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Associate in Arts Degree with a Concentration in
Early Childhood Education (681)

The early childhood education concentration will prepare students to transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and teacher licensure (PreK- Grade 2) in the state of Illinois.

Education, Early Childhood - IAI Recommended Course Sequence

Follow this link for career information.

Transfer Considerations

General education and major field requirements vary significantly by intended transfer institution. Students who have already chosen the university to which they plan to transfer should consult that institution's catalog or department advisor and an SVCC academic advisor in planning their program. Transfer guides for some universities are available at svcc.edu/transfer.

  1. IMPORTANT NOTE ON GENERAL EDUCATION RECOMMENDATIONS: The courses recommended in the suggested program are beyond the minimum requirements necessary for completion of general education courses for an Associate of Arts degree. The general education 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 Associate of Arts degree. Licensure information is based on the Illinois State Board of Education's administrative rules for teacher education preparation.

Competitive Admissions

Since admission is competitive, completing the recommended courses does not by itself guarantee admission.

  1. A minimum grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), dependent on the transfer school requirements, may be required for program admission.
  2. Students will also need to achieve a C or better grade in all general education coursework.

Special Considerations

  1. To teach in Illinois public schools (PreK-Grade 2), teachers must be licensed by the state of Illinois. Information regarding Illinois Standards for Professional Educator License is available on the Illinois State Board of Education Website at www.isbe.net.
  2. Criminal History Check Policy: Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

Students who perform classroom observations through coursework at Sauk Valley Community College may be required by the selected school/site to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement. Students may be denied at any observation site based on the results of that check.

Students who feel their criminal background may exclude them from observation or employment should seek counseling with SVCC faculty or advising staff early in their program to determine how it may affect their participation and eligibility.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College

  • Academic Advising, 815-835-6354
  • Beth Smaka, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, 815-835-6388

 

Minimum Total Credit Hours - 65 Hours

Suggested Course Sequence

First Semester - 16 Hours

Course # Course Title Hours
Personal Health & Development 1 Hour
ECE114 Child Care and Development 3 Hours
EDU105 Prep for Careers in Education 2 Hours
ENG101 Composition I 3 Hours
FYE101 First Year Experience 1 Hour
MAT110 Math for Elementary Teachers I 3 Hours
PSC163 Am Government & Politics 3 Hours

 

Second Semester - 15-16 Hours

Course # Course Title Hours
IAI Biological Science 3-4 Hours
EDU210 Diversity in Education 3 Hours
EDU221 Children's Literature 3 Hours
ENG103 Composition II 3 Hours
MAT111 Math for Elementary Teacher II 3 Hours

 

Third Semester - 15-16 Hours

Course # Course Title Hours
* IAI Physical Science 3-4 Hours
** ECE / EDU Elective 3 Hours
ECO211 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Hours
- OR -
ECO212 Principles of Microeconomics 3 Hours
EDU220 Educ of the Exceptional Child 3 Hours
ART119 Art Appreciation 3 Hours
- OR -
MUS201 Music Appreciation 3 Hours

 

Fourth Semester - 18 Hours

Course # Course Title Hours
Humanities / Fine Arts 3 Hours
*** Program Elective (EDU / ECE, MAT, GSC) 3 Hours
EDU102 Computer Education for Teacher 3 Hours
COM131 Intro to Oral Communication 3 Hours
GEO122 Human Geography 3 Hours
HIS221 American History to 1865 3 Hours
- OR -
HIS222 American History Since 1865 3 Hours

 

Footnotes

* One lab science required of either IAI Biological Science or IAI Physical Science

** Recommended Electives include: ECE 115, ECE 118, ECE 240, or EDU 275. Consult an advisor for best transfer fit.

*** Students should consult with an advisor for best transfer fit. Students attending NIU will need to take one Physical Science (CHEM/PHY) and an additional Earth Science (GSC) course. Students may need MAT 240. Other recommended electives are ECE 115, ECE 118, ECE 240, EDU 275.