Early Childhood Education Foundational Certificate (EFC)
2025-2026 Education Pathway
Certificate, Human Services & Emergency Response Pathways Division
Recommended Course Selection Sequence
| ECE100 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECE101 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
Student must select one specialty (Infant/Toddler or Preschool).
Infant/Toddler Specialty
| ECE104 | Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers | 3 |
| ECE208 | Infants and Toddlers at Risk | 3 |
| ECE242 | Field Placement and Seminar in Infant/Toddler Education | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Note: Effective Spring 2026,
ECE242 is worth 4 credits.
Preschool Specialty
| ECE105 | Using the Expressive Arts with Young Children | 3 |
| ECE103 | Supporting the Young Child's Physical and Behavioral Health | 3 |
| ECE245 | Field Placement & Seminar 1 in Early Childhood Education | 6 |
| OR | |
| ECE124 | Introduction to Child Development Associate (CDA) with Portfolio Development | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Note: Effective Spring 2026, ECE245 is worth 4 credits.
Program Notes
- Open admissions
- Stackable credential
- CORI/SORI check required
- Day or evening/online program
Additional Graduation Requirements
- Cumulative CLGPA at or above 2.0
- Submit your intent to graduate form at: www.northshore.edu/registrar
Campus Information
Advising Notes
- Students are encouraged to work with a faculty advisor.
- Courses are listed in the recommended order that you should take them.
- ECE245 - Field Placement 1 requires a student teaching placement in a preschool setting, four mornings a week, typically from 8:00 a..m - 12 noon.
- When planning to register for ECE245, contact the ECE Program Coordinator Heidi Ferrante (hferrant@northshore.edu) to make arrangements for your student teaching placement.
- All degree audits for graduation purposes will be based on the official program of study the student is enrolled in.
- Simultaneous awarding of Certificate and Degree policy: Certificates with coursework embedded in an Associate’s degree program will not be awarded in the same term as the degree.
Total Credit Hours: 16
Program Notes
- Open admissions
- Stackable credential
- CORI/SORI check required
- Day or evening/online program
Campus Information
Additional Graduation Requirements
- Mathematics proficiency required to graduate
- Cumulative CLGPA at or above 2.0
- Submit your intent to graduate form at: www.northshore.edu/registrar
Advising Notes
Students are encouraged to work with a faculty advisor.
Courses are listed in the recommended order that you should take them.
All degree audits for graduation purposes will be based off the official program of study the student is enrolled in.
Simultaneous awarding of Certificate and Degree policy: Certificates with coursework is embedded in an Associate’s degree program will not be awarded in the same term as the degree.