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Early Childhood Education and Care Program

Sections:

Make a Difference in the Life of a Child

The faculty of the Early Childhood Education and Care academic program welcome you to College of DuPage.

The ECEC program offers a combination of classroom instruction and supervised, hands-on experience that prepares students for direct entry into the field of Early Childhood Education and Care in positions such as child care director, assistant director, preschool teacher, child care teacher, infant-toddler caregiver, Head Start teacher, elementary or special education aide, and before or after school teacher.

Specialized courses are also available for early childhood professionals, teachers, caregivers, parents and prospective parents who want to enhance their knowledge and expertise about early childhood and curriculum development. The program may also be a valuable course of study for students planning to work with young children in other disciplines such as education, health, social work and recreation.

Illinois Gateways to Opportunities Credentials

COD’s Early Childhood coursework has been specifically aligned with the requirements needed for our students to receive a variety of Gateways Credentials. Gateways Credentials are awarded and recognized by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Child Care and Development. These credentials symbolize different levels of professional achievement in the early childhood field.

As an entitled institution, we have designed our coursework to align with the different leveled Gateways Credentials. For you this means that successful completion of your ECEC Assistant Teacher Certificate, ECEC Advanced Assistant Teacher Certificate, or either ECEC Degree from COD makes you automatically eligible to apply for your Gateways Credentials. Additional information on Gateways to Opportunity and the benefits of obtaining your Gateways Credentials can be found at www.ilgateways.com