Overview

The early childhood major allows you to become certified to teach both in the preschool and elementary school (up to fifth grade) setting. In this program, you will complete a semester of student teaching in an elementary school and spend an additional six weeks in a preschool setting. 

Early childhood majors have numerous opportunities to observe and work with young children in a variety of settings. In this program, you will gain additional expertise in child development, exceptional children, curriculum, assessment, and working with families and community resources.

Careers in Education - Early Childhood

As a graduate of this program, you might find work as a:

• Teacher
• Daycare Operator
• Children's specialist in hospitals
• Children's Minister

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Join the Society for the Promotion of Education at Calvin; work in environmental education at Calvin's Ecosystem Preserve; volunteer at local schools and tutoring centers

Course Requirements 2011-12

Education - Early Childhood

The undergraduate teacher education program is described in detail in the Teacher Education Program Guidebook, which is available from the Education Department. The Guidebook includes specialized core requirements, criteria for admission to the teacher education program, criteria for admission to directed teaching (the full-time student teaching semester) and requirements for teacher certification. Normally, students apply to be admitted into the teacher education program during their sophomore year.

(31semester hours)

• EDUC-202 The Learner in the Educational Context: Development and Diversity
• EDUC-236 The Young Child in an Educational Setting
• EDUC-238 Developmentally Appropriate Practice with Young Children
• SOC-304 The Family
• SPAUD-311 Child Language Development
• EDUC-312 Teaching Exceptional Students
• EDUC-335 Assessment of the Young Child
• EDUC-337 Curriculum Theory and Development: Early Childhood Education
• EDUC-339 The Early Childhood Professional
• EDUC-343 Early Childhood Education: Preschool Field Experience

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2010-11 academic year.

Henry Bengelink Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered; intend to become a teacher at the high school or college level
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Rose M. Bloem Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior or post BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Maurice and Eunice Bolt Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those who wish to teach music or art within a public school system
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bette and John Bosma Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• junior, senior or post BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference will be given to those who are returning to college after some time away from campus or because of a change in career choice
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Katherine and Annette Bratt Scholarship

• award amount: $2,00
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; elementary education; preference to those wanting to teach in a Christian school
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Virginia and Edward L. Brock Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• any class level
• GPA 2.8+
• financial need required, preference to African American, Native American or Hispanic students
• automatic consideration

Gysbert and Marie Bron Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John L. De Beer Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need reqiured
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Roy De Boer Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kevin Dale De Rose Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bruce and Joanne Deckinga/Compassion International Scholarship

• award amount: $3,100
• sophomore, junior, or senior pursuing elementary education or a pre-med program
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to students who worked on a garbage truck or play the organ
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Louis (Luke) and Helen DeJonge Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need is considered
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Eugene and Joan Deur Scholarship

• award amount: $2,400
• sophomore or junior education major, pursuing a pre-ministry program or missions
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

DeVries-Post Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to ethnic minorities or students with physical disabilities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Brian E. Dyk Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• first-year
• financial need required; first preference West Side Christian School graduate
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1

Find Us Faithful - Lester and Gladys DeVries Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; preference to graduates of Kalamazoo Chr. HS or Illiana Chr. HS
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John and Mary Gideon Family Scholarship

• award amout: $1,500
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; must demonstrate strong Christian character and the ability to deal with and connect with their students
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Beulah B. Goodenough Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing elementary education; preference to those who have attended a public school themselves
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Marsha Greenwood Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Arthur J. and Laura Jean Gritter Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; preference given to those whose character development has been influenced through their own disability or to those who have a strong record of volunteerism or extracurricular activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Mae Groeneveld Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered; pursuing a K-8 education program; preference to students from Western Michigan
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Carl and Sandra Gronsman Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.75+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Reverend Bernard Haven Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,200
• first-year
• HS GPA 3.0+
• financial need considered; child of missionary
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1

Donna T. and Louis H. Hekman Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• junior or senior
• financial need required; pursuing elementary education; exemplify a passion for teaching, think creatively and focus on the ability of each child to succeed
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Dwight and Sally Fox Hillard Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• sophomore, junior, or senior
• GPA 3.00+
• financial need not required; preference to students wanting to pursue a public school teaching career
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Honderd Family Special Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.75+
• financial need considered; preference to those who have participated in Friendship Ministries
• scholarship application available through the Calvin Portal
• apply through the Calvin Portal

