Program Overview
The director/administrator option in the Early Childhood Education associate degree program is designed to provide individuals with skills in caring for children and business management necessary to assume the role of child care teacher, director, administrator, or program manager with a wide variety of options for specialization. Students must be at least 19 years of age upon completion of the program to be qualified as a child care worker and 21 years of age to be a child care center director, according to Department of Children and Family Services regulations. (See other program requirements on this page.) This degree typically is not designed for transfer
Child Development Program Requirements
Basic laboratory experience is required in many child development courses within the program. Specific tasks performed in the lab setting will vary according to skills, interests, and course requirements. Prior to initiating lab assignments and projects, Early Childhood Education students must meet the requirements for staff in child care facilities as outlined by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Child Care Facility Regulations: (1) must have a high school diploma or its equivalent; (2) must be able to pass a DCFS criminal background check; (3) must have a completed health form; and (4) must have a signed mandated reporter form on file. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure all program requirements are current and on file with the program coordinator.
Program Requirements
Major Courses
| ECED1513 | Child Growth & Development | 3 Credits |
| ECED2523 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 3 Credits |
| ECED2363 | Administration in Child Care Settings | 3 Credits |
| ECED2403 | Clinical Experience | 3 Credits |
| ECED2533 | Early Childhood Curriculum Development | 3 Credits |
| ECED2543 | Child Study & Observation | 3 Credits |
| ECED2633 | Health, Nutrition & Safety | 3 Credits |
| EDUC1833 | The Exceptional Learner/Child | 3 Credits |
| BSNS1553 | Introduction to Business | 3 Credits |
| BSNS2143 | Human Relations in Business | 3 Credits |
| BSNS2113 | Small Business Management | 3 Credits |
| BSNS2213 | Human Resource Management | 3 Credits |
| COMM1603 | Business Communication | 3 Credits |
| | |
| ACCT1413 | General Accounting | 3 Credits |
| or | |
| ACCT1514 | Financial Accounting | 4 Credits |
Choose one
| ECED2013 | History & Philosophy of Early Child Ed | 3 Credits |
| ECED2103 | School Aged Programming | 3 Credits |
| ECED2513 | Child, Family & Community Relations | 3 Credits |
| ECED2153 | Infant/Toddler Care | 3 Credits |
| ECED2163 | Discipline/Classroom Management | 3 Credits |
| ECED2223 | Art/Music Activities | 3 Credits |
| ECED2233 | Language Acquisition & Development | 3 Credits |
| ECED2243 | Science/Math Activities | 3 Credits |
| ECED2253 | Motor Development/Physical Activities | 3 Credits |
| ECED2263 | Heads Up Reading | 3 Credits |
| Credit Hours: | 45-46 |
General education
| COMP1521 | Computer Literacy | 1 Credit |
| or | |
| COSC1152 | Introduction to Windows | 2 Credits |
| | |
| COMM1553 | Introductory Speech | 3 Credits |
| ENGL1613 | English I | 3 Credits |
| ENGL1623 | English II | 3 Credits |
| | |
| PSYC1813 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 Credits |
| Psychology Course | 3 Credits |
Elective
| Elective | 3 Credits |
| Credit Hours: | 3 |
Minimum Credit Hours: 64
Suggested course sequence
Fall semester
| ECED1513 | Child Growth & Development | 3 Credits |
| ECED2533 | Early Childhood Curriculum Development | 3 Credits |
| | |
| COMP1521 | Computer Literacy | 1 Credit |
| or | |
| COSC1152 | Introduction to Windows | 2 Credits |
| | |
| ACCT1413 | General Accounting | 3 Credits |
| or | |
| ACCT1514 | Financial Accounting | 4 Credits |
| | |
| BSNS2113 | Small Business Management | 3 Credits |
| ENGL1613 | English I | 3 Credits |
Spring semester
| BSNS2143 | Human Relations in Business | 3 Credits |
| ENGL1613 | English I | 3 Credits |
| ECED2523 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 3 Credits |
| PSYC1813 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 Credits |
| Elective | 3 Credits |
Fall semester
| ECED2543 | Child Study & Observation | 3 Credits |
| ECED2363 | Administration in Child Care Settings | 3 Credits |
| ECED2633 | Health, Nutrition & Safety | 3 Credits |
| COMM1553 | Introductory Speech | 3 Credits |
Spring semester
| EDUC1833 | The Exceptional Learner/Child | 3 Credits |
| COMM1603 | Business Communication | 3 Credits |
| BSNS1553 | Introduction to Business | 3 Credits |
| BSNS2213 | Human Resource Management | 3 Credits |
| Early Childhood Education Elective | 3 Credits |
| Psychology Course | 3 Credits |
Summer term
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