Early Childhood Education, B.A.

Note: This Program is subject to be changed due to a pending proposal.  Please watch for changes by June 1, 2025.

The College of Education and Human Development  offers an undergraduate major in Early Childhood Education that prepares future teachers for teaching children birth through age eight with three study track options: Option 1 (licensure), 2 (Director’s Credential, non-licensure) and 3 (licensure for the incumbent workforce).  Students in each option obtain a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Students in each option who successfully complete the program earn a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.  Students in Option 1 and 3 are eligible to apply for a teaching license, while students in Option 2 are not able to apply for a teaching license.Options 1 and 3 are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for recommendation of Initial Licensure in Early Childhood Birth - 2nd Grade by entitlement.  Students must meet other requirements for licensure as listed in the Licensure of Teacher and Other School Professionals section of the catalog. 

Option 1 and 2:  The baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education is offered for traditional candidates in a mostly face-to-face format.  Courses in option 1 and 2 are offered predictably in the daytime, evening, and online over a period of four fall/spring semesters and one summer, enabling candidates who wish to be employed part- or full-time until their final semester, which consists of full-time student teaching or practicum.  

Option 3:  An alternative pathway to the B.A. in Early Childhood Education and licensure is offered through our Incumbent Workforce Program for candidateds employed as teachers in a childcare center or as a paraprofessional in a school with which we have established a Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).  These agreements with partner school districts permit candidates to continue their work in schools during the day while completing evening/online/hybrid classes over a period of five fall/spring semesters and two summers.  Through the MOU, the school agrees to provide all required clinical experiences and supervision for their candidate.  This slower-paced program permits candidates to maintain the highest quality in their work as early childhood teachers or paraprofessionals , as well as in their course and clinical work toward Early Childhood licensure.  Individuals interested in this program should contact the program advisor.  

Degree and Certifications

Earned degree and certifications for each option are as follows:

Option 1 (licensure) and Option 3 (licensure for the incumbent workforce)

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education
• Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with endorsements:
  • Early Childhood Education (Birth to Grade 2)
  • ESL (K-12)
  • Early Childhood Special Education Approval
• Gateways to Opportunity credentials:
  • Early Childhood, Level 5  
  • Infant/Toddler, Level 3 

Option 2 - Director’s Credential (non-licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education
• Gateways to Opportunity credentials:
  • Early Childhood, Levels 1-5  
  • Infant/Toddler, Levels 1-3
  • Director, Level 1 

Program Requirements

All candidates in this program (Option 1, 2, and 3) must complete 49-52 hours of General Education coursework, 12 hours of Introductory coursework, 42 hours of Professional Education coursework, and 18 hours of Teacher Specialization coursework (ESL) to meet the 121 minimum credit hours for graduation. All options require over 300 hours of clinical experience in the field, in addition to student teaching or practicum.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Child Development and Learning in Context: At an 80% proficiency, early childhood educators will demonstrate the understanding of child development from birth to age 8, recognizing individual variations and the impact of relationships and contexts on learning, and will apply this knowledge to make informed, evidence-based decisions in their practice. 
2. Family-Teacher Partnerships and Community Connections: At an 80%proficiency, early childhood educators will demonstrate the capacity to develop respectful and reciprocal partnerships with families, valuing diversity and leveraging community resources to enhance young children’s learning and development while fostering connections between early learning settings and local organizations.
3. Child Observation, Documentation, and Assessment: At an 80% proficiency, early childhood educators will demonstrate the capacity to use observation and assessment tools ethically and appropriately to document each child’s development, inform instruction, and foster partnerships with families and colleagues, ensuring positive outcomes tailored to diverse needs and contexts.
4. Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically Appropriate Teaching Practices: At an 80% proficiency, early childhood educators will demonstrate the capacity to establish supportive relationships and utilize a diverse range of developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate teaching practices that are responsive to each child’s needs, ensuring inclusive and effective learning environments grounded in universal design principles.
5. Knowledge, Application, and Integration of Academic Content in the Early Childhood Curriculum: At an 80% proficiency, early childhood educators will demonstrate knowledge of academic disciplines and effective pedagogical methods, applying this understanding to design and evaluate engaging, age­appropriate curriculum experiences that foster meaningful learning and development for each child.
6. Professionalism as an Early Childhood Educator: At an 80% proficiency, early childhood educators will demonstrate the capacity to engage as informed advocates, using ethical guidelines and effective communication skills. They will demonstrate reflective practice and collaboration, fostering professional relationships with children, families, and colleagues while committing to continuous learning within the early childhood profession.

