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Early Childhood Education - Associate in Applied Science (042)

(042) Associate in Applied Science

The Early Childhood Education program provides the academic background and practical experience for people interested in careers in education, including infant, preschool and school-age child care in early childhood centers, family child care homes, parent education, and early childhood program supervision. Coursework focuses on theory, research and program practice pertaining to children prenatal to early school age. Students will have the opportunity to observe and assess children's behaviors and to work directly with children in a supervised setting. This program provides a comprehensive course of study, including physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of young children, curriculum development, literature and language arts, creative activities for teaching art, music, math and science, behavior guidance, health and nutrition, and one supervised practicum experience. This program aligns to the AAS/Gateways ECE Level 4 certification.

Credential Program Description

Students enrolled in Early Childhood programs at Sauk Valley Community College will be eligible to complete credentials through Gateways to Opportunities state professional development system for ECE levels 2, 3 and 4. Benefits of this credentialing process increase a student's employability through ACCESS Illinois and makes students eligible for scholarship opportunities and wage differentials.

Work and Employment

The early childhood education program is designed to educate professionals for a diverse and challenging field. Employment opportunities for graduates of the early childhood education program are very positive, whether pursuing a career in a group day care preschool setting, or in family care.

Criminal History Check Policy

Illinois law requires Illinois school boards to conduct a criminal background investigation on applicants for employment. This law also prohibits the employment of a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit any one or more of a number of offenses. At present, offenses include first degree murder; any Class X felony; juvenile pimping; soliciting for a juvenile prostitute; exploitation of a child; obscenity; child pornography; harmful material; criminal sexual assault; aggravated criminal sexual assault; offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act; and crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. Employment must be denied whether the offenses and/or conviction occurred inside or outside the state of Illinois.

All students entering the initial observation course must first submit to a criminal background check (CBC). You will be notified by the College of the fees, date, time and location of the finger printing process. In addition, students listed on the Illinois Sex Offenders Registry, Illinois Violent Offender Against Youth Registry and the National Sex Offenders Registry will be denied entrance into these programs.

If any of the above returns with an incident "hit", you will be notified and need to see a designated counselor who will review your results and review how it might affect your ability to participate in these programs. An adverse decision may be appealed through the institutional academic appeal process.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College
Academic Advising, 815/835-6354;
Janis Jones, Assistant Professor of Education, 815/835-6410.

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