Early Childhood Education

The program in early childhood education is interdisciplinary in scope and practical in orientation. Its purpose is to prepare individuals to become highly qualified, capable, and dedicated educators in preschool, kindergarten, primary grades, state Pre-K and Head Start programs. Students complete a variety of diverse field placements and student teaching in public schools and private agencies serving children from infancy through third grade. This program leads to a Type 04 teaching certificate and an Early Childhood Special Education Approval, enabling graduates to teach in educational settings, from birth through 3rd grade, in which children with special needs are integrated or included.

Requirements

Evidence of passing the Illinois Teacher Certification System Basic Skills Test is required before enrolling in professional education courses. Students need to maintain a minimum 2.7 out of 4.0 grade point average for all college work completed. All academic concentration courses require a grade of C or higher, and a minimum 3.0 grade point average overall in concentration courses and the academic major is required.

Field experiences

Field experiences in early childhood education involve urban and suburban placements and must include culturally diverse student populations. Experiences consist of involvement in pre-primary and primary settings, and involve teacher candidates in individual, small group, and whole class instruction, observation, and participation in community based activities.

Placement in student teaching is planned with consideration for each student’s needs and interests. Each student is supervised by a College of Education faculty member as well as a resident, experienced teacher. Formal application is required approximately two semesters in advance of student teaching. It is open only to those students who have successfully completed all the appropriate general education, methods, and field experience courses as well as other certification requirements such as the content test required by Illinois state regulations. No other course may be taken during student teaching. Details of other College policies with respect to field placements can be found on the College of Education website.

Students are advised that school districts require transcripts for all placement applicants. School districts may deny a placement if the student’s academic record does not meet their standards. School districts may also require an interview before accepting a student for a placement. If a student's application for placement is rejected three times due to academic or interview concerns, the Office of Field Placements will no longer attempt to obtain a placement and the student will be notified of the need for a Student Performance Review, per the guidelines listed on the College of Education website.

Student Teaching Requirements for Early Childhood Education

To be eligible to student teach, a student must:

1. Have completed all general education courses, all academic concentration courses, and the prerequisite professional education courses. No other course may be taken, nor may a student be employed, during student teaching.
2. Have passed the Illinois Certification Testing System Basic Skills Tests and the Early Childhood Content test. The Content test must be passed no later than the June test date prior to fall student teaching, or the October test date for spring student teaching.
3. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 overall.
4. Have applied for student teaching by the deadline set by the Field Placement Office.
5. Have provided official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended to document completion of all prerequisite requirements.

The appropriate APT test may be taken during student teaching, but a student cannot be recommended for certification until this test has been passed.

Certification Requirements

In order to qualify for Roosevelt University's recommendation for the early childhood teaching certificate (Type 04), students must meet all requirements, including general education course work, that are in effect at the time of their application for the certificate. Before issuing a certificate, the Illinois State Board of Education also requires satisfactory scores on the ICTS Basic Skills test, the Early Childhood subject matter test, and the Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT). Students must consult an education advisor to determine which courses (Roosevelt or transferred) are acceptable toward fulfillment of the Illinois requirements for certification. Because requirements for certification, 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 certification requirements.

General education courses in history may be applied toward either the humanities or the social science requirement, but not both. For purposes of meeting the University’s general education requirements, EDUC 303, EDUC210, EDUC321, and EDUC385 may be counted among the 80 semester hours outside the area of major concentration. The academic concentration in early childhood education consists of 18 hours of course work in one discipline, approved by the advisor. Nine semester hours in the area of concentration must be taken at the 300 level. The 18 semester hours in the area of concentration may not be used to meet general education requirements.

Standards

All academic concentration courses require a grade of C or higher, and a 3.0 grade point average overall in concentration courses is required.

Requirements

Courses in American history or history may be applied toward either the humanities or the social science requirement. Great Ideas I and II are required if students enter Roosevelt University with fewer than 30 semester hours. Two liberal studies (LIBS) courses are required if students enter Roosevelt with fewer than 90 hours. All students must complete LIBS 201 with a grade of C or higher.

For purposes of meeting the University’s general education requirements, EDUC 303, EDUC 210, EDUC 321, and EDUC 385, may be counted among the 80 semester hours outside the area of major concentration. The academic concentration in early childhood education consists of 18 hours of course work in one discipline, approved by the advisor. Nine semester hours in the area of concentration must be taken at the 300 level. The 18 semester hours in the area of concentration may not be used to meet general education requirements.