Early Childhood Educator (AAS)
A.A.S. Degree—61 credit hours
Curriculum Code 1264
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.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required General Education Courses | ||
| 25 credit hours as follows: | ||
| COM-101 | Composition I | 3 |
| COM-102 | Composition II | 3 |
| COM-103 | Speech Fundamentals | 3 |
| - | ||
| MTH-102 | Mathematics for Paraprofessionals | 3 |
OR- | ||
| MTH-121 | Math for Teachers I | 3 |
| - | ||
| PSY-101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY-104 | Life-Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| Select 4 credit hours from Physical and Life Sciences with Lab: | 4 | |
| AST, BIO, CHM, EAS, GEL, NAT, PHY | ||
| Select 3 credit hours from Social/Behavioral Sciences: | 3 | |
| 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): | 3 | |
| ECE-233 | ECE Practicum | 2 |
| - | ||
| ECE-237 | ECE Practicum Seminar | 1 |
OR- | ||
| ECE-243 | Infant/Toddler Practicum | 2 |
| - | ||
| ECE-247 | Infant/Toddler Practicum Seminar | 1 |
| ECE-243 | Infant/Toddler Practicum | 2 |
| Required Elective | ||
| Select 3 credit hours: | 3 | |
| ECE-107 | Infant and Toddler Development | 3 |
OR- | ||
| EDU-105 | Classroom Management | 3 |
| 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 |
| Total Credit Hours | 61 | |
(Note: COM-101 Composition I: This course is a prerequisite for ECE-101 Introduction to Early Childhood. It is assumed that if the student has taken COM-101 Composition I previously the student will take ECE-101 Introduction to Early Childhood during semester one.)
(Note: Students pursuing Level 4 Credential for Infant/Toddler or ECE must choose ECE-107 Infant and Toddler Development as their elective, successfully pass both ECE-233 ECE Practicum and ECE-237 ECE Practicum Seminar or both ECE-243 Infant/Toddler Practicum and ECE-247 Infant/Toddler Practicum 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 Classroom Management 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
(Note: No additional electives are required.)
Suggested Schedule
| Semester 1 | 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 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 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 |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| 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 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| 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 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 61 | |
(Note: Directors Level 1 Credential: Students must choose EDU-105 Classroom Management 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.)