Child Growth and Learning
Mission Statement
Through the development of pedagogical and content knowledge, personal dispositions, practical applications, and professional teaching, the mission of the Child Growth and Learning program is to prepare candidates to meet the academic and developmental needs of all students grades K-5.
The Bachelor of Science in Child Growth and Learning is designed with input from current practitioner partners specifically to incorporate coursework from the disciplines of psychology, education, and other disciplinary content areas to prepare the Cumberland University student for candidacy for a Tennessee Elementary Education (K-5) Teaching License. The program has been specifically designed to ensure graduating teacher candidates meet the academic and developmental needs of all students during their first year teaching and thereafter.
Students in this program must be admitted to the Steps Through Educator Preparation Program (STEPP) to be considered a candidate for licensure, and must meet STEPP requirements at key checkpoints in their program. Cumberland University students who wish to become teacher candidates must see a education advisor. Also refer to the Educator Preparation section of the Catalog.
Degree Requirements
Area I - Foundation Skills - 3 hours
| FSL 101 | Foundations of Scholarship and Learning | 3 |
| | or | |
| HON 101 | First Year Honors Seminar | 3 |
FSL 101 is required for new and transferring students with less than 24 credit hours. Students must earn a "C" or higher in FSL 101 or HON 101.
Area I - Rhetoric and Communication - 9 hours
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area I - Mathematics - 3-4 hours
Choose one from the following:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area I - Computer Literacy - 3-4 hours
| ED 190/CIS 190 | Introduction to Computers for Instruction | 3 |
| | or | |
| CIS 170 | Introduction to Microcomputer Applications | 3 |
| | and | |
| ED 191 | Computers in the 21st Century Classroom | 1 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses. Students who have successfully completed CIS 170, will also need to take ED 191 for licensure.
Area II - The Arts - 3 hours
Choose one from the following:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area II - Literature in English - 3 hours
Choose one from the following:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area II - Social Science and Humanities - 6 hours
| PSY 211 | Psychology of Human Growth & Development | 3 |
| SOC 221 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Area II - History - 6 hours
Choose one sequence from the following:
| HIS 111 | History of Western Civilization I | 3 |
| | and | |
| HIS 112 | History of Western Civilization II | 3 |
| | or | |
| HIS 191 | World Civilization to 1500 | 3 |
| | and | |
| HIS 192 | World Civilization since 1500 | 3 |
| | or | |
| HIS 201 | History of the United States I | 3 |
| | and | |
| HIS 202 | History of the United States II | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in ALL courses.
Area II - The Natural Sciences - 8 hours
Choose two different science disciplines from the following:
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
Required Professional Education Core Courses -36 hours
| ED 201 | Education as a Profession | 3 |
| ED 230/PSY 230 | Exceptional and Culturally Diverse Students | 3 |
| ED 300 | Instructional Assistance I | 1 |
| ED 301 | Instructional Strategies | 3 |
| ED 317 | Assessment | 3 |
| ED 322 | Education for the Developing Learner | 3 |
| ED 400 | Instructional Assistance II | 2 |
| ED 432 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| ED 433 | Applied Methods and Concepts | 3 |
| ED 435 | Enhanced Student Teaching | 9 |
| ED 436 | Student Teaching Seminar | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses. Exception: Students must earn a "B" or higher in ED 301.
ED 400, ED 432 and ED 433 must be taken the semester prior to student teaching and ED 300, ED 301, ED 317, ED 400, ED 432, and ED 433 professional education core courses require full admission to the Educator Preparation Program.
Required Courses for Major - 20-21 hours
| ED 304 | Strategies for Reading/Language Arts | 3 |
| ED 305 | Diagnostic Teaching of Reading | 3 |
| ED 306 | Diagnostic Teaching of Content | 3 |
| PE 311 | Personal and Community Health | 3 |
| | or | |
| PE 400 | Health Issues | 3 |
| SPE 340 | Language Development and Disorders | 3 |
| SPE 345 | Effective Collaboration | 3 |
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
AND Choose one from the following
| PE 230 | Skill Themes and Movement Concepts | 2 |
| PE 320 | Motor Learning and Development | 2 |
| PE 328 | Methods of Teaching & Learning Motor Skills | 2 |
| PE 434 | Health & Physical Education in Elementary Schools | 3 |
Additional requirements for licensure - 15 hours
Students must earn a "C" or higher in all courses.
General Electives - 2-8 hours
Select sufficient courses from any academic discipline to bring the total hours for graduation to a minimum of 120.
Required GEC credit hours (41-46 hours)
Total required Education core (36 hours)
Required courses for major (20-21 hours)
Additional requirements for licensure (15 hours)
General elective hours (2-8 hours)
120 minimum hours required for graduation.
Students must earn a "C" or higher in ALL courses.
Candidates interested in an ADDITIONAL licensure endorsement in PreK-K or PreK-3 should contact their advisor.