Accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois are copious for students looking to realize their teaching goals in Pre-K and primary grades. Settled along the Mississippi River as America’s sixth most populous state, Illinois is home to 12.83 million residents. Since 6.1 percent of the Illinois population is under five years old, demand for high-quality childcare is high. Parents turn to resources like Heartland Head Start, Springfield Urban League, Pillars Community Services, and CAP of Lake County. The Illinois State Board of Education also oversees 375 elementary school districts where certified teachers instruct the Prairie State’s youngest pupils. According to the BLS, Illinois has the #4 highest employment level of preschool teachers at 19,230. The Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro employs 12,600 Pre-K educators itself with an annual mean wage of $33,600. Find your passion inciting young children’s love for learning with these early childhood education degrees in Illinois. To other accredited education degrees in Illinois, visit Early Childhood Education Degree Programs in Illinois (M-Z).
Bradley University
College of Education and Health Sciences
Established by First National Bank President Lydia Moss Bradley in 1897, Bradley University is a private, nonprofit and nonsectarian institution endowed for $280 million that’s serving around 5,300 Braves from a 84-acre urban campus in Peoria’s West Bluff Historic District. Ranked America’s 37th “Best College with No Application Fee” on Niche, Bradley is named the sixth best regional school, 36th top value, and sixth best for vets university in the Midwest by the USNWR. The College of Education and Health Sciences offers 13 licensure tracks in the Teacher Education Department, including one of the early childhood education degree programs in Illinois.
Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education
Housed in Westlake Hall, the Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at Bradley uses a 12:1 student-faculty ratio to train tomorrow’s teachers in preschool, kindergarten, and primary grades. The 120-credit, CAEP-accredited curriculum leads students to Illinois Professional Educator’s License with dual endorsements in Early Childhood and ESL. Courses will delve into child development, pedagogical strategy, lesson planning, technology applications, and inclusive adaptations. Bradley’s teacher candidates have an average 3.39 GPA and 100 percent edTPA pass rate. Students are also prepared with two 25-hour field practica, novice teaching, and student teaching placements in Peoria-area schools. Graduates can be found teaching at Wilder-Waite Elementary School, Monroe School District #70, Peoria Christian School, and more.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1501 W. Bradley Avenue
Peoria, IL 61625
(309) 677-3190
dcantu@bradley.edu
http://bradley.edu/academic/departments/teachered/programs/early/
Chicago State University
College of Education
Belonging to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), Chicago State University is a public, historically black co-educational institution founded as Cook County Normal School in 1867 that’s endowed for $5.15 million to educate around 3,500 Cougars from 161 urban acres in the Windy City. Declared Illinois’ 14th best value with a net annual price of $10,610, CSU was ranked America’s 138th “Most Conservative College” on Niche. Housing one of the accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois, the College of Education specializes in urban teaching across the Chicago Public School District.
Early Childhood Education BSED with Teacher Licensure
Selectively admitting 30 percent of applicants, CSU’s Early Childhood Education Undergraduate Degree Program offers three unique tracks: the BSED with Teacher Licensure Option, Early Childhood Child Studies Option, and Early Childhood Family Studies Option. The former, 124-credit curriculum meets CAEP standards for producing Illinois teachers in grades PreK-3. The Gateways to Opportunity Program also unlocks the Infant-Toddler Credential Level 2. Teaching coursework explores reading instruction, childhood relationship, youth nutrition, early intervention, speech development, and more. Before taking the TAP certification exam, students 160 field practicum hours and 400+ student teaching hours. An additional 100-hour bilingual clinical experience could add the English as a Second Language endorsement.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
9501 S. King Drive
Chicago, IL 60628
(773) 995-3988
jbardw21@csu.edu
Concordia University Chicago
College of Education
Nestled on 40 suburban acres in River Forest just 10 miles west of the United States’ third-largest city, Concordia University Chicago is a private, nonprofit liberal arts institution affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod since its opening as Addison Teachers Seminary in 1864. Noted for America’s 277th “Safest College Campus” on Niche, CU Chicago was ranked the 182nd best master’s-level university for social mobility and service in Washington Monthly. Enrolling nearly half of CUC’s 5,200 population, the College of Education is applauded by the U.S. News for the 66th top online graduate education degrees nationwide.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
Integrating Lutheran values, CU Chicago’s Bachelor of Science is one of the faith-based, CAEP-accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois devoted to training teachers for servant leadership with youth from birth to second grade. Requiring an iPad, the four-year, 128-credit curriculum leads to Professional Educator’s licensure for public or parochial teaching. Courses will also cover the ESL endorsement with courses in literacy, bilingual education, cognitive development, educational technology, human diversity, and more. Majors will spend at least 100 hours assisting in Chicagoland classrooms before the 16-week student teaching semester. Offering a median beginning salary of $34,936, the program has produced 14 Gold Apple Teacher Award recipients.
Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education
Delivered on-site in Chicago or online, the Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education has been recognized by the CAEP and NAEYC to support Concordia graduates who seek leadership roles in administering services for children from birth through age eight. The non-certification, 30-credit curriculum takes 12 to 24 months for teachers who already hold the Illinois Professional Educator’s licensure. Master’s students further their depth of knowledge on infant/toddler development, childhood advocacy, school-age curriculum design, and more. Post-grads could conduct lab observations in CUC’s Early Childhood Education Center. Flexible, adult-friendly courses lead to an embedded capstone research project. There’s also a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
7400 Augusta Street
River Forest, IL 60305
(708) 771-8300
kevin.brandon@cuchicago.edu
Dominican University
School of Education
Attracting approximately 3,900 Stars into 40+ majors, Dominican University is a private, co-educational Catholic institution established in 1901 by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters upon a 30-acre suburban campus in River Forest conveniently on the Union Pacific-West Line to Chicago. Ranked the Midwest’s 27th best college and second top value by the U.S. News, DU is declared the 226th “Most Liberal College in America” on Niche. Noted for its NAEYC-approved Goedert Center, the School of Education grants one of the early childhood education degree programs in Illinois with a12:1 student-faculty ratio.
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education
Retaining 81 percent of freshmen, Dominican offers top-quality, CAEP-accredited curricula to optimally prepare teachers for working with young children from birth to third grade in the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education program. Rooted in liberal arts, the 120-credit degree spans four to five years full-time in River Forest to nurture the theoretical and practical knowledge for the classroom. Documentation for 100 fieldwork hours is required before entering the student-teaching clinical practice. Possible placements include Lincoln Elementary School, Grace Lutheran School, Willard Elementary School, and the Chicago Public Schools District. Graduation requires a minimum 2.75 GPA and passing Illinois TAP score. Upper-classmen could pursue a Combined B.A./M.S. in Early Childhood Education.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
7900 West Division Street
River Forest, IL 60305
(708) 524-6921
educate@dom.edu
http://educate.dom.edu/academics/undergraduate/earlychildhood
Eastern Illinois University
College of Education and Professional Studies
Endowed for $74.5 million, Eastern Illinois University is a public, co-educational institution led by President David M. Glassman that’s grown since 1895 to accommodate over 8,900 Panthers on its 320-acre urban campus off Interstate 57 in Charleston just 140 miles north of St. Louis. Lauded for America’s 53rd “Best Greek Life” on Niche, EIU is ranked the 40th best regional university, sixth top public college, and 26th most veteran-friendly school in the Midwest by the U.S. News. The College of Education and Professional Studies consistently boasts a 100 percent licensure pass rate for five bachelor’s from early childhood to adult education.
B.S. in Early Childhood Education
With an annual net price of $16,326, the B.S. in Early Childhood Education program is headquartered in Buzzard Hall to give EIU undergrads the pedagogical platform for teaching young children from birth through third grade. Offering Illinois Professional Educator’s licensure for pre-primary and primary classrooms, the 123-credit curriculum generally spans four years full-time. Off-campus cohort options are available for transfers with 45+ credits to take evening courses. With a minimum 2.65 GPA, majors must complete practicum, develop lessons on LiveText, take the Illinois Content Area Test, and spend 14 weeks in student-teaching. Students also gain experience with Children’s Storytime at the Ballenger Teachers Center.
