The Early Childhood Education program includes four required field experience courses. These courses include student teaching placement hours that must be completed in person at a local early childhood setting during daytime hours. Students must complete:
- 54 hours in ECE: Field Experience 1
- 108 hours each in ECE: Field Experience 2, ECE: Field Experience 3, and ECE: Field Experience 4.
In addition to placement hours, students are required to participate in scheduled class contact time associated with each field experience.
Required Documentation for Field Experience Placement
The following documentation must be completed before students can be placed in a field experience:
- Submit the required Background Information Disclosure (BID) form.
- When scheduling a fingerprint background check, students must bring two forms of valid identification (such as a Social Security card, driver’s license or state-issued ID, or passport) to the appointment. The student is responsible for the fee associated with the fingerprint background check.
- Students must obtain an acceptable Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check. Information identified in the background check may affect a student’s ability to secure a field experience placement and obtain employment after graduation.
- Complete the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Staff Health Report no more than 12 months prior to admission.
Taking a course within the Child Care Services technical diploma or Early Childhood Education associate degree prior to completing and passing a criminal background check does not guarantee enrollment in any of the field experience courses or placement in the early childhood field required for program completion.