Enhance your career as an educator by completing this 15-credit-hour certificate program in Early Childhood Education—Family Child Care I. This certificate program provides family child care teachers with basic knowledge in family child care and early childhood care and education. Harper College is known for providing teachers with a high-quality education, and graduates of this program are routinely sought after by local employers.
You’ll take courses focused on areas such as child development; principles of early childhood curriculum; family child care management; and health, nutrition and safety. You’ll also get hands-on experience working with children under the direction of skilled educational professionals in the Harper College Early Childhood Laboratory School, an on-site preschool facility.
Credit earned for this certificate can be applied to the Early Childhood Education A.A.S. Degree—Family Child Care specialization at Harper College.
This 15 credit-hour curriculum will qualify students for the Illinois Family Child Care Credential - Level 2. Students will need to complete an IL Gateways application. This certificate program will provide a family child care teacher with basic knowledge in family child care and early childhood care and education.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECE 101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
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Description: Provides an overview of early childhood care and education, including the basic values, structure, organization and programming. Examination of the student’s personal qualities in relationship to expectations of the field. Directed observation in a variety of programs and settings. Six (6) hours of observation required. (NOTE: The program’s health requirements must be completed prior to observation.) Class Schedule: Fall 2023 |
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| ECE 102 | Child Development | 3 |
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Description: Provides a study of human development from conception through adolescence. Includes research methods and developmental theories. Address all major areas of development (physical, social, emotional and cognitive, language, and aesthetic) and the interaction among these areas. Also examines current research and major developmental theoretical points of view, including those of Piaget, Erikson, Vygotsky, Skinner, Gardner and others. Explores child development in the context of gender, family, culture, socio-economics, race, ethnicity, religion, and society. Emphasis is on the implication for early childhood professional practice. IAI ECE 912 Class Schedule: Fall 2023 |
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| ECE 115 | Principles of Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
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Description: Provides an overview of principles involved in planning, implementing and evaluating developmentally appropriate curriculum. Includes lesson plans, emerging curriculum, scheduling, room arrangement, materials and equipment; individual, small and large group activities; short and long term goals; and teacher’s roles and responsibilities in curriculum development. Three (3) hours of observation required. Prerequisite: Prior or concurrent enrollment in ECE 102 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2023 |
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| ECE 140 | Family Child Care Management | 3 |
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Description: Provides guidelines and responsibilities in providing care in a Family Child Care setting for infants and young children. Ten (10) hours of observation in a family child care setting are required. Class Schedule: Fall 2023 |
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| ECE 250 | Health, Nutrition and Safety | 3 |
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Description: Focuses on personal health of the individual, including nutrition and health and safety issues, with emphasis on meeting health needs for children in group settings. A healthy lifestyle, preventive health and community health are examined. One (1) hour of observation is required. Class Schedule: Fall 2023 |
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Students interested in early childhood education may also be interested in:
For more information about teaching programs at Harper College, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.
Please note: This program is not financial aid eligible.
