There are many early childhood education degree programs in Illinois, and you may find one that is right for you by checking out this list. Because of recent discoveries in childhood development and government initiatives there is a push to deliver fundamental education to young children. That is especially true in the areas of diversity and inclusiveness, but society is placing more pressure on students to achieve and on schools to begin teaching rudimentary math and English skills to children as young as preschool. If you are considering a career in early childhood education, this list of accredited programs may be a valuable tool. To other accredited education degrees in Illinois, visit Early Childhood Education Degree Programs in Illinois (A-L).
Milikin University
School of Education
Milikin is a private four-year university associated with the Presbyterian Church. Founded in 1901, the school has a student body of 2,063. U.S. News and World report ranks Milikin as #11 of Regional Universities Midwest. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1, so there is plenty of opportunity for interaction with teachers. The university has an impressive 48 percent four-year graduation rate. In a 2015 study it was found that 100 percent of Milikin graduates were employed or in grad school six months after graduation. Besides degree programs, Milikin’s School of Education offers two endorsements: the special education endorsement and the English as a second language/ bilingual education endorsement.
Bachelor in Early Childhood Education
This degree is offered in a traditional format as well as in an accelerated evening program. The evening degree program is identical in requisites to the traditional studies, but it is intended for adults with full-time employment. You may earn a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education or a Bachelor of Science. The difference is whether the program focuses on methods and practice or on the liberal arts aspect. The degree, BA or BS in Early Childhood Education, Developmental Theory, contains 125 credit hours and prepares the graduate to work with children from birth to grade three in childcare facilities and in public and private school settings.
Accreditations
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
School of Education
Milikin University
1184 W. Main Street
Decatur, Illinois
62522
217-424-3933
jbezdicek@milikin.edu
National-Louis University
Education
This private, non-profit school has several locations in the U.S. and internationally. It was founded in 1886 to teach “kindergartners,” which was another name for teachers who wanted to educate young children. In fact, the “national” in the school name refers to the university’s position as the professional school for the National Kindergarten Association. There are three schools in the university: the School of Business and Management, the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the School of Health and Human Services. The last school houses the education department. One unique feature of National-Louis is the Harrison Professional Pathways program that allows graduating high school students to enter the university with a reduced tuition.
Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education
This degree prepares educators to teach children from birth to age eight. The curriculum includes courses in instructing English language learners. Graduates will have the requisites to earn an Illinois Professional Educators License with endorsements for Early Childhood and Self-Contained General Education and English Language Learner. There are 180 credit hours in the program including 60 hours of general education, courses in the major and practicum and ten-to-eleven weeks of student teaching. Graduates of the program have 100 hours of pre-clinical experience in infant/toddler, pre-primary and primary school settings.
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
This graduate degree can be earned in two tracks. The Master of Education in Early Childhood Education, Administration is offered only online. There are 34 credit hours in the program including nine in the core and 25 in the administration concentration. The Early Childhood MAT is offered in the traditional format and as a hybrid. The program contains 44 semester hours with licensure components. There are six hours in the core and 38 in the concentration. Students take internships in primary and in pre-primary settings. You can also pursue the Alternative Teaching Licensure if you do not have a teaching certification. This allows people who have an undergraduate degree in another discipline to get a degree and a certificate. The last program takes 53 semester hours to complete and is done on-site in high-needs school settings.
Accreditations
• North Central Association, Higher Learning Commission
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
• Illinois Board of Education approves certain educational programs
Contact
Education
National-Louis University
122 South Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL
60603
888-658-5065
akeneman@nl.edu
https://www.nl.edu/academics/educationbachelors/
Northeastern Illinois University
College of Education
Northeastern is a public state university that has been designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution. It was founded in 1949 as the North Side Chicago Teacher’s College, but it became a university in 1971. The student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1. Most students do not graduate within four years. The school has five locations and 10,000 students. It is one of the most ethnically diverse schools in Illinois. The African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American student population comprises 60 percent of the student body.
Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Arts
Graduates from this program will attain “knowledge in the diverse philosophies in early childhood curriculum, understand formal and informal instruction” and be able to work with “multicultural and exceptional students” integrated into the classroom. The program contains 120 credit hours. Students take general education and fundamental teaching courses in the first two years of the program and then apply to the College of Education before entering professional coursework. The education curriculum is divided into blocks which are sequential. In addition, graduates must pursue a teaching license.
