Early Childhood Education, BAE

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 2.7 while enrolled in the education program. Should a student fall below a 2.7 GPA, the program's faculty will review the student's eligibility to continue moving forward in the licensure program.

EDUC 202CHILD & ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING AND MOTIVATION3
SPED 219EXCEPT CHILDREN & YOUTH3
ECHD 210CHILD, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION3
ECHD 303IND. COACH & FIELD EXP. 11
ECHD 305ASSESSMENT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION3
EDUC 321INTERGR, HLTH, ARTS & PE CURR3
ECHD 328IND. COACH & FIELD EXP 21
ECHD 334LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT3
ECHD 336STRATEGIES AND MATERIALS FOR TEACHING EMERGENT LITERACY AND SOCIAL STUDIES: PRE-K3
ECHD 338EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT: PRESCHOOL3
ECHD 339MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION3
ECHD 348INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING AND FIELD EXPERIENCES 31
ECHD 370INFANT AND TODDLER: TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT3
Total Credit Hours33

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 through the traditional pathway 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 or 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.

READ 320METHODS OF TEACHING READING IN K-8 EDUCATION3
ELED 341METHODS OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE IN K - 8 EDUCATION3
ECHD 374STUDENT TEACHING AND SEMINAR IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION12
ECHD 382EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION METHODS3
Total Credit Hours21

CONCENTRATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER LICENSURE (BIRTH-GRADE 2, CPS AA to BA Teacher Residency Program)

Students who complete the Early Childhood Teacher Licensure concentration through the CPS AA to BA Teacher Residency 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. To enroll in this concentration, students must apply and earn approval from Roosevelt University and the Chicago Public Schools. The program provides current employees of the Chicago Public Schools with a unique opportunity to earn teacher licensure and a BA degree in Early Childhood Education while completing a full year student teaching experience.

Students in the concentration are exempted from the following course requirements: ECHD 303, 328, and 348. However, all other required courses, plus the ones listed below, must be passed with grades of C- or higher. Student teaching (Teacher Residency 1 and 2) must be passed with a minimum C or higher.

READ 320METHODS OF TEACHING READING IN K-8 EDUCATION3
ELED 341METHODS OF TEACHING MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE IN K - 8 EDUCATION3
ECHD 376TEACHER RESIDENCY 16
ECHD 377TEACHER RESIDENCY 29
ECHD 382EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION METHODS3
Total Credit Hours24

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.

EDUC 310ANTI-BIAS & MULTICULTURAL CURR3
ECHD 375PRACTICUM: INFANT, TODDLER, AND PRESCHOOL6
EDUC 380CAPSTONE: CHILD & YOUTH ISSUES AND ADVOCACY3
Total Credit Hours12

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 of "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 Department 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 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

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.

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 2.7 GPA in all undergraduate courses. All courses must be passed with grades of C- or higher. 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).

CORE Requirements (General Education)
First Year Success Course or Transfer Success Course
FYS 101FIRST YEAR SUCCESS COURSE1
or TRS 101 TRANSFER SUCCESS 101
Communication Requirement
ENG 101COMPOSITION I: CRITICAL READING & WRITING3
ENG 102COMPOSITION II: INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH3
EDUC 101BECOMING A SJ EDUCATOR3
Ideas Across Disciplines
EDUC 201LANGUAGE & CULTURE IN EDUCATION3
Humanities and Fine and Performing Arts
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Art History, English (excluding ENG 101 and ENG 102), History, Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theatre, Communication and Women's and Gender Studies9
Social Science
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies9
Mathematics
MATH 105FOUNDATIONS OF ARITHMETIC3
MATH 110QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (or higher )3
Experiential Learning
6 credits from coursework categorized as Experiential Learning6
Natural Science
One biological science and one physical science required (one must include a one credit lab).7-8
Total Credit Hours50-51

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 Hours
FYS 1011ENG 1023
ENG 1013EDUC 2013,53
EDUC 1013MATH 110 (or higher )3
BIOL 111 or 11274Humanities Elective 3
MATH 1053Humanities Elective 3
Social Science elective3 
 17 15
Year 2
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
EDUC 2023PHSC 101 or 1033
General Elective/Endorsement Course 63SPED 21943
General Elective/Endorsement Course 63DLED 3743
Humanities Elective3General Elective/Endorsement Course63
Social Science elective3Social Science Elective13
 15 15
Year 3
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
ECHD 3031ECHD 3281
ECHD 3343ECHD 3053
ECHD 3383ECHD 3363
DLED 3583READ 3203
ECHD 3703ELED 3413
General Elective/Endorsement Course63DLED 3733
 16 16
Year 4
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
ECHD 3393ECHD 37412
ECHD 3481ECHD 3779
EDUC 3213 
ECHD 2103 
ECHD 3823 
DLED 3753 
ECHD 3766 
 22 21
Total Credit Hours 137
1

9sh hours of humanities are required 

2

9sh hours of social science are required 

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
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
FYS 1011ENG 1023
ENG 1013EDUC 2013
EDUC 1013MATH 1103
MATH 1053Humanities Elective 3
Natural Science Course4Humanities Elective 3
 14 15
Year 2
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
EDUC 2023SPED 2193
Social Science elective3General Elective3
Humanities Elective 3General Elective3
General Elective3Natural Science Course3
General Elective3Social Science elective3
 15 15
Year 3
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
ECHD 3031ECHD 3281
ECHD 3343ECHD 3053
ECHD 3383ECHD 3363
ECHD 3703General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
 16 16
Year 4
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
ECHD 3393ECHD 3756
ECHD 3481EDUC 3803
ECHD 2103General Elective3
EDUC 3103General Elective3
General Elective3 
General Elective3 
 16 15
Total Credit Hours 122
1

9sh of humanities are required.

2

9sh of social sciences are required.

3

Experiential Learning course.

4

Ideas course.

5

One Natural Science course must have a lab.

6

General elective may be courses in any content area. Students are encouraged to add a minor is English as a Second Language or any other area. Consult with your advisor for more information.