ECE

Experimental course.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

This course addresses the trends and practices of early childhood education programs which serve children from birth to age nine. Main course topics include history and philosophical frameworks of education, curriculum programming, lesson development and implementation, and the education of special needs children. Current topics in the professional development of education professionals will be addressed as they relate to early childhood education. PDE Stage 1 - Observation: 05-10 hours.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing for education majors & minors.

This course focuses on understanding how families and communities are significant contexts for children’s development and school success. Based upon these insights, students will collaboratively explore ways to build bridges of understanding between diverse schools, families, and communities. The students will engage with diverse families in the field to critically reflect on a family’s funds of knowledge, considering different cultural ways of knowing. The students will use these discoveries to develop culturally responsive explorations for their future performance in educational environments. PDE Stage 1 - Observation: 05-10 hours.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing for education majors & minors.

Experimental course.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

This course equips teacher candidates with dynamic instructional tools for studying and teaching various assessment frameworks. Teacher candidates examine how educational assessments impact the teaching and learning process in the early childhood classroom. The role of assessment including assessment creation, data analysis, and student progress reporting is studied.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

EDU 231 and SED 201 Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course equips teacher candidates with strategies to create meaningful and safe classroom experiences. Teacher candidates examine the relationships among classroom environment, behavior, and learning. The role of the learning environment as related to the physical classroom design, the social-emotional rapport, cognitive learning models, routines, expectations, and interventions is studied.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

EDU 231 and SED 201

Corequisite

ECE 362 PreK-4 Observation and Assessment - Practicum.

This course introduces teacher candidates to the content and methods of teaching mathematics in the PreK years. Course topics address the PA Early Childhood Education and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards. Math instructional strategies are based on a constructivist approach emphasizing problem-solving, estimation, and making sense of mathematics. The role of technology in instruction, modern trends in mathematics education, research, and application of skills are included. The use of age-appropriate manipulative materials in a laboratory situations and group problem-solving are developed as classroom models of instruction. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 362 PreK-4 Observation and Assessment - Practicum.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course introduces teacher candidates to the content and methods of teaching mathematics in the primary grades. Course topics address PA Core Academic and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards. Math instructional strategies are based on a constructivist approach emphasizing problem-solving, estimation, and making sense of mathematics. The role of technology in instruction, modern trends in mathematics education, research, and application of skills are included. The use of age-appropriate manipulative materials in a laboratory situation and group problem-solving are developed as classroom models of instruction. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 362 PreK-4 Observation and Assessment - Practicum.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course equips teacher candidates with the instructional tools for teaching the developmental sequence of language acquisition and knowledge of phonics in the PreK years and the language arts receptive and productive categories of oral, written, and visual language as part of a classroom curriculum. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 362 PreK-4 Observation and Assessment - Practicum.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course equips teacher candidates with the instructional tools for teaching the developmental sequence of language acquisition and knowledge of phonics in grades K-4. It will also examine the language arts receptive and productive categories of oral, written, and visual language as part of a classroom curriculum. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 362 PreK-4 Observation and Assessment - Practicum.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course equips teacher candidates with the instructional tools for studying and teaching various theoretical frameworks of emergent literacy and literacy development. Teacher candidates examine how children’s literacy roots evolve from their home and community lives. The role of comprehension and phonics instruction within guided and shared reading experiences is studied. Emphasis is placed upon building family-school partnerships. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 362 PreK-4 Observation and Assessment - Practicum.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course equips teacher candidates with the instructional tools for studying and implementing various literacy theoretical frameworks in the primary grades. Emphasis is placed on exploring how literacy curriculum, instruction, and assessment inform each other in the teaching and learning of children. Systematic evaluation tools for proficient and struggling readers are explored. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 362 PreK-4 Observation and Assessment - Practicum.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course equips teacher candidates with the instructional tools for teaching social studies to children. The content meets PA Core and National Council for the Social Studies standards. Candidates develop initial ideas of social studies teaching, which include methods of content selection and methods of teaching, and be able to explain the critical role of social studies education in the school curriculum. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 362 PreK-4 Observation and Assessment - Practicum.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

4

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course is designed to provide teacher candidates with clinical experiences in observing and assessing children. Candidates will teach lessons, administer assessment instruments, use curriculum-based measurements, and evaluate and interpret the results for instructional purposes. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory. Personal transportation is required. PDE Stage 3 - Pre-Student Teaching: 160 hours.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

