The Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) program offers a combination of classroom instruction and supervised, hands-on experience that will prepare you for direct entry into the early childhood education and care field. The program covers birth to eight years old.
Students can find work as an early childhood assistant teacher, lead teacher, assistant director, or director in a childcare center. Students who transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree and a Professional Educator License in Early Childhood Education are eligible to teach up to second grade in a school district. This also includes preschool programs within school districts.
Full-time students who follow the program map and stay on track can complete the ECEC program in two full years. There are other ECEC certificates that students can complete in a shorter period. Stackable certificates and Gateways Credentials are also offered.
Specialized courses are available for early childhood professionals, teachers, caregivers, parents and prospective parents who want to enhance their knowledge and expertise about early childhood and curriculum development. The program may also be a valuable course of study for students planning to work with young children in other disciplines such as education, health, social work and recreation.
Determine Your Path
Gain knowledge and skill that enables you to provide education and care for infants, toddlers, preschool-aged and school-aged children.
Attend a college that will prepare you for direct entry into your field of choice. At COD, you'll discover:
- Dedicated instructors with years of professional experience.
- Instruction utilizing our state-of-the-art facilities.
- Courses specifically aligned with the requirements needed for you to receive a variety of Gateways Credentials, which are awarded and recognized by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Child Care and Development as levels of professional achievement.
- Affordable classes to help you achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining your savings account.
- Small class sizes to ensure you receive personalized attention.
Watch a video to learn more about the Early Childhood Education and Care program.
Early Childhood Administration
The Early Childhood Administration Associate in Applied Science degree prepares students for employment in the management of early childhood and school-age programs.
Early Childhood Education and Care
The Early Childhood Education and Care Associate in Applied Science degree prepares students to enter the early childhood education and early childhood field.
Early Childhood Education and Care
Students who complete the Early Childhood Education and Care certificate will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to be an assistant teacher in a variety of early childhood programs.
Early Childhood Education and Care Advanced
Students pursuing the Early Childhood Education and Care certificate will enhance the knowledge, skills, and experiences acquired in the Early Childhood Education and Care Assistant Teacher Certificate to more effectively work with children from birth to age eight.
Early Childhood Center Administrator
Completion of the Early Childhood Education and Care Administrator certificate, with either an AAS Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) or completion of 64 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university.
Family Child Care Provider
Students choose the Family Child Care Provider certificate to gain specific knowledge and skills in this early childhood specialty.
Infant, Toddler and 2-Year-Old Child Care
Students choose the Infant, Toddler and Two-Year Old Child Care certificate to gain specific knowledge and skills in this early childhood specialty.
Multicultural Education and Care for the Young Child
Students choose the Multicultural Education and Care for the Young Child certificate to gain specific knowledge and skills working with diverse populations of children.
School-Age Child Care
Students choose the School-Age Child Care certificate to gain specific knowledge and skills in this early childhood specialty.
Scholarship Opportunities
As a result of the federally funded Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) scholarship program, administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), students who worked in child care or early childhood education can attend COD at no cost and earn a degree or credential in early childhood education.
ECACE scholarships are only available for undergraduate students for an academic year, including summer. After other financial aid is received, ECACE scholarships can cover up to the full cost of attendance including tuition, fees, books and supplies. Students interested in the ECACE scholarship program must complete a FAFSA application to be considered.
For more information on other scholarships, including scholarships offered by College of DuPage, visit cod.edu/scholarships.
COD Stories
"I passionately believe that all children are capable of learning when you focus on their abilities. COD provided me with a platform to be able to share this pedagogy with my peers, professors, mentors and the children who I was fortunate enough to have taught." - Jacqueline Bjes
Jacqueline's COD Story
Get Started Today
The first step to getting started in early childhood education and care is to apply for admission.
Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.
