Offered in: Chicago

The Early Childhood program is designed for students who wish to earn an Illinois Early Childhood Professional Educator Licensure (PEL) to work with children from birth through grade two.  The Illinois Early Childhood Teaching license requirements and the Early Childhood Special Education Approval are integrated within the program.  The program is ideal for students who do not have an undergraduate major in education but aspire to transform schools and classrooms to pursue social justice.

Students can add one or more of the following endorsements to their teaching license with careful planning: Bilingual/ESL education, Elementary education, Special education (LBS 1).  Please consult with a Department of Education advisor for more information.

Admission

Admission to the program requires a BA degree in any academic area with a grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale and at least 120 credit hours of undergraduate coursework from an accredited college or university.

At the time of admission, an advisor reviews transcripts and evaluates all coursework completed at other colleges or universities.  Advising plans are developed, and any deficiencies related to licensure requirements are noted.  If additional coursework is needed, the student's advisor will indicate it on an advising plan.  Students must confer with their assigned advisors before enrolling in the program and during each advising period to ensure that all requirements are being successfully completed.

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 must submit proof of passing the appropriate Early Childhood Education content exam that meets the state's criteria at least 1 semester prior to their student teaching.

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

Field Experience & Student Teaching

Pedagogical and real-world training are 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 25 hours in an infant/toddler classroom and 50 hours in each preschool and K-2nd-grade classroom.

In their Individualized Coaching courses, students will complete the field experiences required to develop professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions aligned with Roosevelt's social justice mission.  As students progress from one individualized coaching course to another, they will take on increasingly complex and challenging tasks and responsibilities. These experiences will prepare students for success in student teaching, culminating 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, 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 in professional dispositions, including the results 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 the 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 to receive a passing grade in field experience and student teaching courses and proceed 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 an additional endorsement in Bilingual/ESL education, Elementary Education, and Special Education (LBS1).

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 continued enrollment are subject to change, graduate students must consult their education advisors frequently.  The advising plan developed at program admission provides the most up-to-date and authoritative information on all program and licensure requirements.

Students must submit proof of passing the Early Childhood Education content exam that meets the state's criteria and have a minimum 3.0 GPA in all graduate courses at least 1 semester prior to their student teaching. All courses must be passed with a grade of C- or higher, and a minimum C or higher in Student Teaching is required for licensure.  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 Performance Assessment Portfolio.

 Your degree map is a general guide that suggests courses to complete each term along the academic pathway to your degree.  It is based on the most current scheduling information from your educational program.  Your program's degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (you retain the exact course requirements as long as you remain continuously enrolled in your degree program).

You can always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, since each student's academic plan can look slightly different.