M.S. in Education with Early Childhood Emphasis
Another of the CAEP-accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois at EIU will provide a M.S. in Education to post-graduate teachers with in-state licensing. Designated a “First Choice” program, the 35-credit degree emphasizes the advanced methods utilized to promote learning in PreK-3 classrooms and collaborate with multicultural families. Educators could add the 18-credit ESL Endorsement or 24-credit Reading Endorsement with a three-month teaching practicum. Courses will include children’s literature, brain development, infant/toddler assessment, adapted instruction, and cross-cultural linguistics with research. For capstone, M.S. students select an applied-action project or thesis. Some could obtain the Williams Travel Award to present findings at conferences, such as the IRA Annual Convention.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
600 Lincoln Avenue
Charleston, IL 61920
(217) 581-5728
jeokrasinski@eiu.edu
https://www.eiu.edu/eemedu/early_childhood.php
Governors State University
College of Education
Signed into law by Governor Richard B. Ogilvie on House Bill 666 in 1969, Governors State University is a public, doctoral-granting teaching institution sitting upon a 750-acre suburban campus in University Park just 38 miles south of Chicago to enlighten over 5,600 Jaguars. Picked for Illinois’ 38th “Best Professors” on Niche, Governors State was ranked 605th nationally by Washington Monthly among master’s-level universities for social mobility and service. With a 94 percent admission rate, the College of Education offers three bachelor’s, eight master’s, and two doctoral programs approved by the ISBE.
Early Childhood Education, B.A.
Adhering to the NAEYC’s professional standards, the Early Childhood Education B.A. program at Governors State connects pedagogical theory to hands-on practice for well-trained teachers prepared for PreK-3 classrooms. The 120-credit program splinters into two sequences: the Illinois Licensure Option and Non-Licensure Option for Head Start or Montessori schools. Both integrate field-oriented courses like speech development, developmentally appropriate practices, literacy methods, and educational technology. After 100 practicum hours, undergrads undertake a student-teaching semester with partners like Monee Elementary School, Sawyer Elementary School, and Beacon Hill Primary Center. Mentoring is delivered via the Student Education Association (SEA). Young teachers could also be interested in the Bilingual/ESL Sequence or Post-B.A. Reading Teacher Certificate.
Early Childhood Education, M.A.
Governors State’s Early Childhood Education M.A. is basically three CAEP-accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois rolled into one. The 40-credit Option I caters to licensed teachers in non-early childhood specialties who seek added PreK-3 credentials. The 76-credit Option II suits non-licensed candidates with a bachelor’s degree who are changing careers to education. Lastly, the 33-credit Option III accelerates study for licensed teachers with ample early childhood experience. Each sequence extends students’ mastery of primary curricula in accordance with NAEYC standards. Courses like childhood development and at-risk early intervention lead to the capstone, which could be a portfolio, research thesis, or internship. There’s also a Post-B.A. Early Childhood Education Certificate.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484
(708) 534-4050
chutson@govst.edu
http://www.govst.edu/Academics/Colleges_and_Programs/College_of_Education/Academic_Programs/
Illinois State University
College of Education
Pioneered by industrialist Jesse W. Fell in 1857 as a teacher’s college, Illinois State University is the Land of Lincoln’s oldest public, co-educational doctoral institution carrying a $98.2 million endowment to teach over 21,000 Redbirds from 1,000 urban acres in Normal near Bloomington. Ranked the 152nd best national university and 78th top public college by the U.S. News, ISU is applauded as America’s 91st “Best Big College” on Niche. Featuring an 82 percent retention rate, the College of Education is also acclaimed as the 120th top education school nationally.
Early Childhood Education Program (B.S.)
