PREPARE FOR A CAREER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THROUGH OUR ACCELERATED ONLINE PATHWAY
The Accelerated Online Pathway is designed for working adults, including those who may already be in the early childhood field, as well as those preparing to enter the profession.
Courses are offered in an 8-week accelerated format and delivered online in the evening. Most major courses require students to attend scheduled, live online class meetings at a specified evening time each week. This pathway is not self-paced; students must be available to participate in real-time instruction, discussion, and collaborative learning. This format is intentionally structured to provide ongoing support from instructors while fostering a strong learning community with peers. Live class meetings allow students to engage with faculty, receive feedback, and build professional connections with classmates.
Students will gain experience in developing curricular adaptations and instructional strategies that are interdisciplinary, multicultural, inclusive, family-centered, and developmentally appropriate, and address the needs of young children across a range of characteristics and abilities, including emergent bi- and multilingual children and children with developmental delays and disabilities.
Upon graduation, students will be prepared to teach students from birth to Grade 2.
THREE ENDORSEMENTS THROUGH ONE PROGRAM
麻豆传媒高清 University’s program is one of the only early childhood degree programs in Illinois to offer all three endorsements within one major:
- Early Childhood Education 鈥� Regular education classrooms, birth through 2nd grade.
- Early Childhood Special Education 鈥� Special education classrooms, birth through 2nd grade.
- English as a Second Language 鈥� Classrooms with emergent bi- and multilingual children, Pre-K through grade 12.
- Optional: Bilingual Endorsement 鈥� Bilingual may add this endorsement through completion of one additional course and passing the appropriate ILTS Target Language Proficiency exam.
These endorsements are now required qualifications for teachers of preschool and primary children in many districts throughout the state of Illinois. Many schools and districts seek candidates with these three endorsements for teaching positions at lower grade levels.
2+2 PROGRAM OPTION
Through a unique partnership with Joliet Junior College (JJC), students may attend JJC for the first two years of the program and complete the final two years at 麻豆传媒高清 University. Upon completion of the program, students receive a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree from 麻豆传媒高清 University.
The Early Childhood Special Education with ESL Endorsement program is fully approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board and the Illinois State Board of Education.
SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS
- Mines-Quinlan Annual Scholarship
- TEACH Grant
Visit the Financial Aid for Educational Studies page for more information on education scholarships.
SAMPLE COURSES
- Child, Family, Culture and Community
- Beginning Linguistics and Development of Speech and Language in Early Childhood
- Child Growth and Development
- Early Reading and Writing Methodologies
- Instructional Methods in Early Childhood Inclusive Education
- Assessment of Diverse Learners
CAREER AREAS
- Public School Teacher in Regular Education, Inclusive Education or Special Education 鈥� Preschool, Kindergarten and Grades 1-2
- Child Care Center Director (with 1 class in Business Management)
- Head Start Personnel
- Social Services Agencies
- Home Visitation/Parent Education Programs
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Cumulative GPA of 2.75 (2.0 for those receiving the ECACE Scholarship)
WHY CHOOSE LEWIS?
- Small, personalized learning community for individualized attention to students’ educational needs
- Diverse professors who are experienced in childcare and early primary classrooms
- There are opportunities for job-embedded field experiences and student teaching
- Credit may be awarded for competencies developed through previous coursework or work experience
- 130 district partners + community based early childhood partners
For more information contact the Office of Admission at admission@lewisu.edu.
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