Field Experiences and Student Teaching
in Early Childhood Education
College of Education

Candidates for early childhood certification (Type 04) complete over 100 hours of field experiences plus two student teaching experiences.  These are required of both undergrad and graduate students; those pursuing a degree in early childhood professions need not participate in field experiences but are welcome to if they wish.

Field Experiences

Courses that include fieldwork hours are given below; they each involve 20 to 25 hours of field experience.

• ECHD 221/438 Introduction to Early Childhood Curriculum
• ECHD 337/437 Literacy in Early Childhood Education
• ECHD 333/433 Methods in Social Science, Mathematics, and Science
• ECHD 382/482 Early Childhood Special Education Methods
• SPED 319/419 Exceptional Children and Youth

With the exception of the SPED course, students sign up these field experiences by filling out an application, usually during the first class meeting. Instructors for SPED 319/419 will distribute information about this field experience at that time.

Student Teaching

Early childhood certification candidates complete two student teaching experiences. Usually this begins with eight weeks in a primary-grade classroom, followed by seven weeks in kindergarten or pre-K.  In order to student teacher, teacher candidates must have completed all course requirements and passed the content-area tests from the Illinois Certification Testing Program.

For more information, see Office of Field Placements and Partnerships or return to the program-area page.