Accreditations
• North Central Association, Higher Learning Commission
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
College of Education
Northeastern Illinois University
5520 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
60625-4699
773-442-5382
s-mushi@nei.edu
http://catalog.neiu.edu/education/teacher-education/early-childhood-education/#requirementstext
Northern Illinois University
College of Education
This university was founded in 1895 as the Northern Illinois Normal School. It became a university in 1957. There are 15,023 students earning degrees in seven schools. The U.S. News and World Report ranks NIU as # 214 of National Universities. The school offers 80 master’s degrees. One unique aspect of NIU is the “Research Rookies” program that allows freshmen and sophomores to do research under the supervision of faculty members. The student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1. Education is #45 of 82 majors offered to undergraduates.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies
This is an interdisciplinary degree program offered with the School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Science. It leads to teacher licensure with the state of Illinois and allows graduates to teach children from birth to grade two. There is a special education endorsement built into the program. A graduate from this program is eligible for the Early Care and Education Credential, Level Five and Infant/Toddler Level Five. Students may opt to get the ESL endorsement as well. The degree has two concentrations. Students can earn the degree in an Early Childhood Education, Teaching License track or in an Early Childhood Education, Preschool Special Education track. There are 137 credit hours in either program.
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
This degree does not automatically lead to licensure, but students may take courses that put them on the licensure track. Most of the courses for this program are taught at the DeKalb campus. There are 33 semester hours in the program; a minimum of 18 must be in upper-level Early Childhood Education courses. If you decide to pursue this degree in a non-thesis format, you will declare a focus area and take a master’s-level course in research. You will also complete a master’s project. If you complete the degree as a thesis program, you will complete a project and a thesis in your area of focus.
Master of Education in Special Education, Early Childhood
The credit hour requirement is the same for this master’s degree. You can specialize it to teaching children with disabilities and special needs from birth to age six. The degree leads to the credential Learning Behavior Specialist II. Most of the program is offered in the traditional format, but some classes can be taken as hybrids or online. Students earning this degree can take up to five electives and have many research opportunities.
Accreditations
• North Central Association, Higher Learning Commission
• American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
College of Education
Northern Illinois University
1425 West Lincoln Highway,
DeKalb, Illinois
60115
cdonohue@niu.edu
http://www.cedu.niu.edu/seed/academic-programs/index.shtml
Olivet Nazarene University
School of Education
This Christian liberal arts school was founded in 1907 as a Wesleyan grammar school. It was chartered as an Illinois Holiness College in 1909, and it became a university in 1915. The school assumed its current name in 1986. There are 4900 students in the student body of which 2900 are undergraduates. U.S. News and World Reports ranks this university as #49 of Regional Universities Midwest, #29 of Best Schools for Veterans and #7 of Best Value Schools. Olivet has an impressive 51 percent four-year graduation rate. The School of Education integrates the “call to teach” with spiritual values. There are more than 100 areas of study available to undergraduate students, graduate students and those in doctoral studies.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
The learning outcome of this degree is that students will have a “knowledge of the historical development” of education theory, of subject matter and of integration of technology, and that they will obtain other skills fundamental to teaching. Students will take general education courses and other classes necessary for the discipline before applying to the School of Education at the end of their sophomore year. There are 128 hours in the program as well as student teaching requirements. Because this is a faith-based institution, there are required Christian living courses.
Accreditations
• North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
School of Education
Olivet Nazarene University
One University Avenue
Bourbonnais, IL, 60914
815-030-5232
www.olivet.edu
http://www.olivet.edu/academics/early-childhood-education/
Roosevelt University
School of Education
Roosevelt University was founded in 1945 as a coeducational private university. It is named for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The curriculum is based on ideas of social justice. There are 7,000 students enrolled in the university. Wabash Building is the tallest education building in Chicago. U.S. News and World Report ranks Roosevelt as # 115 of regional Universities Midwest. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. The School of Education stresses social justice, cultural diversity and tolerance. It advocates non-biases curriculum starting in early childhood.
Bachelors in Early Childhood (BA)
This is an interdisciplinary degree program. Graduates earn their Illinois teaching certificate with an early childhood education and an early childhood special education endorsement. Students take general education and other introductory courses, but after admission to the School of Education there are 94 credit hours in the program for a total of 120 hours. The degree requires field and clinical experiences as well as student teaching. Students must take courses leading to licensure and 18 credit hours of bilingual and ESL courses.
Masters in Early Childhood Education
Built into this degree program are courses that satisfy the educational component of the Illinois Teaching License. Students then add electives that lead to an Early Childhood Special Education endorsement. Because of the licensure courses, this 39-credit-hour program is ideal for students with a baccalaureate degree in a discipline other than education who wish to teach young children. The degree requires placement in two student-teaching areas and graduates will have a minimum of 120 clock hours in pre-student teaching experience.
