Social MediaEarly Childhood Education
At Dominican you’ll gain all the skills you need to be a confident and top-quality teacher, prepared to teach young children—including those with special needs. In addition to rigorous academic coursework, you’ll gain valuable field experience working with outstanding mentor teachers.
Dominican University is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education to prepare teachers for early childhood education. Graduates of this program earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and entitlement to a Type 04 early childhood teaching certificate.
Working with very young children (birth to third grade) is a rewarding and growing career field.
The early childhood teacher education program has three basic elements:
- general education competency studies ensuring that candidates have completed general studies courses and experiences in the liberal arts and sciences and have developed theoretical an practical knowledge;
- professional and pedagogical studies ensuring that candidates acquire and apply the professional and pedagogical knowledge and skills to become competent to work with all students;
- clinical and field experience ensuring that candidates learn to integrate general knowledge, academic content, and professional knowledge to create excellent learning experiences for all children.
Note: all Dominican students who wish to earn teacher certification must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program.
In your junior year, you will also have the option to take advantage of our combined BA or BS/Master of Science in Early Childhood Education degree program, which can be completed in six or fewer calendar years.Other Requirements
Field Experience - Dominican requires field experiences equivalent to 100 clock hours. These experiences, which are integrated into the curriculum, must be completed in a variety of appropriate settings.
This will provide the candidate with an exposure to different grade levels, teaching styles and subject areas. Candidates will also encounter students of diverse ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds, as well as students with exceptionalities.
Clinical Practice – You’ll apply educational theory during your senior year by focusing on clinical practice, formerly known as student teaching, in a variety of early childhood and elementary school settings.
