This program prepares students for careers in early childhood development. It provides mid-management skills needed to work in kindergartens, nursery schools, daycare centers, and special programs for children from infancy through age 8.
Required General Education Courses
25 credit hours as follows:
COM-101: This course is a prerequisite for
ECE-101. It is assumed that if the student has taken
COM-101 previously the student will take
ECE-101 during semester one.
A minimum level of competency in mathematics is required for graduation for all A.A.S. degrees. This minimum competency may be demonstrated in one of three ways:
- Placement into MTH-120 or higher; or
- Successful completion with a minimum grade of “C” in BUS-120, MTH-102, MTH-109, MTH-121, or MTH-133 or higher-level mathematics course for designated career programs; or
- An equivalent transfer course from another college with a minimum grade of “C”.
Select 4 credit hours from Physical and Life Sciences with Lab:
BIO, CHM, EAS, GEL, NAT, PHS, PHY
Select 3 credit hours from Social/Behavioral Sciences:
ANT, ECO, GEO, HIS, PSC, PSY, SOC, SSC
Required Career Courses
30 credit hours as follows:
| ECE-101 | Introduction to Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE-105 | Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 |
| ECE-109 | Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| ECE-201 | Math, Science and Social Studies | 3 |
| ECE-202 | Growth and Development/Young Child | 3 |
| ECE-205 | Curriculum-Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| EDU-103 | Observation/Clinical Experience | 3 |
| EDU-104 | Intro. to the Foundations of Reading | 3 |
| EDU-110 | Technology for Educators | 3 |
| EDU-111 | Intro to the Exceptional Child | 3 |
Required Practicum and Seminar
Select one group (3 credit hours):
Required Elective
Select 3 credit hours:
| ECE-107 | Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
| OR- | | |
| EDU-105 | Classroom Management | 3 |
(Note: Students pursuing Level 4 Credential for Infant/Toddler or ECE must choose ECE-107 as their elective, successfully pass both ECE-233 ECE Practicum and ECE-237 ECE Seminar or both ECE-243 Infant/Toddler Practicum and ECE-247 Infant/Toddler Seminar, and earn the AAS degree to be eligible to apply for IL Infant/Toddler or ECE Credential – Level 4 through Gateways.)
(Note: Directors Level 1 Credential: Students must choose EDU-105 as their elective, earn the AAS degree, and then register for and successfully pass ECE-253 ECE Director Practicum and ECE-257 ECE Director Practicum Seminar to be eligible to apply for IL Director Level 1 Credential through Gateways.)
IL Gateway Application: ilgateways.com/en/credentials
Optional Electives
There is no requirement for students in the program to take additional elective credit hours
| ECE-203 | Administration of EC Programs | 3 |
| ECE-211 | Special Topics in Education | 1-3 |
| ECE-253 | ECE Director Practicum | 3 |
| ECE-257 | ECE Director Practicum Seminar | 1 |
| EDU-108 | Foundations of Bilingual Education | 3 |
| EDU-205 | Literature for Children/Young Adults | 3 |
(Note: No additional electives are required.)
(Note:
Directors Level 1 Credential: Students must choose
EDU-105 as their elective, earn the AAS degree, and then register for and successfully pass
ECE-253 ECE Director Practicum and
ECE-257 ECE Director Practicum Seminar to be eligible to apply for IL Director Level 1 Credential through Gateways.)
Suggested Schedule
Semester 1 (15 credit hours)
| COM-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| ECE-101 | Introduction to Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE-105 | Health, Safety and Nutrition | 3 |
| PSY-101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| ___-___ | Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective | 3 |
Semester 2 (18 credit hours)
| COM-102 | Composition II | 3 |
| ECE-109 | Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| ECE-202 | Growth and Development/Young Child | 3 |
| ECE-205 | Curriculum-Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| - | | |
| ECE-107 | Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
| OR- | | |
| EDU-105 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| - | | |
| PSY-104 | Life-Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
Semester 3 (13 credit hours)
| COM-103 | Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| EDU-103 | Observation/Clinical Experience | 3 |
| EDU-111 | Intro to the Exceptional Child | 3 |
| ___-___ | Physical and Life Sciences Elective | 4 |
Semester 4 (15 credit hours)
| ECE-201 | Math, Science and Social Studies | 3 |
| EDU-104 | Intro. to the Foundations of Reading | 3 |
| EDU-110 | Technology for Educators | 3 |
| - | | |
| MTH-102 | Mathematics for Paraprofessionals | 3 |
| OR- | | |
| MTH-121 | Math for Teachers I | 3 |
| - | | |
| ECE-233 | ECE Practicum | 2 |
| OR- | | |
| ECE-243 | Infant/Toddler Practicum | 2 |
| - | | |
| ECE-237 | ECE Practicum Seminar | 1 |
| OR- | | |
| ECE-247 | Infant/Toddler Practicum Seminar | 1 |