- Early Childhood Administration, Associate in Applied Science
- Early Childhood Education and Care, Associate in Applied Science
- Early Childhood Advanced Assistant Teacher, Certificate
- Early Childhood Assistant Teacher, Certificate
- Early Childhood Education and Care Administrator, Certificate
- Family Child Care Provider, Certificate
- Infant, Toddler and Two-Year Old Child Care, Certificate
- Multicultural Education and Care for the Young Child, Certificate
- School-Age Child Care, Certificate
Early Childhood Education and Care Associate in Applied Science program graduates will:
- Create healthy, respectful, supportive and challenging learning environments for children birth through age 8 based on understanding of child development and individual characteristics and needs.
- Explain how to involve families and communities in young children’s learning based on an understanding of diverse characteristics and engaging them in respectful, reciprocal relationships.
- Examine the goals, benefits and uses of a variety of formal and informal developmentally appropriate assessment tools that could be used in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence children’s development.
- Implement a variety of developmentally appropriate approaches, strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence children’s development and learning.
- Develop meaningful and challenging developmentally appropriate experiences in all content areas that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for each child.
- Demonstrate the multiple roles of an early childhood professional including, but not limited to: advocacy, adhering to professional code of conduct, professional dispositions, and reflective practice.
- Apply knowledge, skills and professional dispositions when observing and/or participating with young children in at least two of the three early childhood age groups (birth-3, 3-5, 5-8) and in a variety of childcare settings.
College of DuPage has several early childhood education and care transfer agreements in place with four-year colleges and universities to save you time, money and make the transfer process easier.
Many of these agreements with other colleges and universities have specific course requirements and a pre-determined course plan that needs to be followed to be eligible to transfer. Contact a program faculty member or academic advisor to learn more as course requirements vary by institution.
Career Information
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your frequently asked questions regarding the Early Childhood Education and Care program.
Do you enjoy working with children and adults? Do you have strong interpersonal skills as well as advanced verbal and written communication skills? Are you active, attentive, reliable, patient, organized, a good multi-tasker, a team player, and someone who considers themselves a lifelong learner? ECEC is a relationship-based field and requires daily interactions with children, their family members, and your colleagues. If this all sounds like you, then ECEC may be a good career choice to consider. We encourage you to also review the DCFS licensing standards for childcare centers, specifically Section 407.100, which outlines the general personnel requirements to work in a licensed childcare center.
ECEC courses require weekly reading and assignments that require research, reflection, and application of course content. Most ECEC courses also require weekly field observations outside of class time during the day. Students are responsible for finding and scheduling their own observations at a DCFS-licensed childcare center. Students may also have in class activities, lab experiences, partner and group work, presentations etc.
Yes. All students must have Reading Category 1 placement. Students are also highly encouraged to take English as Speech their first semester in addition to the Math placement test. Students are required to meet with Christine Jandak to discuss prerequisites for specific ECEC courses.
No. ECEC is not an online program. Most courses are offered in the evening, with only a few available online. Students should plan to attend face-to-face courses in the evening or late afternoon to complete the program.
Yes! We highly recommend that all ECEC students seek employment at a DCFS-licensed childcare center. This experience will help you develop your skills and connect classroom learning to practice. Approximately 80 percent of the ECEC students are working in childcare as they are completing their coursework.
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in ECEC is fully transferable to all in-state public universities, and a few private universities.
Students may also choose to pursue an Associate in Arts (AA) degree with an ECEC certificate.
Students who intend to transfer should schedule an appointment with Christine Jandak prior to their first semester to ensure they are taking the correct courses for the university they intend to transfer to.
Yes! The COD ECEC program offers stackable certificates and Gateways Credentials. By completing the ECEC AAS degree, you can earn up to a Gateways Early Childhood Credential Level 4. Students may also earn the Early Childhood Director Credential Level 1 by completing the AAS degree in Early Childhood Administration.
Begin by meeting with our ECEC program advisor, Christine Jandak. All students are required to meet with her. To schedule an appointment, please contact Counseling and Advising at (630) 942-3330.
