College Credit Certificate in Early Child Educator

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Why Early Child Educator

The Early Childhood Educator Certificate is tailored to equip aspiring educators for roles in child care centers and preschools. By earning this certificate and completing a Gateways Level 2 credential, students can elevate their qualifications to a Gateways Level 3 credential. Furthermore, this program offers 9 extra credit hours towards an A.A.S. degree in Child Development or an A.A. transfer degree in Early Childhood Education. For those aiming to pursue the Early Childhood Educator certificate, it’s essential to first complete the Assistant Teacher Certificate. This certificate is a pivotal stepping stone towards a fulfilling career in early childhood education.

Locations

East Campus

Quad-Cities Campus

Formats

On-campus

Online

Number of Credits

Next Start Date

Any Time

Financial Aid Eligibility

Yes

Careers in Early Childhood Education

Courses in Early Childhood Educator

CRN	Course Name	Hrs.
ECE 100	Introduction to Early Childhood	3
ECE 200	Growth and Development of Young Child	3
ECE 201	Health, Safety and Nutrition	3
ECE 202	Observ/Assessment Y.C.	3
ECE 203	Curriculum for Early Childhood Programs	3
ECE 222	Child, Family, Community	3
ECE 224	Methods of Guiding Child Behavior	3
ENG 101	Composition I or	3
ENG 101C	Composition I	3
	Mathematics Elective*	3
PSYC 101	Introduction to Psychology or	3
SOC 101	Principles of Sociology	3

*It is recommended that students pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Education complete MATH 108.

Learning Objectives

Students who complete this program will be able to:

Analyze and apply the results of a standardized social-emotional-behavioral assessment to the classroom environments in ways that support heathy child development.
Demonstrate knowledge of the legal, ethical and contextual factors that early childhood educators should apply to their assessment practice.
Develop, implement, and evaluate a preschool lesson plan that incorporates evidence-based practices in content and delivery methods.
Apply the results of standardized early childhood assessment to understanding the developmental strengths and challenges of individual children.
Understand the role of early childhood educators in helping families access resources in the community.
Demonstrate knowledge and application of professionalism of early childhood education as indicated by image, behavior and dispositions expected of Early Childhood Educators.

Students must successfully document and meet all health and background checks required by academic programs and/or courses.