Dominican University has a 75-year tradition of preparing superior teachers to work in public and non-public schools. Ninety-six percent of those completing Dominican’s professional education programs are employed as teachers during their first year after graduation. Most begin work toward an advanced degree in education within three years after completing their Dominican degree.

Early childhood education (birth through thirdgrade teaching) is a dynamic growth field in the teaching profession. In recent years, experts have identified the unique educational needs of young learners, and this has, in turn, led to the recognition of a certified profession in early childhood education.

With our highly respected School of Education and the Rose K. Goedert Center for Early Childhood Education, Dominican University is recognized in the field of early childhood education. The early childhood education major is comprised of structured coursework that emphasizes a strong theoretical and methodological foundation for teaching young children—including those with special needs. This demanding field of academic study and practical experience is designed to produce confident and top-quality teachers who are optimally prepared for rewarding careers in early childhood education.

Graduates of this program earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and entitlement to a Type 04 early childhood teaching certificate.

Program

Dominican University is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education to prepare teachers for early childhood education. Dominican’s early childhood education teacher certification program has two basic elements:

• General education requirements consisting of selected courses in the liberal arts and sciences curriculum;
• Professional education requirements which provide the content, skills and clinical experience needed for teaching.

The following courses all meet the teacher certification requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education. Some of the required courses for early childhood certification are:

• Introduction to Education and Practicum
• Child Growth and Development
• History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education
• Child, Family and Community Relations
• Methods of Teaching Reading for the Young Child
• Instructional Methods of Curriculum and Organization in the Early Childhood Classroom
• Techniques and Methodologies in the Early Childhood Classroom

Field Experience

Students in the Dominican University certification programs are required to have a minimum of 100 hours of field experience prior to clinical practice. As prospective teachers, candidates complete this requirement in the Rose K. Goedert Center and public and private schools where they observe examples of a variety of teaching styles. This field experience also gives candidates the opportunity to observe the learning process of pupils of diverse ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds.

Clinical Practice (Student Teaching)

To be certified to teach in Illinois, the prospective teacher must successfully complete a clinical practice experience. Clinical practice is a form of internship. Admission to clinical experience is determined by a candidate’s written application and other standards including a 2.75 grade point average in the candidate’s major and in overall coursework. The teacher candidate takes increasing responsibility for work with a group of learners under the guidance of a cooperating teacher and under the supervision of a university professor. Seminars are held in conjunction with clinical practice to provide further insights into classroom management, student evaluation and teaching techniques.

Illinois Certification Testing System Requirement

Each person seeking an early childhood education certificate must pass the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills and appropriate tests of early childhood education knowledge. Some of the requirements to be recommended for state certification are a 2.75 grade point average in the student’s major and in overall coursework and a positive evaluation of the clinical practice experience.

TEACH Program

Dominican University participates in the TEACH program. TEACH is a financial aid program sponsored by the State of Illinois specifically for early childhood educators to upgrade their professional skills and qualifications. Please contact Dominican University’s financial aid office for eligibility requirements and application materials.

About The School Of Education

Dominican University has been committed to the preparation of educators since its inception. The graduate programs began in 1981, and the combined undergraduate and graduate programs became the School of Education in 1992. The undergraduate program offers courses to prepare teachers for secondary and elementary schools as well as an early childhood major. The courses meet the certification requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education. Students who plan to teach in other states should consult the certification requirements for those states and should elect courses to meet the special requirements of those states.

Students transferring to Dominican University may complete their bachelor’s degrees and simultaneously earn their teaching certificates.

The determination of course equivalencies is done on an individual basis by the faculty of the School of Education in consultation with the registrar.