Early Childhood Education, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (on campus & online)
The Early Childhood Education, BS prepares student candidates to teach birth through grade 2. A minimum of 120 semester hours of credit is necessary for graduation.
Students pursuing teacher licensure programs in the College of Education must meet requirements in a series of sequential gateways. Included in the gateway requirements are successful completion of specified coursework, achievement of appropriate grade point averages, requirements for clinical experiences, and appropriate tests for the licensure area. Meeting all Gateway requirements leads to degree and licensure completion.
In order to be recommended for licensure, candidates are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (A=4.0). Candidates in teaching licensure programs must maintain a C- or better in ALL content and professional education coursework. For teacher education licensure requirements applicable to all curricula, see the Council on Teacher Education. Licensure requirements are subject to change without notice as a result of new mandates from the Illinois State Board of Education or the Illinois General Assembly.
This is a Gateways to Opportunity approved program.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (on campus & online)
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
Requirements for licensure: Minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.5 (A=4.0); Receive a grade of C- or better in licensure coursework.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by EDUC 202 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
fulfilled by EDUC 202 and any other course approved as Humanities & the Arts | ||
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | ||
fulfilled by EPSY 201 and any other course approved as Social & Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
fulfilled by EDUC 201 | ||
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College of Education Requirement | ||
| EDUC 101 | Education Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| Early Childhood Education Requirements | ||
| ART 201 | Art in Early Childhood | 2 |
| CI 415 | Language Varieties, Cultures and Learning | 3 |
| CI 420 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| CI 421 | Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CI 422 | Families, Communities, Schools | 3 |
| CI 424 | Child Development & Technology | 3 |
| CI 443 | Mathematics in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CI 445 | Science and Social Studies Inquiry | 3 |
| CI 465 | Language Literacy in Early Childhood Education I | 3 |
| CI 466 | Language Literacy in Early Childhood Education II | 3 |
| EDPR 420 | School Access & Supports | 4 |
| EDPR 432 | Ed Prac in EC & ELED | 12 |
| EDUC 201 | Identity and Difference in Education | 3 |
| EDUC 202 | Social Justice, School and Society | 3 |
| EPSY 201 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EPSY 236 | Child Development in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 401 | Child Language and Education | 3 |
| MUS 345 | Mus Methods in Early Childhood | 2 |
| SPED 414 | Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 450 | Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 465 | Curriculum and Methods in Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (on campus & online)
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. For more information, see the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| EDUC 101 - Education Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 201 - Identity and Difference in Education | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Elective course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CI 415 - Language Varieties, Cultures and Learning | 3 |
| EPSY 201 - Educational Psychology | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Elective course | 3 |
| Elective course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| EDUC 202 - Social Justice, School and Society | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Elective course | 3 |
| Elective course | 1 |
| Semester Hours | 13 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CI 422 - Families, Communities, Schools | 3 |
| CI 465 - Language Literacy in Early Childhood Education I | 3 |
| EPSY 401 - Child Language and Education | 3 |
| HDFS 301 - Infancy & Early Childhood | 4 |
| SPED 450 - Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CI 420 - Foundations of Early Childhood Education | 5 |
| CI 424 - Child Development & Technology | 3 |
| CI 443 - Mathematics in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CI 466 - Language Literacy in Early Childhood Education II | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 14 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| ART 201 - Art in Early Childhood | 2 |
| CI 421 - Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDPR 420 - School Access & Supports | 4 |
| MUS 345 - Mus Methods in Early Childhood | 2 |
| SPED 414 - Assessment in Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| SPED 465 - Curriculum and Methods in Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CI 445 - Science and Social Studies Inquiry | 3 |
| EDPR 432 - Ed Prac in EC & ELED | 12 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (on campus & online)
- Students will acquire deep knowledge of child development as it relates to the field of Education.
- Students will effectively plan and implement relevant, culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate instruction children from birth to grade two.
- Students will use assessment data to drive decisions and solve problems in and out of the classroom.
- Students will display the expectations of professionalism related to success in the field of education and beyond (fairness, commitment to collaboration, community, reflective practice, and attention to 21st century skills and practices).
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (on campus & online)
College of Education
Education Building, 1310 S. Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
College of Education website
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
306 Education Building
Department of Curriculum & Instruction email: ci@education.illinois.edu
(217) 244-8286
Department of Curriculum & Instruction website
Department of Curriculum & Instruction faculty
Office of Undergraduate Programs
110 Education Building
Education Academic Affairs email: saao@education.illinois.edu
(217) 333-2800
Admissions & Academics website
Student Academic Affairs website