Early Childhood Education Program | Kishwaukee College

Early childhood education provides the building blocks for social, emotional and behavioral development. Childcare centers rely on well-trained people to provide learning opportunities and care for young children. Children symbolize hope for the future. When parents work, they entrust their children with early childhood education professionals.

In our early childhood education program, you may:

Pursue a certificate in preparation for work as an assistant teacher
Discover more about the profession before committing to a program in education or early childhood education
Earn either the Gateways ECE Level 2 or Level 3 certification

Be a positive force in the lives of young children.

Degrees and Certificates

Early Childhood Education, A.A

Early Childhood Education, A.A.S.

Program Details

Early childhood educators and assistant teachers are found in several places, including childcare centers, preschools and special programs for children ages 6-weeks through 8 years old.
The National Career Clusters Framework created a tool to help you find a career that suits your interests and skills. Our early childhood education program is part of the Education & Training career cluster.

Coursework is taught by experienced, caring faculty.
Kish is a Gateway credentialed entitled college. Gateways credentials are symbols of professional achievement that show your knowledge, skills and experience in caring and educating for children. They are an individual achievement that you can be proud of. Credentials are awarded and recognized by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Bureau of Child Care and Development.

Earning a Gateways credential signifies to employers that you have received quality knowledge, skills and experience in taking care of children. It is a professional achievement to take pride in.
Our certificate program is an excellent way to get your foot in the door in the childcare industry and try out the profession before becoming an early childhood educator or pursuing other positions in the industry.

Students interested in pursuing a certificate are encouraged to speak with their academic advisor for course and career planning.

Contact Us

Alea AkersAcademic AdvisorP815-825-9537Eaakers1@kish.edu

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