Project Invest is an undergraduates early childhood teacher licensure program.  This program is designed for working adults  who wish to pursue a bachelor degree in education and teaching license for children ages birth through grade 3.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Learner Development: The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences (Human Relations, Pedagogical Knowledge) 

2. Learning Differences : The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards. (Human Relations, Pedagogical Knowledge) 

3. Learning Environments: The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation. (Teaching Practice, Human Relations)

4. Content Knowledge: The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content. (Content Knowledge)

5. Application of Content:  The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.

6. Assessment Strategies: The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making. (Content Knowledge, Pedagogical Knowledge)

7. Planning for Instruction: The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context. (Content Knowledge, Pedagogical Knowledge)

8. Instructional Strategies: The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. (Pedagogical Knowledge, Communication Skills, Teaching Practice)

9. Professional Learning and Ethical Practice: The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.

10. Leadership and Collaboration: The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.

11.  Character/Faith Development: All teachers model a value system which emphasizes moral and ethical character. Teachers in Christian schools integrate faith and learning while modeling Christian mission and service with a biblical worldview. Lutheran teachers adhere to the doctrine and practice of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. (Human Relations, Professional Dispositions, Content Knowledge)

Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Post-Traditional Core Requirements		44
Early Childhood Major Requirements		69
Electives		10
Total Hours		123

Core Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Concordia Common Core
CCE 110	Western Culture & Worldview	3
CCE 120	Western Thought & Worldview	3
CCE 140	Science & Humanity	3
Faith & Life
REL 159	Heritage of Faith	3
REL 204	Biblical Theology	3
Faith & Life elective		3
Communication and Langauge
ENG 210	College Writing	3
COMM 112	Speech Communication	3
or COMM 201	Interpersonal Communication
Natural World
Physical and/or Life Science course		3
College Mathematics		3
Human Beings and Being Human - Physical Development
HHP 215	Fit & Well	2
Human Beings and Being Human - Social World
Social Science course		3
Human Creativity and Expression Core
ART 105	Art	3
or MUS 171	Creative Arts: Music
Society and Culture Core		6
One course must be American or European History
Total Hours		44

Early Childhood Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Additional Human Creativity and Expression Core: Literature		3
ENG 130	Literature
or ENG 136	Literary Visions
Additional Natural World Science		3
Must have a lab. One science must be life and one must be physical or course must have components of both.
Additional Natural World Core Math		3
EDI 102	Foundations of Education	3
EDI 103	Human Relations for Teachers	3
EDI 204	Develop Reading Grades 1-9	3
EDI 221	Child Development	3
EDI 230	Nature of the Exceptional Child	3
EDI 231	Childrens Literature	3
EDI 275	Human Learning	3
EDI 327	Collaborating with Families	3
EDI 343	Synthesis & Prof Dev	1
EDI 354	Teaching Reading and Emergent Language Development	3
EDI 356	Mathematics in ECE	3
EDI 357	Science and Environment in Early Childhood	3
EDI 358	Teaching the Emergent Writer	3
EDI 359	Curriculum and Techniques in EC	3
EDI 400	Music Movement and Art	3
EDI 411	The Profession and Ethics of Teaching	3
EDI 453	Evaluative Techniques in ECSE	3
EDI 461	Administration of Early Childhood Programs	1
EDI 466	Health, Safety, and Fitness for the Young Child	2
Student Teaching (choose 2)		8
EDI 427	Student Teaching K I
EDI 428	St Teaching Primary I
EDI 429	Student Teaching K II
EDI 430	St Teaching Primary II
Total Hours		69