Overview

The early childhood perspective views children as multidimensional beings who affect and are affected by families, cultures, schools, neighborhoods, and other systems. In this major, you will gain additional expertise in child development, exceptional children, developmentally appropriate practice, and working with diverse families and community resources. Early childhood majors have numerous opportunities to observe and work with young children in a variety of inclusive settings.

Careers in Education - Early Childhood

• Teacher for children birth through second grade
• Teacher Assistant in a childcare or preschool or early elementary setting
• Childcare Director
• Children's Minister
• Child Life Specialist in a hospital

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Through coursework, students meet many early childhood professionals in the area and often gain employment at early childhood centers during the school and in the summer. Early childhood students are invited to join a student-led organization, Early Childhood at Calvin: Young Minds in the Making. We meet four times yearly, twice for social events and twice for professional development opportunities. All education students are also invited to join The Society for Promotion of Education at Calvin (SPEC), the student-led organization for the elementary and secondary programs. Students are invited to share their work at early childhood conferences with an early childhood professor. Students may also have the opportunity to write with an early childhood professor.

Course Requirements 2012-13

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 2012-13 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

Haverkamp Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• first-year
• financial need considered; demonstrate commitment to and evidence of volunteerism or student leadership
• automatic consideration

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: N/A
• 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 in the Southwest United States; pursuing a degree in social sciences or education, in that order
• 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

Heather Koole Assistant Professor Department of Communication Arts & Sciences DCC 260L hkk3@calvin.edu (616) 526-7812 Elisha Marr Assistant Professor Department of Sociology SC 213 emm24@calvin.edu (616) 526-7019

Philip Stegink Assistant Professor Department of Education SC 305 pstegink@calvin.edu (616) 526-6237 Susan Verwys Assistant Professor Department of Education SC 321 skv5@calvin.edu (616) 526-6509