Early Childhood Education/ECE - IAI Major Course Recommendations
To teach children from birth through age 8, educators must obtain Illinois licensure in Early Childhood Education. Students planning to transfer into an approved bachelor's degree program as juniors should complete at least 60 semester credit hours (up to a maximum of 64 transferable credits). Because admission to these programs is often competitive, completion of the recommended coursework does not guarantee admission.
Many programs require applicants to demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics. ACT or SAT scores may satisfy this requirement at some institutions. Students should consult an advisor or transfer specialist to determine the admission requirements of their intended transfer institution.
Information regarding standards for Professional Preparation and Recruitment is available on the Illinois State Board of Education Web site.
Students pursuing either licensure or non-licensure pathways should work closely with their academic advisors to ensure they select the courses and experiences appropriate for their educational and career goals.
Note to Faculty and Course Submitters working with IAI Courses:
Before submitting to the IAI Early Childhood Education major panel, please review the panel criteria and other important documents which are available at
Early Childhood Education IAI Major Recommendations
Professional Early Childhood Education Core Courses (9 semester credits)
ECE 912 - Child Growth and Development (3 semester credits)
ECE 913 - The Exceptional Child (3 semester credits)
ECE 915 - Child, Family, and Community (3 semester credits)
Once you have selected a transfer institution, it is important to consult with an academic advisor as early as possible. Doing so will help ensure that you are taking the appropriate courses to meet major and licensure requirements. Because licensure requirements can change, advisors and transfer specialists are the best source of current information and guidance.
General Education Recommendations (37-41 semester credits traditional non licensure)
These are the specific courses in the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC) that should be taken for this emphasis.
Important Note on General Education Recommendations: The courses recommended below exceed the minimum general education requirements for an Associate in Arts (A.A.) or Associate in Science (A.S.) degree. These additional recommendations are intended to support completion of licensure requirements and preparation for transfer into teacher education programs. Depending on the receiving institution, some of these courses may be completed after transfer. Licensure recommendations are based on the Illinois State Board of Education's current educator preparation requirements and administrative rules.
Communication: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select a two-course sequence in writing (6 semester credits) with a grade of "C" or better and, Select 1 course in oral communication (3 semester credits).
Mathematics: 1 course (3 semester credits)
Required - M1903 - Mathematics for Elementary Teaching I and II.
One additional credit-bearing general education math course; College Algebra is recommended (Note: College Algebra is not an IAI general education course)
Physical and Life Sciences: 3 courses (9-12 semester credits) - at least 2 of the 3 courses should be labs
Choose: L1900/L - General Biology for non-majors or L1910L - General Biology for Majors - For Life Sciences
P1902/L - General Education Chemistry or P1900/L - General Education Physics and P1905/L - Earth Science or P1906/L - Introduction to Astronomy - For Physical Sciences
Humanities and Fine Arts: At least 4 courses (12 semester credits)
Recommended: Select 3 course from Humanities:
H3912 - Survey of British Literature I or H3913 - Survey of British Literature II and H3914 - Survey of American Literature I or H3915 - Survey of American II and H3906 - Western/World Literature in Translation I or H3907 - Western/World Literature in Translation II.
A non-western or global studies may be required. Select 1 course from Fine Arts: F2900 - Art Appreciation or F1900 - Music Appreciation. Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 4 courses (12 semester credits)
Required: S5900 - American/U.S. National Government and S2900 - United States History I or S2901 - United States History II
- Some institutions' history courses are classified as Humanities courses rather than Social Science courses. Check with your institution and advisor for classification. Corresponding Humanities codes for US History courses are: H2904 -US History I or H2905- U S History II
and S4901 - Geography of the Developed (or Western) World or S4902N - Geography of the Developing (or Non-Western) World or S4906 - World Geography and S3900 - Principles of Economics or S3901 - Principle of Macroeconomics or S3902 - Principles of Microeconomics.
Check the worksheet to see what courses you can take to fulfill your general education requirements. The worksheet allows you to see what courses to take to fulfill the IAI Gen. Ed. package (Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum) at any participating college or university in the State. You will find it helpful to use the major recommended general education courses shown above. You may want to print or copy a hard copy of this page.
Return to the Illinois Baccalaureate Majors' Recommendations (IAI Majors).