Early Childhood Ed. Degree (ECE)
Associate in Applied Science Degree
This curriculum provides the early childhood education professional with knowledge to care for children in child care centers, home child care, school-age programs, preschools, as well as assist in public schools using developmentally appropriate standards. The field of early childhood covers children, birth through eight years. You must be fingerprinted and have a background clearance to complete ECE 260 and work in child care in Illinois.
Program Outcomes:
- Create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging for all children, using understanding of child development.
- Explain how to engage in respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families.
- Identify and utilize formal and informal assessment strategies to positively influence children’s development.
- Implement a wide array of effective approaches, strategies, and tools to positively influence children’s development and learning.
- Construct lesson plans to provide developmentally appropriate experiences.
- Demonstrate ethical guidelines of the early childhood profession to maintain standards of professional conduct.
Requirements
First Semester
| ECE 100 | Early Child Growth & Developme | 3 |
| ECE 101 | Observ & Assessment / Children | 3 |
| ECE 105 | Health & Nutrition for Child | 3 |
| ECE 110 | Intro to Early Childhood Ed | 3 |
| | General Education Requirements | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Second Semester
| ECE 115 | Family, School & Community | 3 |
| ECE 120 | Language Arts for Children | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Rhetoric I | 3 |
| | General Education Requirement | 4 |
| | General Education Requirements | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Third Semester
| ECE 125 | The Exceptional Child | 3 |
| ECE 160 | Curriculum Planning for Children | 3 |
| ECE 200 | Play & Guidance of Children | 3 |
| ECE | Elective* | 3 |
| ECE | Elective* | 3 |
| | General Education Requirements | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Fourth Semester
| ECE 260 | ECE Internship | 3 |
| ECE | Elective* | 3 |
| ECE | Elective* | 3 |
| ECE | General Education Requirement | 3 |
| | General Education Requirements | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Total Credit Hours: 64
*This Degree will allow the student to apply for one of the following:
Level IV ECE Credential
Level IV Infant/Toddler Credential
Level 1 Illinois Director Credential
These credentials fit into the State of Illinois early childhood career lattice system and the ExcelRate Illinois, creating a seamless framework for professional development and promoting access to varied career opportunities in the early childhood field. To earn this credential, students must follow a prescribed course of study. Students should contact the Early Childhood Education Coordinator for further information about this credential and the courses they need to take in order to earn the credentials in addition to their degree.
*ECE Electives for Level IV ECE Credential
| ECE 102 | | 1 |
| ECE 130 | Educational Technology | 1 |
| ECE 202 | Math for Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 203 | Emerging Literacy in Children | 3 |
| ECE 207 | Creative Expression of Children | 3 |
| ECE 210 | Early Childhood Administration | 3 |
| ECE 215 | The First Three Years of Life | 3 |
| EDU 100 | Intro to American Education | 3 |
*Level IV Infant/Toddler Credential
Note: Must take ECE 215 The First Three Years of Life
*Level I Illinois Director Credential
Note: Must take ECE 210 Early Childhood Administration
Notes: ECE 105 meets the Health and Physical Fitness general education requirement.
Students must complete all ECE courses with a minimum grade of “C”