Refer to the following suggested curriculum and the graduation requirements as a guide for completing this program.
Associate in Applied Science Degree (0073) – Early Childhood Education
Course Requirements
First Year
First Semester
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECE | 110 | Intro to Early Childhood Education | 3 | Eligible for ENG 97 or higher. |
| ECE | 112 | Growth & Development of Children | 3 | Eligible for ENG 97 or higher. |
| ECE | 114 | Child Health Maintenance | 3 | Eligible for ENG 97 or higher. |
| ENG | 101 | Rhetoric & Composition I | 3-4 | Eligible for ENG 101 or concurrent with ENG 97. |
| SOC | 153 | Introductory Sociology | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credits | 15-16 | |||
Second Semester
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECE | 116 | Children with Special Needs | 3 | Eligible for ENG 101; ECE 110, ECE 112 |
| ECE | 121 | Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 | Eligible for ENG 101; ECE 110, ECE 112 |
| ECE | 250 | Child, Family and Community | 3 | Eligible for ENG 101; ECE 110, ECE 112 |
| PSYC | 151 | General Psychology | 3 | Eligible for ENG 101 or concurrent with ENG 97 |
| BUS MATH |
102 095 |
Business Mathematics OR Mathematical Literacy or higher |
3-4 | |
| Total Semester Credits | 15-16 | |||
Second Year
Third Semester
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECE | 125 | Early Childhood Administration | 3 | Eligible for ENG 101; ECE 110, ECE 112 |
| ECE | Elective | 3 | ||
| ENG | 102 | Rhetoric and Composition II | 3 | Completion of ENG 101 w/ “C” or better |
| HES | 151 | General Psychology | 3 | Eligible for ENG 101 or concurrent with ENG 97 |
| Lab Science Course | 4 | |||
| Humanities Course | 3 | |||
| Total Semester Credits | 19 | |||
Fourth Semester – APPLY FOR GRADUATION NOW
| Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECE | 118 | Early Childhood Practicum I | 3 | Department consent |
| CUL | 116 | Food Service Sanitation | 1 | |
| HES | 152 | First Aid-Medical Self Help* | 2 | |
| LIT/ED | 293 | Children’s Literature | 3 | Completion of ENG 101 w/ “C” or better |
| Technology Elective | 3 | |||
| Humanities Course | 3 | |||
| Any 100-level or higher course | 3 | |||
| Total Semester Credits | 18 | |||
| Total Program Credits | 66-68 |
*Students who hold current First-Aid and CPR certificates in the semester they plan to graduate can obtain a waiver out of HES 152 from the program coordinator. See coordinator for approved programs.
Do you have a CDA?
Students who hold a current Child Development Associate (CDA) credential are eligible to receive a total of 8 credit hours toward the following courses:
- ECE 101 – Foundations in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
- ECE 102 – Experiential Learning (3 credit hours)
- HES 152 – First Aid-Medical Self Help (2 credit hours)
To be eligible for CDA credit, students must:
- Hold a current, valid CDA credential.
- Possess a valid CPR and First Aid certification.
- Have an active SWIC student ID and be currently enrolled at Southwestern Illinois College.
To request CDA credit:
- Students must email ECE Program Coordinator Yvette Schultzfrom their official SWIC student email account.
- The email must include:
- Student’s full name and SWIC student ID number
- A copy of the current CDA certificate
- A copy of a valid CPR and First Aid certification
Once the documents have been reviewed and the credentials verified, eligible course credit will be applied to the student’s academic record.
Refer to the Online Course Catalog or Class Search link in eSTORM for a full course description.
For information on additional Early Childhood Education certifications, see the Early Childhood Education Certificates page.