Experimental course.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Experimental course.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Student teaching is the capstone of the professional early childhood education certification program. The course provides teacher candidates the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from core education coursework, focusing on differentiated instructional practices, multiple learning environments, professional collaboration, school policies and procedures, and reflective practice. Experience includes directed activities in Local Education Agencies and on-campus seminars. PDE Stage 4 - Student Teaching: 16 weeks or 640 hours. Personal transportation is required. ECE 605 requires a student teaching fee in addition to the regular Westminster tuition and fees.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

6

Credits (max)

6

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Completion of all ECE Teaching and Learning Laboratory courses. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Honors status and departmental approval.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Honors status and departmental approval.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Honors status and departmental approval.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

4

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Honors status and departmental approval.

This course is the introduction to the content and methods of science , technology, engineering, and mathematics in P K-4 schools. Careful attention is given to the organization and implementation of meaningful science and mathematics learning experiences at the various age levels. The roles of inquiry and discovery teaching, hands-on learning activities, and current research are studied related to children’s acquisition of scien tific and mathematical concepts.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Phase I: Foundations courses are required for Early Childhood PreK-4 candidates.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of Structured Literacy, an evidence-based approach to reading instruction that benefits all students, particularly those with reading challenges such as dyslexia. Participants will examine the five systems of language-phonology, morphology, orthography, syntax, and semantics (including pragmatics and discourse)-and how these components support reading development. Through a combination of lectures, practical activities, and assessments , students will learn to deliver explicit, systematic, and cumulative literacy instruction. The course emphasizes diagnostic and responsive teaching methods to meet diverse learner needs. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing are required

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing for education majors & minors.

An introductory study of Structured Literacy Content of Instruction and Principles of Instruction . Students examine the importance of multisensory teaching in the areas of phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing composition . In addition, the students will learn how to administer different forms of assessment to inform their instruction. Emphasis is placed upon building family-school partnerships that enhance the educational experience of children .

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Part One of this course (Social Studies) equips teacher candidates with the instructional tools for teaching social studies to children. The content meets PA Core and National Council for Social Studies standards. Candidates develop initial ideas of social studies teaching, which include methods of content selection and methods of teaching and be able to explain the critical role of social studies education in the school curriculum. This course is part of the Early Childhood Education Teaching and Learning Laboratory and must be taken in combination with ECE 862, ECE Pre-Student T eaching Internship. Part T wo of this course ( Humanities) explores the critical role of the arts in education, emphasizing how music, visual arts, and drama can enhance learning across subject areas. Students will examine the neurological benefits of arts education, engage in hands-on activities that align with educational standards, and develop lesson plans that integrate the arts into core subjects such as Language Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies. Additionally, students will acquire basic musical skills, including playing the recorder and piano, to use in the classroom. The course culminates in a persuasive writing assignment advocating for the importance of arts in schools and a portfolio presentation showcasing completed projects.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved PDE Teacher Candidacy. Current PDE Clearances: PA Criminal History, Child Abuse History, FBI Criminal History, and PPD Testing.

This course provides teacher candidates with clinical experience in observing and assessing children. In PreK-4 settings, the candidates will teach lessons, administer assessment instruments, use curriculum-based measurement, and evaluate and interpret the results for instructional purposes.

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

3

Credits (max)

3

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved all PDE Basic Skills Assessment tests and Teacher Candidacy.

Student teaching is the capstone of the professional early childhood education certification program . The course provides teacher candidates the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from core education coursework, focusing on differentiated instructional practices, multiple learning environments, professional collaboration, school policies and procedures, and reflective practice . Experience includes directed activities in Local Education Agencies and on-campus seminars. Personal transportation is required . ECE 905 requires a student teaching fee i n addition to the regular Westminster tuition and fees .

Subject

ECE

Credits (min)

9

Credits (max)

9

Credit unit

Semester Hours

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Catalog

2026-2027 Westminster College Catalog

Source

catalog.westminster.edu

Prerequisite

Approved all Basic Skills Assessment tests, Sophomore Portfolio, and Education PK-4 certification teacher candidacy courses . PDE Stage 4 - Student Teaching : 8 weeks or 320 hours .