Accreditation
• North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission
• Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
School of Education
Roosevelt University
430 South Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL
60605
847-619-8470
lfirsel@roosevelt.edu
http://catalog.roosevelt.edu/undergraduate/education/early-childhood/
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
College of Education and Human Services
SIU was founded in 1869 as the Southern Illinois Normal School. The teacher’s college became a university in 1948. It is now classified as a research university which means that a significant portion of its budget is spent on research. The university offers more than 300 degree programs through ten schools. Southern Illinois University is ranked as #214 of National Universities in the U.S. News and World Report listing. There are 14,779 full-time students enrolled at the university, and the student-t0-faculty ratio is 15:1.
Bachelors in Early Childhood
This degree can be earned in two tracks. The Child and Family track is for those who want to work with young children and their families in child care centers, in agencies and in Head Start programs. There are 120 credit hours in this program track. It includes a semester-long student teaching experience in childcare or in agency settings. The second track is a Preschool-Primary degree program. It is intended for students who want to work in school settings teaching children from birth to eight years of age and also prepares the student to work with preschoolers who have disabilities. The program contains 128 credit hours. It includes “methods” courses in curriculum and instruction and three courses in special education. There is an eight-week student teaching placement at a child care facility and another at a preschool.
Accreditations
• North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission
• Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Contact
College of Education and Human Services
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
1220 Douglas Drive
Carbondale, IL
62901
618-650-3940
SEHHB-advising@siuc.edu
http://ehs.siu.edu/ci/undergraduate/early-childhood/
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
School of Education, Health and Human Behavior
This university was founded in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. It is one of the largest universities by land area in the country. It is designated as a Master’s University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning. SIUE awards degrees through eight colleges and schools. There are 11,781 undergraduates in the student body, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 20:1. The U.S. News and World Report Ranking for the university is #63 of Regional Universities Midwest. The university houses a full-day, year-round child care facility which operates in conjunction with the education department.
Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education
This degree, in the department of Teaching and Learning, can be earned full or part-time. It prepares students to work with children from birth to third grade. Students can also participate in the EChOS program. This is a part-time program that allows students to learn on-site in a preschool or a preschool, K-2 setting. The degree can be earned in a licensure or non-license track. The spring semester of the fourth year students in the licensure track student teach while those in the non-license track complete a capstone project. The program contains 120 hours of general education, core and concentration courses including classes like Math for Elementary Teachers, Digital Learning and Communication for Educators and Reasoning and Argumentation.
Accreditations
• North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission
• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
• National Academy of Early Childhood programs (NACEP)
Contact
School of Education, Health and Human Behavior
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
State Route 157
Edwardsville, IL
62026
618-650-2223
mcarlto@siue.edu
http://www.siue.edu/education/ci/undergrad/earlychildhood/index.shtml
Western Illinois University
College of Education and Human Services
This university began in 1899 as the Western Illinois State Normal School to educate and prepare teachers. It became Western Illinois University in July, 1957. The U.S. News and World Report ranks WIU as # 49 of Regional Universities Midwest. There are more than 9,000 undergraduates enrolled at the school, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1. The university awards 65 baccalaureate degrees, 19 post-baccalaureate degrees, 37 master’s degrees and two doctorates. The faculty contains 600 members.
B.S. Ed. in Early Childhood Education
This degree program leads to licensure in Illinois to teach students in “self-contained” kindergartens through ninth grade. Students take courses to add an early childhood education endorsement to work with children from birth through grade three. The 131-credit hour program contains general education courses, elective courses in the major, pre-primary curriculum and individual content areas. During the freshman and sophomore years students observe classrooms. In the senior year there is a 16-week student teaching requirement.
M.S. Ed. In Early Childhood Education
This 30-credit hour program includes twelve hours of core requirements including Methods of Research, Early Childhood Assessment, Curriculum in Early Childhood Education and a seminar in Early Childhood Education. A capstone project is also required. There are also twelve credit-hours in the area of specialization which must be selected with an advisor’s approval. The program adds six hours of electives. It does not lead to licensure.
Accreditations
• North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission
• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
• National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Contact
College of Education and Human Services
Western Illinois University
Sherman Hall
One University Circle
Macomb, IL
61455
309-298-1961
C-I@wiu.edu
http://www.wiu.edu/coehs/curriculum_and_instruction/prospective_students/early_childhood.php
If you are interested in getting your degree in early childhood education in Illinois, you are in luck. There are many accredited education degree programs in Illinois.
