BS in Early Childhood Education

The Bachelor of Science program in Early Childhood Education prepares students to teach children birth through third grade in a variety of urban and suburban education settings, including public and private elementary schools and child care centers. Students learn educational theories and effective teaching practices, participate in field experiences that require observation and participation in teaching activities at multiple schools, and student teaching. Early Childhood students complete six weeks in a preschool classroom and six weeks in a primary classroom to fulfill their student teaching requirement leading to Illinois licensure. Students should meet early and regularly with their advisors to design and monitor their program of study. Students entering the program must be able and willing to devote themselves to a minimum of 380 hours of daytime field experiences in schools and child care centers (230 hours in early childhood, including special education settings, and 150 hours in bilingual/ESL education settings). These field-based clinical hours are completed in conjunction with curriculum and strategy courses that require students to participate in teaching activities with children ranging in age from birth through eight years. In addition, the student must successfully complete two six-week periods of full-time student teaching as part of their culminating early childhood education experience. Learning Outcomes - Student will be able to: Apply knowledge of diverse developmental characteristics and abilities to implement best practices in educating young children in various settings, e.g.: child-care, preschool, and primary grades. Use pedagogical knowledge of developmentally appropriate content areas to create meaningful learning experiences for each child based on best practices. Design lessons and differentiating instructions based on their knowledge of content areas and their knowledge of children’s diverse developmental level, special needs characteristics (e.g.? children with disabilities), and diverse cultural and linguistic characteristics (e.g.; English Learners). Structure and manage safe and healthy learning environments, which are culturally and linguistically responsive; facilitate emotional well-being and positive relationships among children and between children and professionals and facilitate children’s active engagement, academic risk taking, and self­ motivation. Career Options – Teaching, Administration, Education policy.