ESEC Major
The Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary, and Collaborative Education (ESEC) program is designed for candidates interested in teaching preschool children through 6th grade in a traditional classroom or alternative learning setting.
Is This Program for Me?
Students are afforded varied and diverse opportunities in authentic settings to gain the necessary knowledge, practical skills and professional dispositions required of today’s teachers. Students pursuing this degree will earn Alabama teaching certificates in four areas:
- Early Childhood Education (Preschool-3rd grade)
- Early Childhood Special Education (Preschool-3rd grade)
- Elementary Education (Kindergarten-6th grade)
- Elementary Collaborative Special Education (Kindergarten-6th grade)
What Will I Learn?
Students in the ESEC teacher education program will engage in coursework throughout the program to build a knowledge base of elementary education, early childhood education, and special education. Specifically, understanding is gained in the following areas.
- Instructional Planning and Assessment
- Teaching Methods and Materials
- Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners
- Integrating Technology in the Classroom
Skills are applied as future teachers manage classroom instruction and student behavior and learn to effectively communicate with students and parents during field and clinical experiences in grade P-6 educational settings.
“The one thing I am going to miss most about Orlean Beeson School of Education is the relationships I have built with each professor. The thing that makes them special is their dedication to life-long learning and developing us as intentional educators.”
“They have established an environment of love and support that really allowed me to grow into a very well-prepared and confident first-year teacher.”
—Emily Daniel, Class of ‘21
What Makes Us Different?
One Degree: Four Certifications
The ESEC is the only accredited teacher education program in Alabama that includes four teacher certifications.
National Recognition
The ESEC program is the only teacher education program in Alabama that is nationally recognized by each of the Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs) represented within the degree—the Association of Childhood Elementary International (ACEI), the National Association of Education for Young Children (NAEYC) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
Key Differentiators
- CAEP accredited
- Near 100% employment rate 3 months after graduation
- Freshmen and sophomores may participate in early field experiences and teacher education courses
- Courses are taught by Samford teacher education professors with few adjunct instructors
- Teaching certificate reciprocity across most states in the U.S.
- 100% Pass rate on PRAXIS licensing exam
Career Preparation
Graduates of the ESEC teacher education program are well-prepared and certified to teach in many settings across age groups and grade levels spanning preschool through 6th grade.
Career Opportunities
- Preschool Teacher
- Elementary School Teacher
- Special Education Teacher
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Educational Consultant
- Youth Detention Center Teacher
- Owner of a Tutoring Business
Internships & Fellowships
- Public and Private Elementary Schools
- General and Special Education Classrooms
- Public and Private Preschools
- Early Childhood Learning Centers
- ...and more
