B.S. in Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education Program prepares candidates to work with children from birth through Grade 2. The program consists of general education and professional education courses that is designed to lead candidates through coursework arranged around the developmental stages of young children. These courses focus on the centrality of inquiry and play in children's learning. Completion of the program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and prepares candidates to obtain an Illinois Professional Educators License with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education, ESL and an Early Childhood Special Education Letter of Approval.

Program Highlights

Earn 3 educator credentials:

Birth to grade 2
ESL or bilingual education
Early childhood special education approval
Study an ISBE approved curriculum
Gain the ability to plan lessons, deliver instruction, assess students' progress
Learn from expert faculty members who are passionate about their students' success

Students will obtain:

Knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practice (DAP)
Indoor and outdoor activity ideas matched to early learning standards
Instructional strategies for literacy, numeracy, social sciences, science, the arts

Saint Xavier University provides a unique educational experience that can advance a student teacher's career. Some of these advantages include:

SXU's program curriculum is arranged around the developmental stages of young children.
All field experiences and student teaching placements are handled by the Education Division.
Field experience is divided by blocks (infant toddler, pre-K, and K-2 ) rather than attached to individual courses
Gain a full year of student teaching instead of one semester.

Program Requirements

For more information, please review the program requirements and course descriptions in the SXU Academic Catalog.

Request Information

Want to know more about undergraduate programs at Saint Xavier University? Please fill out the form below!

Loading...

Contact the Office of Admission

773-298-3050
Toll Free: 844-GOTO-SXU (844-468-6798)
Fax: 773-298-3076
Email: admissionFREESXU
M-F: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Engaged Learning

Early Childhood Education candidates will be concurrently enrolled in professional education coursework and field/practicum experiences designed to reinforce concepts and skills learned in the university classroom. The field/practicum experience blocks are designed to provide opportunities for candidates to apply course concepts in authentic environments. Required activities and assignments provide candidates with the opportunity to connect theory and practice, and prepare candidates for daily classroom responsibilities.

Early Childhood Education teacher candidates will study the foundations and methods of teaching literacy, mathematics, science and social sciences. Candidates will observe and participate in a wide range of in-classroom teaching experiences in order to develop the skills and confidence necessary to be an effective teacher. The Early Childhood Education student teaching/clinical practice experiences have been designed as a serious apprenticeship that requires teacher candidates to spend a one academic year inside schools working alongside veteran Early Childhood educators.