Early Childhood Education, MA

Requirements

 To be awarded the MA in Early Childhood Education, students must successfully complete a 48 semester hour program of study. Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least a 3.0 while enrolled in the education program. Should a student fall below a 3.0 GPA, the program's faculty will review the student's eligibility to continue moving forward in the licensure program.

Students, one semester prior to their student teaching, must submit proof of passing the appropriate Early Childhood Education content exam that meets the state's criterion.

Student Teaching must be passed with a minimum C or higher.

EDUC 402CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING AND MOTIVATION3
ECHD 403INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING AND FIELD EXPERIENCES 11
ECHD 405ASSESSMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION3
ECHD 410CHILD, FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION3
SPED 419EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN & YOUTH3
ELED 441METHODS OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL3
READ 420METHODS OF TEACHING READING IN K-8 EDUCATION3
EDUC 421INTEGRATED, HEALTH, ARTS, AND PE CURRICULUM3
ECHD 428INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING & FIELD EXPERIENCE 21
ECHD 434LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT3
ECHD 436STRATEGIES AND MATERIALS FOR TEACHING EMERGENT LITERACY & SOCIAL STUDIES: PRE-KINDERGARTEN3
ECHD 438EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM & ASSESSMENT: PRESCHOOL3
ECHD 439MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION3
ECHD 448IND. COACHING & FIELD EXP. 31
ECHD 470INFANT AND TODDLER CURRICULUM & ASSESSMENT: TEACHING & LEARNING3
ECHD 474STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION6
ECHD 482EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION METHODS3
Total Credit Hours48

Field Experience & Student Teaching

Pedagogical and real-world training is at the center of graduate degree coursework. Consequently, all Early Childhood Education majors are required to enroll in one credit hour of "Individualized Coaching and Field Experiences" courses in each of three semesters prior to student teaching. Each field experience course requires 50 hours in a classroom setting.

In their Individualized Coaching courses, students will complete the field experiences needed to develop professional knowledge, skills and dispositions in alignment with Roosevelt's social justice mission. As students progress from one individualized coaching course to another, they will take on tasks and responsibilities that are increasingly complex and challenging. These experiences will prepare students for success in  student teaching experiences that culminate in the Early Childhood major and the awarding of an Illinois Professional Educator License

Placement in student teaching sites is planned with consideration of professional standards and partnership schools and agencies. Pre-primary and Primary student teaching placements are open only to students who have successfully completed the appropriate general education and professional education courses and early childhood content test, and other Department of Education student teaching requirements. Placements in sites with diverse student populations are required. Students must submit a formal application two semesters prior to the semester in which they plan to do their student teaching. Applicants are expected to be in good academic standing and must provide evidence of competency with regard to professional dispositions, including the passage of a criminal background check. Students should consult regularly with their advisor about the specific requirements for licensure and student teaching in Illinois.

In addition to the requirements outlined in this academic catalog, students in Early Childhood Education program are obligated to become familiar with, and comply with, all requirements outlined in the Initial Licensure Field experience & Student Teaching Handbook in order to receive a passing grade for field experience and student teaching courses proceeding to licensure. Students enrolled in field experience and student teaching courses will receive the handbook from the Director of Field Placement.

Licensure requirements

Students who complete the Early Childhood program earn a State of Illinois Professional Education License, with an early childhood endorsement and early childhood special education approval, which will allow teaching special needs pre-kindergarten only.  With careful planning, students can add on an additional endorsement in Bilingual/ESL education, Elementary Education, and Special Education (LBS1).

In order to qualify for Roosevelt University’s recommendation for the Illinois teaching license and early childhood endorsement, students must meet all general education requirements that are in effect at the time of their application.

Students must consult with their education advisor to determine which general education courses are acceptable toward fulfillment of licensure requirements. Because requirements for licensure, graduation, and continuing enrollment are subject to change, graduate students must consult frequently with their education advisors. The advising plan developed at program admission provides the most up-to-date and authoritative information with respect to all program and licensure requirements.

Students, one semester prior to their student teaching, must submit proof of passing the Early Childhood Education content exam that meets the state's criterion and have a minimum 3.0 GPA in all graduate courses. All courses must be passed with grades of C  or higher and a minimum C or higher in Student Teaching. Please contact the Department of Education for more information regarding the Early Childhood Education content exam criteria.

Before issuing a license, the Illinois State Board of Education also requires satisfactory scores on the Educator Teacher Performance Assessment Portfolio (edTPA).

 Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.

Year 1
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit HoursSummerCredit Hours
EDUC 4023ECHD 4053SPED 4193
ECHD 4343ECHD 4363 
ECHD 4383READ 4203 
ECHD 4703ECHD 4281 
ECHD 4031ELED 4413 
 13 13 3
Year 2
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours 
ECHD 4393ECHD 4746 
ECHD 4823  
ECHD 4481  
EDUC 4213  
ECHD 4103  
 13 6 
Total Credit Hours 48