The Early Childhood Education degree program prepares students for Illinois Early Childhood licensure (birth through grade two). The Early Childhood Education program incorporates course work leading to an Early Childhood Special Education approval.

Admission Requirements:

Required:

• Illinois/Overall GPA of 2.75 or higher (3.0 or higher GPA is highly recommended)
• Two years of one language other than English in high school or through the second level course in college must be completed by desired term of entry. 
• Completion of Composition I requirement.
• Completion of a Quantitative Reasoning General Education course.

Highly Recommended: 

• EDUC 201
• EDUC 202
• EPSY 201

Students with the best essays and the best academic and professional qualifications, including any pertinent extracurricular activities will receive highest priority. One way to demonstrate interest is to have earned a grade of “B” or better in introductory courses EDUC 201, EDUC 202 and EPSY 201.  

Meeting the minimum GPA and the completion of prerequisite coursework does not guarantee admission into any major.

ISBE Grade Requirements

Students in teaching licensure programs must maintain a C- or better in ALL content and professional education coursework.

If you have completed a grade replacement or have a grade replacement in progress, you must scan and upload it into the Application.

After Admission

Students admitted at the junior into a teacher education program will be required to attend a mandatory meeting regarding the program and its requirements. Time, date, and location of the mandatory meeting will be provided in your admission letter.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign requires field placement in school districts as part of various educational curricula and certificate programs. Illinois school districts are required by state law to conduct criminal background checks for applicants for licensed and non-licensed positions with a school district. School districts are requiring that applicants for field placements be subjected to a criminal background check prior to placement in the school districts. Certain convictions are a bar to employment with a school district and are fully set out in the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/10-21.9, as amended. All convictions will be reviewed for compatibility with placement in a school district.

As part of this application, you will be required to consent to a criminal background check including submission of your fingerprints. Failure to consent to the background check will result in your not being able to complete a public school certification program and in the cancellation of any admission to the program. For further information on this requirement, call the Council on Teacher Education at (217) 333-2804.