Effective administrators are also effective educators.
The ECA experience provides directors with a deepened knowledge base in the areas of child development, early childhood curriculum, guidance and discipline, family systems, assessment, cultural diversity, and professional ethics upon which to build their management skills and competencies. In addition, students admitted to either the M.Ed. or C.A.S. program may work toward Level III of the Illinois Director Credential by entitlement. The ECA program has been structured to accommodate the active lifestyles and busy schedules of early childhood professionals. Students prepared to pursue an intensive course of study can complete their degree in approximately two years. Others may choose to stretch their graduate studies over a span of up to six years.