Honors in Discipline
Early Childhood Education
"High achievers spot rich opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly, and move into action immediately. Follow these principles and you can make your dreams come true. "- Robert H. Schuller
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General Information
The Honors-in-Discipline (HID) programs are offered within a variety of degree programs at ETSU, such as early childhood education. The HID Program in Early Childhood Education provides scholars with special advising from a program coordinator in their discipline.
HID students have priority registration status, are members of the Honors College community, and become eligible for special opportunities and scholarships. HID Scholars also receive honors graduation and transcript recognition.
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Admission Requirements
- An incoming student may apply for the Honors Program with a high school GPA of 3.8
and one of the following: an ACT SCORE of 27, an SAT SCORE of 1210.
- A transfer student may apply with a GPA of 3.5 and 27 ACT.
- A currently enrolled ETSU student may apply with 3.5 ETSU GPA and 27 ACT.
- An incoming student may apply for the Honors Program with a high school GPA of 3.8
and one of the following: an ACT SCORE of 27, an SAT SCORE of 1210.
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Application
Applications should be completed and submitted to Dr. L. Kathryn Sharp, the Honors Coordinator for the Early Childhood Education Honors Program.
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Program Requirements
To graduate with Honors-in-Discipline designation at ETSU, students must:
- have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25
- complete all required courses (Honors courses, General Education, Academic Proficiencies)
- complete and orally present the senior Honors thesis. In addition, all thesis grades must be B or higher
- have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25
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Program Description Licensure Program
The Honors-in-Discipline Program of Study for Early Childhood Education Licensure Program will consist of 18 credit hours taken from among a selection of 24 credit hours of offered honors-level courses. Due to an anticipated small number of enrollees for the first few years, all courses will be offered as honors-enriched.
Program of Study Overview - Licensure Program:
Course Title Notes ECED 2110-088 Infant/Child/Toddler Development Select one* SRVL 1020-088 Introduction to Service-Learning in the Community Select one* *Select one honors course (ECED 2110 or SRVL 1020) from this section. If both courses have already been completed prior to admissions to the Honors-in-Discipline program, then 3 honors courses will need to be selected from the courses listed below (instead of 2).
Course Title Notes ECED 3140-088 Guiding Young Children Honors Elective** ECED 3150-088 Creative Development of Young Children Honors Elective** ECED 4161-088 Curriculum Development for Young Children Honors Elective** ECED 4347-088 Technology and Media in Inclusive Early Childhood Education (TI) Honors Elective** **Select 2 courses from this section. Select 3 courses if ECED 2100 and SRVL 1020 were taken as non-honors courses.
Course Title Notes UHON 3008 Foundations of Research Required course*** EDFN 4008 Honors Mentorship in Teaching Required course*** ECED 4018 Honors Thesis in Early Childhood Education Required course*** ***Must be taken at the honors level and after acceptance into the HiD program. Please consult your advisor for more information.
TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS: 18
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Program Description Non-Licensure Program
The Honors-in-Discipline Program of Study for Early Childhood Education Non-Licensure Program will consist of 18 credit hours taken from among a selection of 24 credit hours of offered honors-level courses. Due to an anticipated small number of enrollees for the first few years, all courses will be offered as honors-enriched.
Program of Study Overview: Non-Licensure Program:
Course Title Notes ECED 2110-088 Infant/Child/Toddler Development Select one* SRVL 1020-088 Introduction to Service-Learning in the Community Select one* *Select one honors course (ECED 2110 or SRVL 1020) from this section. If both courses have already been completed prior to admissions to the Honors-in-Discipline program, then 3 honors courses will need to be selected from the courses listed below (instead of 2).
Course Title Notes ECED 3140-088 Guiding Young Children Honors Elective** ECED 3150-088 Creative Development of Young Children Honors Elective** ECED 4140-088 Program Development for Young Children
NOTE: Requires pre-requisites and enrollment as a major or minor in Early Childhood Education
Honors Elective** ECED 4347-088 Technology and Media in Inclusive Early Childhood Education (TI) Honors Elective** **Select 2 courses from this section. Select 3 courses if ECED 2100 and SRVL 1020 were taken as non-honors courses.
Course Title Notes UHON 3008 Foundations of Research Required course*** EDFN 4008 Honors Mentorship in Teaching Required course*** ECED 4018 Honors Thesis in Early Childhood Education Required course*** ***Must be taken at the honors level and after acceptance into the HiD program. Please consult your advisor for more information.
TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS: 18
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Retention Requirements
- To remain in good standing with the Honors Program, students must maintain a minimum
cumulative GPA of 3.25 for their academic careers at ETSU.
- Students who do not meet this minimum standard will be granted one probationary semester
for correction before the student is suspended from the Honors Program and out-of-state
tuition waivers or Honors-in-Discipline scholarships are withdrawn.
- A student who demonstrates significant progress during the probationary period but does not yet meet minimum standards may be granted a second probationary semester, at the discretion of the Honors Program Admissions Committee.
- To remain in good standing with the Honors Program, students must maintain a minimum
cumulative GPA of 3.25 for their academic careers at ETSU.
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Benefits of the Honors Program
Participation in an Honors-in-Discipline Program provides students with a variety of significant benefits and opportunities including:
- A specially designed, in-depth, hands-on honors curriculum in each discipline
- Specialized advising from the Honors Coordinator (Dr. Sharp) and program coordinator
in their discipline to ensure that general graduation requirements and honor requirements
are met
- Priority registration status
- Membership of the Honors College community
- Participation in Honors College events
- 24/7 access to an HID computer lab, study room, and classroom in Yoakley Hall
- Eligibility for special opportunities and scholarships
- Honors graduation and transcript recognition
- A specially designed, in-depth, hands-on honors curriculum in each discipline
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Scholarship Opportunities
- Applicants may qualify for an in-state or out-of-state Honors-in-Discipline scholarship.
Minimum requirements for the scholarship include, for incoming freshmen, an ACT score
of 25 or higher and a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Students who receive this scholarship must enroll in at least 15 credit hours per
semester (with the exception of the capstone semester, in which only 12 credit hours
may be taken), maintaining the GPA required to remain in good standing with the Honors
Program.
- For more information about these scholarship opportunities, click here.
- Applicants may qualify for an in-state or out-of-state Honors-in-Discipline scholarship.
Minimum requirements for the scholarship include, for incoming freshmen, an ACT score
of 25 or higher and a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher.
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Thesis
The Honors Thesis is an in-depth capstone experience, required of all honors scholars, to provide them with opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of their major disciplines, closer intellectual interaction with faculty members and well-rounded preparation for their career goals.
Honors scholars use primary literature, data gathering, artistic or technological approaches in their disciplines to produce a year-long, sustained research or creative experience. The quality of the thesis is essentially the result of scholarly diligence, faculty mentor oversight and thesis readers suggestions.
More information about the thesis requirements can be found here.
Please contact Dr. Sharp if you would like more information on the HID in Early Childhood Education program!
You may contact Dr. Sharp at: sharplk@etsu.edu
L. Kathryn Sharp, PhD
Associate Professor
East Tennessee State University
Department of Early Childhood Education
Office 208, Warf-Pickel Building