University of Illinois System

UIUC Programs

Early Childhood Professional Education (Licensure), Early Childhood Education, BS

Through an online program meeting virtually in the evenings, transfer students holding an IL Gateways level 4 credential and an associate degree in early childhood or similar field earn a bachelor's degree and an IL Professional Educator's License with an endorsement in early childhood education and a special education letter of approval for PreK.

Early Childhood Professional Education (Non-licensure), Early Childhood Education, BS

Through an online program meeting virtually in the evenings, transfer students holding an IL Gateways level 4 credential and an associate degree in early childhood or similar field earn a bachelor's degree and are eligible for the IL Gateways level 5 credential.

Early Childhood Education, BS

Through a traditional on-campus program, students earn a bachelor's degree and are prepared to apply for an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in early childhood education.

Early Childhood Education Plus Teaching Licensure, EdM

Through a traditional on-campus program, students earn a Master's degree and are prepared to apply for an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in early childhood education.

UIC Programs

BA in Urban Education

Through a traditional program students earn a bachelor's degree and an Illinois Professional Educator License with endorsements in elementary and early childhood education.

BA in Human Development and Learning

Through a hybrid program students earn a bachelor's degree and have options to earn Illinois Gateways credentials in Early Childhood, Infant Toddler, Family Support Specialist and Illinois Director.

M.Ed in Early Childhood Education

Through a hybrid program students earn a Master's degree and have options to earn an Illinois Professional Educator License with endorsements in early childhood and early childhood special education, Illinois Gateways credentials in Early Childhood and Illinois Director, and Illinois Early Intervention credential.

Alternative Licensure Program in Early Childhood

Through a Post-Baccalaureate program offered through UIC extended campus in partnership with the Chicago Early Childhood Workforce scholarship (CELWS) students earn an Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in early childhood.

Illinois Early Childhood Special Education

Through a non-degree, hybrid program offered through UIC extended campus students earn an Illinois early childhood special education approval on their Professional Educator Licensure in LBS1 or ECE and an Illinois Early Intervention credential.

Illinois Early Childhood Director

Through a non-degree, fully online program offered through UIC extended campus students earn an Illinois Gateways Director's credential.

Illinois Early Childhood ESL/Bilingual Approval

Not currently offering

Highlights/Succusses

Featured Successes

Early Childhood Education success stories.

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Early Childhood Education Programs

Do you enjoy working with young children? Have you considered becoming an early childhood educator or advancing your career in leadership roles within early childhood education? You may be a high school student drawn to working with young children or you may have already started your educational journey at a community college or training program. Whether you are looking to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree in an early childhood education field, obtain a professional educator license, or pursue a Gateways credential, we have programs to match your interests, suit your schedule, and advance your career.

The University of Illinois campuses at Urbana-Champaign and Chicago are collaborating to expand access to early childhood education (ECE) across the state of Illinois. Our two universities offer a wide array of early childhood programs for learners of all education levels, career aspirations, and geographic locations.

Answer the questions below to find out which programs are suited to your interests and career aspirations.

faq

ECE Questionnaire

Take the Early Childhood Education questionnaire.

Launch Questionnaire

Available scholarships

Professional Development Opportunities

a. Section Overview 
b. List of professional development opportunities and link out

Research Output

a. Section Overview 
b. TBD

Current ECE Policy

Highlight any state level policy related to ECE, link to the actual policy.

Career Opportunities

Description of different career opportunities and what credentials are needed for each (Cathy will find out if this already exists somewhere).

  1. This will cross link to section 2: programs will consist of the list of careers one can enter upon completion (consider accordions)
  2. This will also list careers along with programs required to enter each of the careers (consider accordions)
    1. Teacher’s Aid
      1. Programs needed to qualify
    2. Lead Teacher, etc…
      1. Programs needed to qualify