David and Shirley Hubers Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior pursuing a program in nursing or education
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Paul W. Johnson Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; interest in teaching English or language arts
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Gerald L. Klein Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.75+
• financial need considered; preference to those who demonstrate Christian character and concern for others through active involvement in church and community activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John A. Kuiper Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,250
• junior, senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; interest in teaching in a Christian school in an urban setting
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Hazel Lawson Teacher Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior, senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

J.C. Lobbes Scholarship

• award amount: $1,450
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Arthur and Kathryn Mervenne Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

MJB Educational Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jay and Lois Mol Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+ (typically)
• financial need required; preference to those wanting to pursue a career in Christian education
• apply through the Calvin Portal

William and Matilda Monsma Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• sophomore, junior, or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to students from the South Chicago area
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Patti J. Morren Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,800
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; exhibit qualities such as compassion, love and care-giving
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Tom and Marcia Nobel Education Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing an elementary education program
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jacob and Jeannette Nyenhuis Scholarship

• award amount: $1,800
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; interest in teaching at the middle or upper school levels
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kenneth and Katherine Olthoff Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,250
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Mike and Bette Oostendorp Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; participation in volunteer activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bernard and Jane Pekelder Special Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior, senior or graduate student
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Lori Powell Central Ohio Scholarship

• award amount: $600
• first-year
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need not required; resident of the central OH area
• submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your academic qualifications and career goals by February 1

Prince Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,000; $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.5+
• financial need required; demonstrate evidence of a great love for children by involvement in volunteer activities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Pauline Roskam Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Owen and Bonnie Rottschafer Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration for prospective students; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

Roland and Ellen Schroder Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• sophomore
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; at least one parent who graduated from Calvin College
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Schultze-Weemhoff Family Christian Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required; pursuing a career in teaching in a Christian school
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Marion and Nella Snapper Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need considered; preference to those from the State of Washington
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Angeline Nydam Spoelhof Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,200
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required; planning to teach at the elementary or secondary level
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Norma Weiden Sterk Teaching Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jennie and Sylvia Stielstra Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• any class level
• HS GPA 3.0+; Calvin GPA 2.7+
• financial need required; preference given to children of missionaries
• prospective students submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

James and Dolly (Hofman) Strikwerda Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• evidence that the scholarship is needed to help meet educational expenses
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John R. and Annie Struyk Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• financial need required;demonstrate Christian character and involvement in extracurricular activities in the community and college
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Bernard and Harriet Te Velde Family Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; planning to work with persons with disabilities; preference to those from California
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kenneth and Phyllis Timmer Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; Michigan resident
• automatic consideration

Van Til Family Special Education Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

George J. Van Wesep Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

John and Marian Vanden Berg Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,100
• any class level
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; participation and leadership out of the classroom
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Vander Ark Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• GPA of 2.75+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Vander Haagen Family Scholarship for 5th Year Education Students

• award amount: $1,700
• 5th year senior or post-BA
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Arnold and Janice VanderBok Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,700
• first-year
• financial need required; speak Spanish fluently; preference to Hispanic students
• prospective students submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal

Janet D. Van Dyke Education Scholarship

• award amount: $1,950
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; pursuing an elementary education program
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Frank and Helen Veldhuizen Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Rodolfo E. Vilaro Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; preference given to an hispanic student
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Betty Vredevoogd Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $1,600
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.2+
• financial need not required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Theodore C. Wagenaar Scholarship

• award amount: $400
• any class level
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; planning to participate in an off-campus interim or semester
• automatic consideration

John and Theresa B. Wierenga Family Scholarship

• award amount: $1,100
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; intending to teach in the sciences
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jeannette and Menno Wolters Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,300
• first-year
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

Wendell and Dorothy Yonker Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,450
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Cheryl Brandsen Dean, Social Sciences & Context Disciplines Department of Sociology brac@calvin.edu (616) 526-7322 Debra Buursma Assoc Prof, director, graduate program dbuursma@calvin.edu (616) 526-6231 Peggy Goetz Professor Department of Communication Arts & Sciences pgoetz@calvin.edu (616) 526-8561 Robert Keeley Professor, dept chair Department of Education rkeeley@calvin.edu (616) 526-6816 Elisha Marr Assistant Professor Department of Sociology emm24@calvin.edu (616) 526-7019

Timothy Steenstra Teaching Staff Department of Education tjs32@calvin.edu (616) 526-7713 Philip Stegink Assistant Professor Department of Education pstegink@calvin.edu (616) 526-6237 Susan Verwys Assistant Professor Department of Education skv5@calvin.edu (616) 526-6509 Marji Voetberg Adjunct mvoetb87@calvin.edu (616) 526-8572