Students who have completed the necessary pre-program requirements at a community college might have enough transfer credits to join our online early childhood program even if they do not have associate degrees.
Early Childhood Education Transfer Student Cohort
This online Early Childhood Education cohort is specifically designed for transfer students from Illinois community colleges and will allow students to earn their early childhood education degrees and teacher licensure without attending classes on NIU's main campus.
Program Overview
- All required courses will be offered online, primarily as evening synchronous sessions.
- Full-time students can complete the program in 2.5 years.
- Program graduates will be licensed to teach preschool through second grade in Illinois schools. Graduates will also earn Bilingual/ESL approval and approval to teach special education at the preschool level to bolster their résumés.
- Students will complete two clinical experiences and one semester-long student teaching experience. These experiences will be in person, during the day, at a school district within 50 miles of NIU's main campus in DeKalb.
Admission Requirements
- Must be eligible for admission to NIU.
- Must be a transfer student from a community college in Illinois.
- Must have completed an associate degree OR must have completed enough Early Childhood Education pre-program courses to feasibly complete NIU's program in 2.5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our online option is designed to be completed in two-and-a-half years attending full time. Part-time options are best suited for our on-campus program.
While our online option is designed to be completed in two-and-a-half years and start in the spring, our traditional on-campus program starts in the fall and can be completed in two years with the appropriate transfer credit.
Yes. Clinicals and student teaching are required. While clinicals and student-teaching are in person at assigned placements, all classes will be online (either asynchronous or synchronous via platforms such as Zoom, Teams, etc.).
For students with extensive work experience in either primary grades (kindergarten through second grade) or preschool (ages 3 through 5), it might be possible to obtain a waiver for up to three (3) credit hours of early clinical coursework per experience pending approval of the department.
Yes. Students outside of the 60-mile radius are certainly welcome. Students who live outside our radius will need to discuss our placement process with our early childhood advisor and placement coordinator.
Need additional questions answered? Please contact Bethany Geiseman, our early childhood advisor, at bgeiseman@niu.edu.