College of Education > Academics > Teacher Education, Kinesiology and Educational Studies > Undergraduate > Early Childhood Education (BS) > Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Introductory Courses: 30 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course Title Quarter Hours
ECE 290CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT4
ECE 280INTERNSHIP WITH INFANTS AND TODDLERS 12
ECE 286ART, MUSIC, AND MOVEMENT FOR THE YOUNG CHILD4
ECE 302CHILD AND FAMILY IN THE URBAN COMMUNITY4
ECE 303INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION4
ECE 298CHILD HEALTH SAFETY AND NUTRITION4
SCU 207SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION4
EE 347CHILDREN'S LITERATURE4
1

Must be taken with ECE 290.

ISBE Science Requirement: 12 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course Title Quarter Hours
Biological Science: Choose a Scientific Inquiry course in Biology4
Physical Science: Choose a Scientific Inquiry course in Chemistry or Physics4
Earth/Space Science: Choose a Scientific Inquiry course in Environmental Science or Geography4

Science requirement fulfills the mandate by the Illinois State Board of Education that all individuals pursuing a license in Early Childhood Education have coursework in 3 science areas that cover biological science, physical science, and earth/space science.  These courses simultaneously meet DePaul requirements for Liberal Studies.

Choose One of the Following Concentrations

ESL Concentration Courses: 28 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course Title Quarter Hours
BBE 326THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHING ESL AND WLE4
BBE 325BILITERACY PRACTICES IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND ESL4
BBE 360SECOND, WORLD AND HERITAGE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION4
BBE 370LANGUAGE, LITERACIES AND CULTURES4
ECE 314METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR DUAL LANGUAGE AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS4
BBE 310SPECIAL TOPICS IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND CULTURE4
ECE 377ASSESSMENT OF DUAL LANGUAGE AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS4

Bilingual Concentration Courses: 28 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course Title Quarter Hours
BBE 316SOCIOCULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION4
BBE 325BILITERACY PRACTICES IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND ESL4
BBE 360SECOND, WORLD AND HERITAGE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION4
BBE 370LANGUAGE, LITERACIES AND CULTURES4
ECE 314METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR DUAL LANGUAGE AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS4
BBE 310SPECIAL TOPICS IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND CULTURE4
ECE 377ASSESSMENT OF DUAL LANGUAGE AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS4

*Individuals seeking both bilingual and ESL endorsements on the Professional Educator License (PEL) must complete one additional course to qualify for both endorsements and must take both:

Course Title Quarter Hours
BBE 316SOCIOCULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION4
BBE 326THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHING ESL AND WLE4

To be eligible for the bilingual endorsement, individuals also complete the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Target Language Proficiency (TLP) test in the non-English language.

Advanced Courses: 40 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course Title Quarter Hours
SCU 336ADOLESCENT AND ADULT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT4
ECE 306FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT: INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD4
ECE 307LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD (BIRTH TO 8)4
ECE 309YOUNG EXCEPTIONAL CHILD: METHODS AND CHARACTERISTICS4
ECE 310PREPRIMARY PROGRAMS: CURRICULUM AND STRATEGIES 14
ECE 381INTERNSHIP IN PRESCHOOL SETTING 22
ECE 311CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION IN PRIMARY GRADES 34
ECE 382INTERNSHIP IN PRIMARY SETTING 42
ECE 331BEGINNING MATH AND SCIENCE INSTRUCTION4
ECE 375ASSESSMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INCLUSIVE SETTINGS4
EE 324READING/LANGUAGE ARTS IN THE EARLY YEARS4
1

Must be taken with ECE 381.

2

ECE 310 is co-requisite.

3

Must be taken with ECE 382.

4

ECE 311 is co-requisite.

Open Electives: 4 quarter hours required

Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours. The following cannot be used to fulfill an open elective: WRD 98MAT 94, and MAT 95


Student Teaching: 12 quarter hours required, grade of B- or better required

Registration in student teaching requires completion of all requirements and procedures indicated in the college core section. EDU 95 indicates to the Illinois State Board of Education that all field experience hours are complete. All students also take ECE 387, Capstone Seminar with student teaching (listed in the Liberal Studies section) during the Autumn, Winter or Spring quarters. Early Childhood students complete 6 weeks in a preschool classroom and 6 weeks in a primary classroom.

Course Title Quarter Hours
ECE 385EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDENT TEACHING12
EDU 95CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH (non-tuition, PA grade required)0

Learning Behavior Specialist Special Education Endorsement Courses

Individuals seeking an endorsement in Special Education (called LBS1-Learning Behavior Specialist) can add the credential to the Professional Educator License (PEL) by taking additional courses. Courses are:

Course Title Quarter Hours
ECE 332EARLY LITERACY AND ASSESSMENT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES4
ECE 333EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR LOW INCIDENCE DISABILITIES4
ECE 334SPECIAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND STRATEGIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN4
ECE 380EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM4

Requirements are listed in the Endorsements section of the Course Catalog and are in addition to degree requirements.

Special Education Approval Courses

All students in ECE program will take 5 courses that are required for the degree. These courses will make ECE students who are seeking a PEL eligible to receive a letter of approval in early childhood special education. An approval in early childhood special education makes graduating ECE license holders eligible to work in preschool special education settings. Five special education courses are:

Course Title Quarter Hours
ECE 302CHILD AND FAMILY IN THE URBAN COMMUNITY4
ECE 306FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT: INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD4
ECE 307LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD (BIRTH TO 8)4
ECE 309YOUNG EXCEPTIONAL CHILD: METHODS AND CHARACTERISTICS4
ECE 375ASSESSMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INCLUSIVE SETTINGS4

Licensure Tests

All individuals licensed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are required to complete licensure tests specific to their teaching license. Early Childhood majors must complete the following tests:

  • Early Childhood Content Area Test (test #206) – assesses knowledge of the content of what is taught at the early childhood level including language and literacy development, learning across the curriculum, diversity, collaboration, and professionalism in the early childhood program. Test is required before Student Teaching (deadlines apply).
  • EdTPA - assessment conducted during the student teaching experience including video clips of instruction, lesson plans, student work samples, analysis of student learning and reflective commentaries. Students will submit an electronic portfolio to an outside agency for independent evaluation and a fee will be imposed by that agency as part of the assessment.

Non-Licensure Option

Individuals that do not desire a license or are not eligible for a license can seek to earn the degree without meeting licensure requirements. In seeking this option, individuals understand that the following stipulations apply:

Course Title Quarter Hours
ECE 390 DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPY STRATEGIES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN EARLY INTERVENTION 4
ECE 391 ASSESSMENT OF INFANT AND TODDLERS 4
ECE 392 WORKING WITH FAMILIES OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS: PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION IN EARLY INTERVENTION 4
ECE 393 INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES WITH INFANTS, TODDLERS AND TWOS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (optional) 2

Optional Infant Toddler Courses

Two infant toddler courses are available for special population or as elective for early childhood education students who seek additional specialty in infant/toddler education.

Course Title Quarter Hours
ECE 395 DESIGNING CURRICULUM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS 4
ECE 398 SPECIAL TOPICS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (credit hours may vary for special population) 4

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