BA in Early Childhood Education in Peoria United States | Bradley University

Our early childhood education program equips you for Illinois' Professional Educator's License in Early Childhood Education, enabling you to teach children from infancy through second grade. The program incorporates both an English as a Second Language endorsement and Early Childhood Special Education Approval, granting you qualifications to instruct English learners and preschool children with special needs.

Fieldwork begins in your first year, with progressively advanced classroom experiences during sophomore and junior years, culminating in a senior-year student teaching placement. Throughout this journey, Bradley's faculty and supervising teachers provide essential guidance.

Notably, Bradley pioneered the integration of ESL endorsements into early childhood, elementary, middle school, and special education degrees among Illinois universities. This distinctive feature increases your marketability as English Language Learners represent Illinois' most rapidly expanding student population.

The Department of Education, Counseling, and Leadership maintains accreditation from the Illinois State Board of Education and membership in the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Furthermore, our early childhood education program has earned national recognition from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.