Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education program in the School of Teaching and Learning trains teacher candidates to instruct children ages birth through 7 (second grade) in introductory mathematics, language, science, and social studies.

Career paths for educators with this license are diverse. Course work will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and experience to be a parent-infant educator, special education preschool teacher, public school Pre-K teacher, child caregiver, or kindergarten through second grade teacher.

Program Features

• Multiple clinical experiences (more than 300 hours, including teacher institutes and parent-teacher conferences).
• A job market currently experiencing a shortage of teachers
• Appropriate and up-to-date technology skills embedded into methods courses.
• A variety of student teaching options, including on-campus, 16-week assignments throughout Illinois, and the year-long student teaching experience at one of ISU's Professional Development Schools (PDS).
• Diversity training in every course.
• ISU's excellent reputation in state school districts looking to fill hiring needs.
• There is an option to add bilingual and/or ESL endorsements to this program.