Early Childhood through 4th Grade (EC-4) Program

See also: Degree Plans

High-quality early education programs give young children a foundation for success in school and beyond. Candidates certified in the EC-4 program at UTA are specifically trained and qualified to teach in the Texas public schools in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 4th Grade. EC-4 teacher candidates participate in a variety of coursework and activities, which prepare them to work effectively with young children.

The foundation of the EC-4 Program at the University of Texas at Arlington is based on the Code of Ethical Conduct of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This statement asserts that, as teachers of young children, we must have:

• An appreciation of childhood as a unique/valuable stage of the human life cycle
• An emphasis on basing work on knowledge of child development and learning
• An appreciation and support for the close ties between child and family
• A recognition that children are best understood in the context of family, culture, society
• A respect for the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual
• An emphasis on helping children/adults achieve their full potential
• An understanding that the education of young children will be enhanced through their participation in programs based on sound early childhood research, theory and practice

The EC-4 Program currently has 84 undergraduate and 22 graduate students placed in the field for their Resident experiences. These teacher candidates are working with children on a daily basis, putting into practice the theoretical information they have been learning in their coursework at UTA. Mentor teachers in the Arlington and Dallas Independent School Districts are very pleased to work with the well-prepared and enthusiastic Residents from UTA.