Thursday, January 9, 2025
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Online
Registration is not required but highly encouraged.
The early childhood education curriculum is designed to provide students with the requisite skills and theoretical knowledge to work in a variety of facilities for young children. The curriculum includes the cognitive areas of theory, history of child development, psychology and sociology as they relate to the developing child. Additionally, training will include practical areas of internships, and planning of developmentally appropriate activities.
South Suburban College is an Illinois Gateways to Opportunity entitled institution. The Early Childhood Education curriculum at South Suburban College meets the academic requirements to apply for the appropriate Illinois Gateways to Opportunities Early Childhood and Infant-Toddler credentials in the State of Illinois.
Early Childhood Education Prior Learning Assessment
If you have experience in Early Childhood Education and are pursuing the Early Childhood Basic Certificate (Gateways Level II credential) you may benefit from a Prior Learning Assessment opportunity through SSC and INCCRRA. Take a brief virtual assessment and engage in real-life scenarios with avatars that play the roles of people you encounter during a normal day at an early childhood care center, such as children, parents, co-teachers and center leaders.
This program provides the opportunity to earn up to 12 credit hours towards the certificate. Students must be enrolled and registered at SSC before signing up to take the PLA assessment. This program follows the college’s Educational/Competency Evaluation Program (ECEP). This assessment is currently being provided to our students at no cost due to our partnership with INCCRRA, Gateways and the Illinois Community College Board. Students will however be charged $8 per credit hour to post credit awarded as a result of the assessment.
English Video
Spanish Video
This program is designed to satisfy state requirements for positions as child care teacher/assistant, teacher aide and child care director. Because South Suburban College is an entitled institution, the courses in the certificate program can be used to meet Illinois Gateways ECE credentials – Levels II through IV.
- Students will be able to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging for all children, demonstrating understanding of child development theories.
- Students will be able to explain how to engage in respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower children and families.
- Students will be able to identify and utilize formal and informal assessment strategies to positively influence children’s development.
- Students will be able to implement a wide array of effective approaches, strategies, and tools to positively influence children’s development and learning.
- Students will be able to construct lesson plans to provide developmentally appropriate experiences.
- Students will be able to demonstrate ethical guidelines of the early childhood profession to maintain standards of professional conduct.
Early Childhood Education Degree (CHD.AAS)
NOTE: All students who intend to be an elementary or secondary school certified teacher must consult an advisor and plan their programs at South Suburban College very carefully to ensure that:
- they transfer without loss of credit to the senior institution of their choice.
- they fulfill the new General Education requirements for teacher certification by the State of Illinois.
- they fulfill the requirements for ECE AND ITC Level II Gateways credential.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHD 104 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| CHD 105 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CHD 108 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 |
| CHD 207 | Infant and Toddler Care | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Composition & Rhetoric | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Credits | |
| CHD 106 | Creative Activities for Young Child | 3 |
| CHD 208 | Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| CHD 202 Or EDU 111 |
Language Arts for Young Children Or Language Arts in Elementary Schools |
3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SPE 108 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| CHD 203 | The Exceptional Child | 3 |
| Semester 3 | Credits | |
| EDU 110 | Foundations of American Education | 3 |
| CHD 205 | Multicultural Education | 3 |
| CHD 204 | Introduction to Special Education | 3 |
| CHD 211 | Infant and Toddler Internship | 3 |
| MTH 103 Or MTH 145 |
Fundamentals of Mathematics Or Math Concepts & Structures |
3-4 |
| Semester 4 | Credits | |
| CHD 100 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 |
| CHD 209 | Guidance of the Young Child | 3 |
| CHD 210 | Observation & Assessment | 3 |
| CHD 212 | Early Childhood Internship | 3 |
| GROUP II | Humanities Elective (Students earning an Associate degree must meet the requirement for coursework on improving human relations as defined in Public Act 87-581.) | 3 |
| Minimum for Degree: | 63 | |
Early Childhood Education Level II (CHD.BASIC)
As an Illinois Gateways to Opportunity entitled institution, this 21 credit hour curriculum will qualify students for the Illinois Gateways ECE and ITC credentials – Level II. Students will need to complete an IL Gateways application. This certificate program will provide an assistant teacher in a licensed child care facility with basic knowledge in early childhood care and education.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHD 104 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| CHD 105 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CHD 108 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 |
| CHD 207 | Infant and Toddler Care | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Credits | |
| CHD 208 | Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| CHD 210 | Observation & Assessment | 3 |
| CHD 100 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 21 | |
Early Childhood Education Level III (CHD.CERT.ECEIII)
As an Illinois Gateways to Opportunity entitled institution, this 30 credit hour curriculum will qualify students for the Illinois Gateways ECE and ITC credentials – Level III. Students will need to complete an IL Gateways application. This certificate program will provide an assistant teacher in a licensed child care facility with basic knowledge in early childhood care and education.
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHD 104 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| CHD 105 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CHD 108 | Health, Safety & Nutrition | 3 |
| CHD 207 | Infant and Toddler Care | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Composition & Rhetoric | 3 |
| Semester 2 | Credits | |
| CHD 208 | Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| CHD 210 | Observation & Assessment | 3 |
| CHD 100 | Child, Family, & Community | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| MTH 103 Or MTH 145 |
Fundamentals of Mathematics Or Math Concepts & Structures |
3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30 | |
Professional Licensure
The Early Childhood Education curriculum at South Suburban College meets the academic requirements to apply for the appropriate Illinois Gateways to Opportunities Early Childhood and Infant-Toddler credentials in the State of Illinois. The program is intended to prepare students for licensure and employment in Early Childhood Education in the State of Illinois.
Inquiry Form
If you have questions about the Early Childhood Education Program at SSC that weren’t answered above, fill out this form and someone will get in touch with you.