Early Childhood Education, BAE
Offered in: Chicago
The College of Education has six undergraduate programs: Early Childhood Education, Education and Youth Studies, Elementary Education, Middle School Education, Secondary Education and Special Education. The college also works jointly with the Chicago College of Performing Arts to deliver a program in Music Education. All of these programs, except Educational and Youth Studies, focus on teacher preparation.
The College of Education has a history of serving nontraditional and traditional undergraduate students and schedules, are designed to meet the needs of full-time and part-time students. All teacher preparation programs are offered at the Chicago campus and Harper University Center campus in Palatine.
Undergraduate programs within the College of Education prepare students to transform schools and communities in the pursuit of knowledge and social justice. Through the continuous evaluation and refinement of academic programs and courses, offerings are kept current and relevant to real-world contexts and professional standards of quality. Experienced, dedicated and culturally diverse faculty work collaboratively with students to foster knowledge and skills with respect to diverse learners, instruction, assessment and research. Talent and resources from a variety of disciplines are integrated and used, as are cutting edge technologies. All programs require a variety of field and clinical experiences that augment and integrate academic studies.
The program in Early Childhood Education is interdisciplinary in scope and practical in orientation. Its purpose is to prepare students to become highly qualified, capable, and dedicated educators in Head Start, childcare, and preschool programs, as well as kindergarten and primary grades. Students complete diverse field placements and clinical experiences in public schools and private agencies serving children from infancy through second grade. Students can choose from two concentrations. The first leads to a State of Illinois teaching license, with the early childhood endorsement and early childhood special education approval, and the Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 ECE Credential. The second concentration leads to the Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 ECE and Infant/Toddler Credentials. The bilingual/ESL minor is required to teacher licensure candidates, and is recommended to students completing the Level 5 ECE and Infant/Toddler Credentials. With careful planning, teacher licensure candidates can add on an additional endorsement in Elementary Education and Special Education (LBS1).
CPS AA to BA Teacher Residency Program
Roosevelt's CPS AA to BA Teacher Residency program was designed in collaboration with the Chicago Public Schools and is the only undergraduate teacher residency program available in the state of Illinois. The goal of the program is to provide paraprofessionals and teaching assistants working in the Chicago Public Schools with an affordable and high-quality pathway to a BA degree and teacher licensure.
In addition to meeting the requirements for admission, candidates must pass the ILTS Early Childhood Education content exam and successfully complete all required coursework. All required courses are delivered online and face to face at the Chicago campus while candidates are employed full-time with Chicago Public Schools.
Prerequisites
Two introductory courses (6 credit hours) are required of all undergraduate majors in the College of Education. These courses provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety of educational roles, careers and concepts. All courses must be passed with grades of C- or higher to advance into the major.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 101 | BECOMING A SJ EDUCATOR | 3 |
| EDUC 201 | LANGUAGE & CULTURE IN EDUCATION | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Requirements
Students may begin major core courses in the Early Childhood Education program so long as they have a minimum 2.7 GPA in all undergraduate courses.All methods courses must be passed with grades of C- or higher.
Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least a 2.7 while enrolled in the education program. Should a student fall below a 2.7 GPA, the College of Education program faculty will review the students eligibility to continue moving forward in the licensure program.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 202 | CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING AND MOTIVATION | 3 |
| SPED 219 | EXCEPT CHILDREN & YOUTH | 3 |
| ECHD 210 | CHILD, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | 3 |
| ECHD 303 | IND. COACH & FIELD EXP. 1 | 1 |
| ECHD 305 | ASSESSMENT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | 3 |
| EDUC 321 | INTERGR, HLTH, ARTS & PE CURR | 3 |
| ECHD 328 | IND. COACH & FIELD EXP 2 | 1 |
| ECHD 334 | LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| ECHD 336 | STRATEGIES AND MATERIALS FOR TEACHING EMERGENT LITERACY AND SOCIAL STUDIES: PRE-K | 3 |
| ECHD 338 | EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT: PRESCHOOL | 3 |
| ECHD 339 | MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | 3 |
| ECHD 348 | INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING AND FIELD EXPERIENCES 3 | 1 |
| ECHD 370 | INFANT AND TODDLER: TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 33 | |
concentrations
The Early Childhood Education major offers two concentrations: Early Childhood Teacher Licensure and Early Care and Education.
CONCENTRATION IN early childhood teacher licensure (BIRTH-grade 2)
Students who complete the Early Childhood Teacher Licensure concentration 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. Students in this concentration also must earn the bilingual/ESL minor and with teacher licensure will earn the Bilingual and/or ESL endorsement. With careful planning, students can add on an additional endorsement in Elementary Education and Special Education (LBS1).