Admission to Teacher Education

After meeting the university admission requirements, students must meet the following additional requirements to become a candidate in the Early Childhood Education program:

• be admitted to Governors State University and be in good academic standing;
• present official transcripts showing a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate work attempted from a 2 or 4 year institution;
• must earn a grade of  at least a “C” in all general education courses used for program requirements;
• must earn a grade of at leaset a “B” or better in identified transferable teacher education courses. Identified courses must have been taken within six years of admission to GSU;
• recieve a positive recommendation from the Early Childhood Education faculty;

Degree Requirements:

Candidates must meet all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree, except candidates not part of the Early Childhood Consortium (Options 1 and 2) must complete the 49-52 hour General Education requirement for teacher licensure instead of the University General Education requirement.

Candidates must also:

• attain a GPA of 2.75 or better in all General Education coursework, earning a grade of at least a “C” in all courses;
• attain a GPA of 3.0 or better in all Professional Education coursework, earning a grade of at least a “B-” in all courses;
• attain a GPA of 3.0 or better in all Teaching Specialization (ESL) coursework, earning a grade of at least a “B-” in all courses;
• complete all course work at Governors State University within five calendar years;
• successfully complete all key assessments
• successfully complete all field experience hours and assessments 
• receive a positive rating on Summative Student Teaching Evaluation (or Practicum Evaluation for Option 2) with a grade of at least a B-
• Earn a passing score on the edTPA or CPast assessment (Option 1 and 3 only)
• complete and submit the GovState approved Criminal Background Check and trainings (FERPA, Mandated Reporting, Behavior Intervention/Conflict Resolution, and Emergency Response) prior to the initial field experience in the schools. Some assigned field site locations may, due to state licensing, require students to submit a brief physical exam, including a TB test, as well as a fingerprint background check;
• earn satisfactory scores on assessments of professional dispositions; demonstrate professional dispositions in all interactions with faculty/staff and students, as well as teachers and children in schools during field experiences
• be in good standing with the university and program
• maintain satisfactory candidate progress as defined in the Early Childhood Education Program Handbook;
• remain in positive progression via the Early Childhood Education Student Progress Committee

Student Progress

The program faculty members monitor and evaluate student progress continually. The section, Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals, in this catalog provides a general description of the standards used to evaluate student progress. A more detailed statement of the standards and processes followed by the Early Childhood Education faculty is available in the Undergraduate Early Childhood Education Student Handbook.

To continue in the program, candidates must earn a grade of “B” or better in ad coursework.  Candidates can be dismissed from the program for not earning a grade of “B” or better in all program coursework, as well as for dispositional and professionalism issues. 

The faculty may permit a candidate to continue conditionally. In such cases, faculty reviews of the candidate’s records and performance identifies evidence that the student is likely be successful in the program. The status of all students permitted to progress conditionally is reviewed by the appropriate professional (i.e. advisor, program coordinator, chair, other faculty, etc.) each semester, and the students are informed accordingly of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to good standing status. When conditions are met, the candidates are transferred to good standing status. Conditional continuation is an option for program decisions. Candidates neglecting to meet state requirements for teacher licensure are not eligible to progress conditionally. 

Admission to Student Teaching (Options 1 and 3) or Practicum (Option 2)

Before enrolling in student teaching or practicum, candidates must:

• Complete at least 49-52 hours of General Education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher (for courses taken at GSU) with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
• Complete all Professional Education course requirements with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, with a grade of “B” or better in each course
• Complete all coursework (BBED courses) in the Teaching Specialization (ESL) with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, with a grade of “B” or better in each course
• Complete and document a minimum of 100 clock-hours of pre-student teaching field experiences;
• Receive a positive recommendation from Early Childhood Education faculty.
• For Option 1 only: verify successful completion of the Early Childhood Content Area (107) Exam of the Illinois Certification Testing System

Option 1 candidates: A student teaching application certifying that the first six of these requirements have been met must be submitted to the Coordinator of Field Experiences by the provided deadline. Candidates should work with their Program Advisors in preparing this application.

Option 2 candidates: Finding a placement for practicum and either taking or registering for EDEC4820 must be completed the semester before starting practicum.

NOTE: Student teaching is not offered during the summer session. Practicum may or may not be offered during the summer session. 

Teacher Licensure Requirements - ISBE (Option 1 and 3)

In order to obtain a teaching license and any endorsements, candidates must complete the degree and program requirements listed. Candidates must also meet the requirements listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals section of this catalog. Candidates are responsible for submitting all documentation to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). To be recommended for licensure by Governors State University, candidates must:

• apply for licensure within 6 months of completing the program;
• complete and provide documentation for at least 300 hours of clinical field experiences (not including student teaching)
• complete and provide documentation for all Professional Education and Teaching Specialization (ESL) coursework with a grade of at least a “B-” in all program coursework, including EDEC 4999 Student Teaching;
• earn a passing score on the edTPA portfolio or C-Past evaluation;
• earn a passing score on the ILTS Early Childhood Content Area Exam, prior to student teaching