Embedded with up-to-state technology methods, the Early Childhood Education Program (B.S.) follows a 123-credit curriculum to train undergrads for instructing youth from infancy through second grade in basic math, language arts, science, and social studies. ISU offers more clinical experience than most CAEP-accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois with 300 practicum hours and a year-long student teaching assignment. Aspiring teachers can stay local with schools in the McLean County Unit District or travel to San Antonio and Eastbourne, England. There’s also the Chicago Teacher Pipeline for a four-week immersive fellowship in urban education. Other opportunities include joining Educators Rising, participating in College Mentors for Kids, and declaring Departmental Honors.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
508 DeGarmo Hall Box 5300
Normal, IL 61790
(309) 438-8768
teachinglearning@ilstu.edu
https://education.illinoisstate.edu/early/
Lewis University
College of Education
Within the Great Lakes Valley Conference, Lewis University is a private, nonprofit Catholic teaching institution devoted to Lasallian values that’s endowed for $56.3 million and enrolling over 6,400 Flyers upon its 410-acre suburban campus in Romeoville near the I-355 extension. Deemed America’s 217th “Best College for Education” on Niche, Lewis is ranked the 24th best Midwestern school, 37th top value, and 19th best for vets college by the USNWR. The College of Education features a 83 percent freshman retention rate for seven bachelor’s programs linked to 60 partnering school districts.
Early Childhood Special Education, B.A.
Offered in classrooms with SMART boards in De La Salle Hall, the Early Childhood Special Education B.A. allows Lewis students to graduate with three Illinois endorsements to better serve the unique developmental needs of children under nine. Undergrads gather the teaching strategies for Birth-Third Grade licensure in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, and English as a Second Language. The 55-credit major structures the 128-credit curriculum with face-to-face courses from assistive technology to learning assessment in Romeoville. Students complete 100 practicum hours and student-teaching in settings like Valley View Early Childhood Center and Irene King Elementary School to fulfill PEL qualifications. Future teachers also work with intellectually disabled children via Best Buddies Illinois.
Early Childhood Special Education, M.A.
Another of Lewis’ CAEP-accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois provides a Master of Arts to licensed teachers with Professional Educator’s Licensure. The 48-credit curriculum best suits non-early childhood practitioners who wish to add the Birth-Third Grade Early Childhood Special Education and English as a Second Language endorsements. Cohorts are trained for teacher leadership with in-depth courses on inclusion, curriculum methods, early intervention, linguistic development, media design, and childcare administration. Didactic instruction is applied with practical research, clinical practice, and a capstone exam. Post-grads can also benefit from joining the Teachers of Tomorrow chapter, earning the Dr. Edward T. Rancic Scholarship, and entering the Lasallian Research Grant program.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
1 University Parkway
Romeoville, IL 60446
(815) 838-0500
admission@lewisu.edu
http://www.lewisu.edu/academics/earlychildhood/
Loyola University Chicago
School of Education
Headquartered on a 105-acre urban campus in Rogers Park along Lake Michigan with satellites from Rome to Beijing, Loyola University Chicago is a private, nonprofit Jesuit RU/H institution that’s developed a $541.7 million endowment to educate over 16,400 Ramblers. Crowned America’s 52nd “Best College with No Application Fee” on Niche, LUC is ranked the 99th best national university, 47th top value, and 64th best for vets school by the U.S. News. With a 100 percent edTPA pass rate, the School of Education is the country’s 85th best teacher education provider too.
BSEd in Early Childhood Special Education
Currently charging $20,860 each full-time semester or $770 per credit, the BSEd in Early Childhood Special Education program equips LUC undergrads for assuming classroom teaching jobs with exceptional children from birth to age eight. Upholding the IDEA Act, the 125-credit curriculum emphasizes inclusion of special needs learners. Loyola stands out among CAEP-accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois for offering community-based learning modules and apprenticeships over coursework. Students learn backward design for Common Core standards in Chicagoland schools via immersive practicum and nine-month student-teaching placements. Graduates satisfy PEL requirements for Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, and ESL endorsements. Initial credentialing in Early Intervention and Developmental Therapy is also available.
Accreditations
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)
Contact
820 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 915-6800
SchlEduc@luc.edu
http://www.luc.edu/education/undergrad/early-childhood-special-ed/
The U.S. News recognized elementary and preschool teachers for having the #2 and #7 best education jobs respectively. That’s partly because employment of teachers in primary grades will grow by 7 percent through 2024 for around 29,600 new jobs. Early childhood educators also reap above-average satisfaction from shaping young children’s cognitive, emotional, social, and speech development. If you’ve settled on this vocational calling, don’t miss our next installment of CAEP-accredited early childhood education degree programs in Illinois here.