Teacher teaching small children

Early Childhood Education and Care Advanced, Certificate

Students pursuing the Early Childhood Education and Care Advanced Certificate will enhance the knowledge, skills, and experiences acquired in the Early Childhood Education and Care Certificate to more effectively work with children from birth to age eight. This advanced certificate meets the academic requirements to qualify students to be a lead teacher if the additional qualifications established by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services are met.  Students should consult their DCFS representative.  Within this certificate, students will complete the required academic coursework to be eligible to apply for the Gateways Early Childhood Education Credential Level 3 through Gateways to Opportunity. This certificate requires a minimum of 36 credits in the courses listed below.

For more information about Early Childhood Education and Care, please visit the program page.

Certificate Requirements

Field of Study Code: ECEC.CER.ADV

ECEC 1100Intro to the Early Childhood Profession3
ECEC 1101Growth & Development of the Young Child3
ECEC 1102Child Guidance Practices3
ECEC 2211Child Health, Safety and Nutrition3
ECEC 2251Curriculum Planning for the Young Child3
ECEC 2252Child/Family/Community Relations & Resources3
ECEC 1151Language and Literacy Development in a Diverse Classroom3
ECEC 1116Care Infant Toddler & Two-Year Child I3
ENGLI 1101English Composition I3
SPEEC 1100Fundamentals of Speech Communication3
PSYCH 1100General Psychology3
or SOCIO 1100 Introduction to Sociology
Select one of the following Math courses. Check for transferability:3-4
ECEC 2208
Mathematics for the Young Child
MATH 1100
Business Mathematics
MATH 1218
General Education Mathematics
MATH 1321
Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers I
Total Credits36-37