2022-2023 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Education - Early Childhood Education, A.A.


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This curriculum has been designed to help students select courses that are likely to apply to a major in Early Childhood Education. Students should consult their advisor and an advisor at the university early and often.  This will ensure you are taking appropriate courses for the major and licensure requirements.  Licensure requirements may change and these professionals will have the most up-to-date information to ensure you complete appropriate courses.

State Licensure Requirements in Early Childhood Education

To teach young children (birth to grade 2) in Illinois public schools, teachers must be licensed by the State of Illinois. See the Illinois State Board of Education’s website for details on current licensure options. To transfer into an approved baccalaureate program in Early Childhood Education as a junior, students must complete a minimum of 60-semester credits. Since admission is competitive, completion of the courses recommended below does not guarantee admission. Community college students are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate in Arts degree prior to transfer. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is usually required for program admission.

Suggested Curriculum


I. General Education Core (42-43)


Area A: Communication (9 credits)


Area B: Humanities and Fine Arts (9 credits)


Select three courses from the list for Area B  with at least one course selected from humanities and one course from fine arts, including one English course numbered 200 or above. ART 131 , ENG 243 , HUMAN 101 , or PHILO 205  recommended to meet the non-Western Cultures requirement at some senior institutions. ENG 211  , ENG 212 , ENG 231 , ENG 232 , ENG 261 , or ENG 262  recommended.  ART 129  or MUSIC 130  also recommended.

Area C: Mathematics (8 credits)


Area D: Physical and Life Sciences (7-8 credits)


Select one life science course and one physical science course from the list for Area D . One course must have a lab component. It is recommended that both courses have a lab for the Illinois teaching certificate.

Area E: Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 credits)


II. Area of Concentration/Major Field (9)


Professional Early Childhood Education Courses

III. Electives (11-12)


Select one non-Western Cultures course:


Required A.A. Degree Program Total: 62 credits


*Note: Before enrolling in any additional courses with an ECED prefix at Prairie State College, consult the Transfer Guides at this webpage to determine the transferability of these courses.

Each college and university has its own major requirements and transfer policies. Consult the schools you are considering and a PSC advisor to discuss courses and their transferability.

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