Concentrations
Childhood Nutrition (3 courses)
| Required Coursework for Concentration | Credits |
|---|---|
| SCI 330 Nutrition I: Prenatal through Age 5 | 4 |
| SCI 334 Nutrition II: Age 6 through Adolescence | 4 |
| SCI 336 Community Nutrition | 4 |
Three courses in Childhood Nutrition prepare students to not only have a positive impact on the lives of children by teaching them nutrition skills that can last a lifetime, but also to become ambassadors of good nutrition, raising awareness of the issue of childhood obesity, through public outreach.
English as a Second Language (ESL) (3 courses)
with Optional ESL or Bilingual Endorsement (2 additional courses)
| Required Coursework for Concentration | Credits |
|---|---|
| EDU 336 Theoretical Foundations of Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners | 5 |
| EDU 337 Assessing the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learner | 5 |
| EDU 338 Methods and Materials for Teaching Culturally and Linguistically | 5 |
*Illinois Type 04 Teacher Certification Preparation (post-baccalaureate) students must also complete EDU 260 Language Acquisition and Development (5 cr.).
This concentration provides a foundation for working with linguistically diverse students whose primary language is one other than English.
Optional ESL or Bilingual Endorsement
| Required Coursework for Concentration | Credits |
|---|---|
| EDU 426 Cross-Cultural Studies for Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners | 8 |
| EDU 427 Methods and Materials for Bilingual Students | 8 |
The student should contact the Illinois State Board of Education or Regional Office of Education to confirm if a particular endorsement can be added to the certification held by the student.
Infants and Toddlers (3 courses)
| Required Coursework for Concentration | Credits |
|---|---|
| EDU 305 Quality Programs for Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families | 4 |
| EDU 307 Infant, Family, and Cultural Studies | 4 |
| EDU 308 Infant Screening & Assessment | 4 |
These courses in the Infants and Toddlers concentration prepare teacher candidates to work with infants, toddlers and their families. Concentration curriculum plus additional coursework leads to a credential issued by Gateways to Opportunity for Level 2 or Level 5.
Students who are seeking Illinois Type 04 Certification and wish to become fully qualified to teach in an ESL or Bilingual classroom can pursue adding an ESL or Bilingual endorsement to their certificate. To accomplish this, ESL and Bilingual endorsement candidates are required to take two additional courses (EDU 426 and EDU 427), as well as those listed in the concentration. Bilingual endorsement candidates must also pass a language proficiency test through the Illinois Certification Testing System.
Special Education (3 courses)
| Required Coursework for Concentration | Credits |
|---|---|
| EDU 391 Teaching Young Children with Special Needs | 4 |
| EDU 393 Screening & Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs | 4 |
| EDU 394 Teaming, Collaborating, Communicating: Resources for Families | 4 |
Three courses in special education prepare students to work with children with special needs. For teacher candidates working toward Type 04 Certification, this concentration plus one additional course (EDU 260) meets the requirements for Special Education Approval.
