Frequently Asked Questions
Can I test out of any classes?
How do I become a qualified teacher?
Should I take classes in any particular order?
Can I transfer any ECEC classes?
Can I complete an ECEC degree/certificate if I work full time?
What is the difference between a degree and a certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care?Can I test out of any classes?
Students who have documented evidence of prior work experience in the field of early childhood education can take a competency test for ECEC 1100, Introduction to the Early Childhood Education Profession. In order to be eligible, the student must have at least three years of full-time employment (30 or more hours a week) or at least five years of part-time employment in the field. Students achieving a score of 80 percent or higher on the competency test will receive three semester credits by proficiency for ECEC 1100. Contact coordinator Diane Kubetz, (630) 942-2704, for more information.
Students who completed a child care or child development program in a high school, which has an articulated credit agreement with C.O.D., can receive credit for ECEC 1100, Introduction to the Early Childhood Education Profession. In order to receive articulated credit for ECEC 1100, a student should:
1. Have earned a grade of “B” or better in the high school child development course.
2. Apply for articulated credit within two years of the date of their high school graduation.
3. Send an official high school transcript to the C.O.D. Records office, SRC 2015.
4. File an application for articulated credit at the C.O.D. Records office.
How do I become a qualified teacher?
To be qualified as a teacher in a child care center or Early Childhood program, according to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Licensing Standards, a teacher should:
• Be at least 19 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate (GED).
• Have achieved 60 semester hours of college credits with six semester hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six;
OR
Have one year of child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and 30 semester hours of college credits with six semester hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six;
OR
Complete an approved credentialing program described in the DCFS Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers.
To be qualified as an early childhood education teacher in an Illinois public school, a teacher should: have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a Type 04 teaching certificate. The Type 04 certificate entitles a teacher to teach children from birth through third grade.
Should I take classes in any particular order?
ECEC 1100, Introduction to the Early Childhood Profession, and ECEC 1101, Growth and Development of the Young Child, are two classes that we recommend students complete at the beginning their coursework. ECEC 1100 and 1101 are prerequisites for other ECEC courses. The rest of the courses can be taken in any order. Students usually take ECEC 2220, Child Care Practicum, after they have completed their other ECEC program requirements and electives.
Can I transfer any ECEC classes?
At this point in time, transfer of Early Childhood Education and Care courses taken at C.O.D. to bachelor’s degree programs in child development or early childhood education, are reviewed on an individual school basis. Some schools will transfer College of DuPage ECEC courses as meeting their required courses and most schools will transfer College of DuPage ECEC classes as elective hours. A helpful web site for students who are interested in transferring is: www.itransfer.org.
Can I complete an ECEC degree/certificate if I work full time?
Many ECEC students work and go to school at the same time. We rotate the dates and times of many of our classes from semester to semester to accommodate working students’ schedules. Each semester, we offer daytime and evening sections of ECEC 1101, Growth and Development of the Young Child, and ECEC 1100, Introduction to the ECEC Profession. The two curriculum methods classes, ECEC 1130 and ECEC 1140, are only offered at night because they meet in demonstration center classrooms. If you are working full or part time, it may take you longer to complete a degree or certificate program. Please meet with an ECEC faculty adviser to plan your schedule.
What is the difference between a degree and a certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care?
The ECEC certificates provide students with education in a specific area of early childhood education, such as Early Childhood Center Administration, Early Childhood Education and Care, Family Child Care Provider, Infant/Toddler/Two-Year-Old Child Care, Multicultural Education and Care, and School-Age Child Care. Students complete a sequence of courses in each certificate. The number of courses and credit hours vary for each certificate. However, there is some overlap of courses between the certificates. As a result, it is feasible for students to complete more than one certificate. Please note that these certificates are not the same as public school teaching certificates.
The A.A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education and Care includes general education courses in curriculum areas such as communication, math, science, humanities, social and behavioral studies, and contemporary life skills or multicultural/global studies, as well as required and elective courses in Early Childhood Education. Some students start by completing their ECEC coursework and then take general education courses later, while other students take general education and ECEC courses together throughout the program. You are free to plan a schedule of the required general education and ECEC courses in any way that meets your needs.
Completing the degree usually takes two years for full-time students. The degree program may take longer if you are attending school on a part-time basis. Since the certificates vary in the number of credits, the amount of time to complete those requirements will also vary.