All courses must be passed with grades of C- or higher. Student Teaching must be passed with a minimum C or higher.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| READ 320 | METHODS OF TEACHING READING IN K-8 EDUCATION | 3 |
| ELED 341 | METHODS OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE IN K - 8 EDUCATION | 3 |
| ECHD 374 | STUDENT TEACHING AND SEMINAR IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | 12 |
| ECHD 382 | EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION METHODS | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
CONCENTRATION in early care and education (birth-age 8)
Successful completion of the Early Care and Education concentration entitles students to the Level 5 ECE and Infant/Toddler Credentials, state recognized employment credentials that signal substantial training, education, and experience with children birth through age 8. No exams are required for this credential, but an application must be submitted to Gateways to Opportunity, a support system for Illinois early care and education professionals. The Level 5 Credentials are not a teaching license but may be used to obtain employment in childcare settings. The bilingual/ESL minor is recommended to students completing this concentration.All courses must be passed with grades of C- or higher. Students must have a minimum GPA of a 2.7.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 310 | ANTI-BIAS & MULTICULTURAL CURR | 3 |
| ECHD 375 | PRACTICUM: INFANT, TODDLER, AND PRESCHOOL | 6 |
| EDUC 380 | CAPSTONE: CHILD & YOUH ISSUES AND ADVOCACY | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Field Experience & Practicum/Student Teaching
Pedagogical and real-world training is at the center of undergraduate degree coursework. Consequently, all Early Childhood Education majors are required to enroll in one credit hour "individualized Coaching and Field Experiences" courses in each of three semesters prior to their practicum or 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 the practicum and student teaching experiences that culminate in the Early Childhood major and facilitate the awarding of an employment credential or license.
Placement in practicum/ 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 (licensure concentration only), and other College of Education student teaching requirements. Placements in sites with diverse student populations are required. Students must make formal application two semesters prior to the semester in which they plan to do their practicum/student teaching. Applicants are expected to be in good and 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.
Licensure requirements
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, undergraduates 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.
Student's 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 2.7 GPA in all undergraduate courses. All courses must be passed with grades of C- or higher. Please contact the College 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).
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Licensure Requirements | ||
| Communication Skills | ||
| ENG 101 | COMPOSITION I: CRITICAL READING & WRITING | 3 |
| ENG 102 | COMPOSITION II: INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH | 3 |
| EDUC 101 | BECOMING A SJ EDUCATOR | 3 |
| Ideas Across Disciplines | ||
| EDUC 201 | LANGUAGE & CULTURE IN EDUCATION | 3 |
| Humanities | ||
| HIST 106 | THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| or HIST 107 | THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1865 | |
| ART 101 | INTRODUCTION TO THE VISUAL ARTS | 3 |
| Additional 3 credit hours of humanities course elective | 3 | |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 105 | FOUNDATIONS OF ARITHMETIC | 3 |
| MATH 110 | QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (or higher ) | 3 |
| RU Mission - Related Courses | ||
| FYS 101 | FIRST YEAR SUCCESS COURSE | 1 |
| or TRS 101 | TRANSFER SUCCESS 101 | |
| Experiential Learning | ||
| 6 credits from coursework categorized as Experiential Learning | 6 | |
| Natural Science | ||
| BIOL 111 | HUMAN BIOLOGY | 1,3 |
| or BIOL 112 | ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY | |
| PHSC 101 | PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY I | 3 |
| or PHSC 103 | GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE | |
| Social Science | ||
| POS 101 | UNITED STATES POLITICS | 3 |
| ECON 101 | PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS I | 3 |
| Additional 3 credit hours of social science course elective | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 44-46 | |
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| FYS 101 | 1 | ENG 102 | 3 |
| ENG 101 | 3 | EDUC 2013,5 | 3 |
| EDUC 101 | 3 | HIST 106 or 1071 | 3 |
| POS 1012 | 3 | ART 1011 | 3 |
| BIOL 111 or 1127 | 4 | MATH 110 (or higher ) | 3 |
| MATH 105 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| EDUC 202 | 3 | PHSC 101 or 103 | 3 |
| ECON 1012 | 3 | SPED 2194 | 3 |
| General Elective/Endorsement Course 6 | 3 | DLED 374 | 3 |
| General Elective/Endorsement Course 6 | 3 | General Elective/Endorsement Course6 | 3 |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | Social Science Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| ECHD 303 | 1 | ECHD 328 | 1 |
| ECHD 334 | 3 | ECHD 305 | 3 |
| ECHD 338 | 3 | ECHD 336 | 3 |
| DLED 358 | 3 | READ 320 | 3 |
| ECHD 370 | 3 | ELED 341 | 3 |
| General Elective/Endorsement Course6 | 3 | DLED 373 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| ECHD 339 | 3 | ECHD 374 | 12 |
| ECHD 348 | 1 | EDUC 003 | 0 |
| EDUC 321 | 3 | ||
| ECHD 210 | 3 | ||
| ECHD 382 | 3 | ||
| DLED 375 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 12 | ||
| Total Credit Hours 122 | |||
- 1
Fulfills a humanities requirement.
- 2
Fulfills a social science requirement.
- 3
Fulfills ESL endorsement requirement.
- 4
Experiential Learning course.
- 5
Ideas course.
- 6
Endorsement requirements vary. Please consult with advisor for information. If general elective is taken, it may be in any discipline. General elective may not fulfill program requirements. Consult with advisor for information.
- 7
One Natural Science course must have a lab.
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours | ||
| READ 320 | 3 | ECHD 382 | 3 | ||
| SPED 219 | 3 | ELED 341 | 3 | ||
| EDUC 202 | 3 | ECHD 305 | 3 | ||
| 9 | 9 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Summer | Credit Hours | Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
| ECHD 339 | 3 | ECHD 374 | 6 | ECHD 374 | 9 |
| ECHD 336 | 3 | EDUC 321 | 3 | EDTPA | |
| ECHD 210 | 3 | ||||
| 9 | 9 | 9 | |||
| Total Credit Hours 45 | |||||
- 1
Fulfills a humanities requirement.
- 2
Fulfills a social science requirement.
- 3
Experiential Learning course.
- 4
Ideas course.
- 5
One Natural Science course must have a lab.
- 6
General elective may not fulfill program requirements. Consult with advisor for information.