2024-2025 Catalog

Early Childhood Educator Level 3, Certificate

Certificate—27 credit hours

Curriculum Code 1476

This program prepares students for a career in early childhood education with children ages three to eight years old. It provides opportunities for students to build on the skills established in the Early Childhood Educator Level 2 certificate and to develop the additional necessary skills and theoretical practice to work in a variety of educational settings in schools, families, and communities from ages three to eight years old.

Required General Education Courses

9 credit hours as follows:

COM-101Composition I

3

-
 

MTH-102Mathematics for Paraprofessionals

3

OR-

MTH-121Math for Teachers I

3

-
 

PSY or SOC-___
PSY or SOC 100-level Course

3

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.
(Note: Students who wish to pursue the Early Childhood Educator AAS degree should take PSY-101 or PSY-104)

Required Career Courses

18 credit hours as follows:

ECE-101Introduction to Early Childhood

3

ECE-105Health, Safety and Nutrition

3

ECE-109Child, Family and Community

3

ECE-202Growth and Development/Young Child

3

EDU-103Observation/Clinical Experience

3

EDU-111Intro to the Exceptional Child

3

Note:

Students who successfully complete the coursework for this certificate will be eligible to apply for IL ECE Credential-Level 3. See ilgateways.com/en/credentials.

Suggested Schedule

Semester 1 (12 credit hours)

COM-101Composition I

3

ECE-101Introduction to Early Childhood

3

ECE-105Health, Safety and Nutrition

3

PSY or SOC-___
PSY or SOC 100-level Course

3

(Note: Students who wish to pursue the Early Childhood Educator AAS degree should take PSY-101 or PSY-104)

Semester 2 (9 credit hours)

ECE-109Child, Family and Community

3

ECE-202Growth and Development/Young Child

3

-
 

MTH-102Mathematics for Paraprofessionals

3

OR-

MTH-121Math for Teachers I

3

Semester 3 (6 credit hours)

EDU-103Observation/Clinical Experience

3

EDU-111Intro to the Exceptional Child

3