candidate. 

(D) The candidate earned a C or better on the practicum course. 

The candidate must provide verification of the hours served through transcripts and course syllabi. The course syllabi should include the number of practicum hours completed.  

Candidates who have completed both a verified work experience as outlined in Equivalency Option 1 above and a qualified practicum experience as outlined in Equivalency Option 2 above may be granted a maximum of 400 hours total toward the clinical practice requirement and shall complete the remaining 200 hours of clinical practice in grades K-3 classroom settings. 

TPAC Advising Hours

In-Person Advising - Just Drop by EED-67 to speak with an advisor during the In-Person Advising hours specified below. No Appointment Necessary.

By Appointment - Candidates that wish to make an appointment with a Credential Advisor may do so by calling 562-985-1105 and request to make an appointment with a Credential Advisor. Appointments are available in-person or via Zoom. Candidates that wish to make an appointment with a Liberal Studies Advisor must do so online through Beach Connect. 

Advising Hours

In-Person Drop-in Advising Available in EED-67
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm
**TPAC will close at 3:00pm on Thursday July 20th for a special event.**
**TPAC will be closed on Monday July 24, 2023.**

Campus Closure Days:

• Monday September 4, 2023 - Labor Day