Is Educatinal psychology equavalent to Early Childhood Education?

Question

I've a bachelor's degree in Psychology and one of the subject was educational psychology.I want to pursue a career in teaching as a preschool teacher and would like to know whether educational psychology is equavalent to 6 or12 ECE units.

Answer 1

Well, normally taking the educational psychology class is only 3 college credits, I don't know anything about units though. As for as teaching, you would have to go back and take classes for certification, and I'm sure it's at least 5 or more classes, and a certification test. I'd advise you to select a school where they after a teacher ceritification program, and speak with an advisor as to how much credit you would recieve and the additional courses you need, keep in mind each state is different as far as the requirements.

Answer 2

You have a bachelor's degree in psychology one part of which is educational psychology. This means you can assess students for learning disabilities and you may be involved in behaviour modification for students or you may be able to be a school counsellor.

Teachers have to have a degree in education (of the appropriate level they want to teach.) If you want to be a ece teacher you have to get a ece degree. You may be able to claim prior learing for your psych stuff as the teaching degree does involve some psych classes.

To find out how many classes you can claim prior learing for contact the college/university you are planning to attend and they should be able to help you if you take a transcript of the course you have already completed.

Answer 3

I would guess that your degree alone would qualify you for teaching in most preschools.  Is their overlap ,yes.....are they the same, no.  I think the major difference is that ece not only introduces you to schemes regarding specific areas of development, it also offers practical (classroom application)  While educational psych offers you broad research based on cognitive and personality schemes, ece delves into the specifics of the developing child from infancy to 12 years of age (adolescence)  As far as transferring units over.....I doubt that you could take one class (3 units) and apply it to as many as 4 ece classes.  Believe it or not, these classes deal with a lot of issues that are not even discussed in the ed psych. IE> Transitions, parent conf., guidance, nap, toilet training, developmentally appropriate practices (just to name a few.) I would go observe programs at your university or in your community as a observational study.  See what goes on and how you like it.  I would go to NAEYC (if you dont know about this, research it) and search for certified programs in your area to find a resource.  You could also take your transcript to the licensing board in your county to have the units reviewed by an agent.  This is a free service.  I would encourage you to take some ece classes , but in your case I doubt it will be a requirement due to your BA.  Good Luck.