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Early Childhood Education/ECE - IAI Major Course Recommendations

To teach young children (birth to age 8), teachers must be licensed by the state of Illinois. To transfer into an approved baccalaureate program in Early Childhood Education as a junior, students must complete a minimum of 60 semester credits (up to a maximum of 64 semester credits). Since admission is competitive, completion of the recommended courses does not guarantee admission.

The Test of Academic Proficiency (reading, writing, grammar and math) is usually required for program admission. ACT or SAT scores may be used in lieu of the Test of Academic Proficiency. Check with your advisor or transfer specialist about this option.

Information regarding standards for Professional Preparation and Recruitment is available on the Illinois State Board of Education Web site.

Student pursuing licensure versus non-licensure tracks, should consult with appropriate advisors at their institutions. 

Major Directive

Click here to see how courses at Illinois public 4-year institutions accept courses in transfer for this major.

Early Childhood Education IAI Major Recommendations

  • Professional Early Childhood Education Core Courses
    (9 semester credits)
    ECE 912 - Child Growth and Development (3 semester credits)
    ECE 913 - The Exceptional Child (3 semester credits)
    ECE 915 - Child, Family, and Community (3 semester credits)

    Red box with a black check mark in it It is important to consult with your academic advisor about your planned coursework at your chosen transfer institution as soon as you decide where you are going.  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.

  • General Education Recommendations (37-41 semester credits traditional non licensure)
    These are the specific courses in the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC) that should be taken for this emphasis.
    Red box with a black check mark in it   IMPORTANT NOTE ON GENERAL EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS: The courses recommended below are beyond  the minimum requirements necessary for completion of general education courses for an Associates of Arts or an Associates of Sciences degree.  The recommendations listed below are for a student's full licensure requirements.  Some of these additional courses may be completed after a student transfers, even with an Associates of Arts or an Associates of Sciences degree. Licensure information is based on the Illinois State Board of Education's administrative rules for teacher  education preparation.
  • Communication: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
    Select a two-course sequence in writing (6 semester credits) with a grade of "C" or better and,
    Select 1 course in oral communication (3 semester credits).

    Mathematics: 2 courses (6-8 semester credits)
    Required - M1903 - Mathematics for Elementary Teaching I and II .
    One additional credit-bearing general education math course; College Algebra is recommended (Note: College Algebra is not an IAI general education course)

    Physical and Life Sciences: 3 courses (9-12 semester credits) - at least 2 of the 3 courses should be labs
    Choose
    - L1900/L - General Biology for non-majors or L1910L - General Biology for Majors - For Life Sciences
    - P1902/L - General Education Chemistry or P1900/L - General Education Physics
    AND
    - P1905/L - Earth Science or P1906/L - Introduction to Astronomy - For Physical Sciences

    Humanities and Fine Arts: At least 4 courses (12 semester credits)
    Recommended:
    Select 3 course from Humanities:
    - H3912 - Survey of British Literature I or H3913 - Survey of British Literature II
    AND
    - H3914 - Survey of American Literature I or H3915 - Survey of American II
    AND
    - H3906 - Western/World Literature in Translation I or H3907 - Western/World Literature in Translation II
    A non-western or global studies may be required
    Select 1 course from Fine Arts:
    - F2900 - Art Appreciation or F1900 - Music Appreciation
    Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.

    Social and Behavioral Sciences: 4 courses (12 semester credits)
    Required:
    - S5900 - American/U.S. National Government
    AND
    - S2900  - United States History I or S2901 - United States History II
     Green Finger Pointing to the right       Some institutions' history courses are classified as Humanities courses rather than Social Science courses. Check with your institution and advisor for classification. Corresponding Humanities codes for US History courses are: H2904 -US History I or H2905- U S History II  
    AND
    - S4901 - Geography of the Developed (or Western) World or S4902N - Geography of the Developing (or Non-Western) World or  S4906 - World Geography
    AND
    - S3900 - Principles of Economics          or S3901 - Principle of Macroeconomics or S3902 - Principles of Microeconomics

Check the worksheet to see what courses you can take to fulfill your general education requirements
The worksheet allows you to see what courses to take to fulfill the IAI Gen. Ed. package (Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum) at any participating college or university in the State. You will find it helpful to use the major recommended general education courses shown above. You may want to print or copy a hard copy of this page.

Return to the Illinois Baccalaureate Majors' Recommendations (IAI Majors).

2022-07-20T07:39:57.612295-07:00 2022