Eastern Illinois University

School of Family and Consumer Sciences

Alternative Bachelor’s for Childcare Education Program

The Alternative Bachelor’s for Childcare Education (ABC) Program is designed to facilitate the graduation of non-traditional students by removing barriers of access to university classes. All classes are offered online or in the weekend format.

This program is designed to offer 60 hours of course work within the Family and Consumer Sciences curriculum for program participants entering ABC with an Associate of Science (AS) or an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Child Development or a closely related field. At the completion of the program, in which participants would have accumulated a minimum of 120 hours (the combined AS or AA degree credits and ABC credits), participants would receive a bachelor's degree from the Bachelors in General Studies (BGS) program and a certificate in FCS/Child Care Professional.

At the completion of the FCS ABC program, graduates will qualify as an Early Childhood Professional Level IV, as identified by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and qualify for the Illinois Director Credential (IDC), as identified by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (INCCRRA). As determined by NAEYC guidelines, graduates will complete a baccalaureate degree in which there was successful demonstration of the knowledge, performance, and dispositions of NAEYC expectations. The ABC program will significantly enhance the preparation for persons within the early childhood field, especially those in administrative positions.

Objectives of Early Childhood ABC

1. Provide bachelor's degree level education to child care providers. ABC is an alternative to elementary teacher certification by preparing professionals to work specifically in non-elementary school settings in the field of early childhood development and care.
   
   
2. Create a model partnership program, which can be duplicated in other communities in Illinois and across the nation.
   
   
3. Remove barriers to completing degree requirements by offering classes on an alternative schedule comprised of weekend and online classes.
   
   
4. Increase the population of non-traditional students at Eastern Illinois University (EIU).
   
   
5. Strengthen internal and external EIU partnerships.
   
   
6. Demonstrate proactive efforts to meet the challenges of community and regional outreach.
   
   
7. Establish a model for other campus Schools and Departments to enhance access.
   
   
8. Provide quality educational opportunities to a diverse and changing student population.
   
   
9. Provide a professional focus to enhance self-worth and employment opportunities.

Criteria for participation in ABC

1. Fulfill all requirements for admission to EIU.
   
   
2. Fulfill all requirements for participation in the BGS program.
   
   
3. Document completion of an AS or AA degree in Child Development or a related field OR completion of at least an associate’s degree in any field in combination with at least three years of documented compensated employment in the child care field.
   
   
4. Completion of course pre-requisites, if applicable.

For more Information Contact:

Dr. Mikki Meadows, Associate Professor
School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Eastern Illinois University
(217) 581-6349
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Or

Donna Coonce, ABC Program Director
School of Family and Consumer Sciences
Eastern Illinois University
(217) 581-6352
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fax: (217) 581-6090
www.eiu.edu