Program of Study
Early Childhood Education M.A.
Reading, Early Childhood Education, and Special Education
College of Education

Students must meet all requirements listed below along with successfully completing the Illinois Basic Skills test before their first semester in education and must be enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program upon completion of 6 semester hours. Admission requirements, including a 2.7 out of a 4.0 GPA, are listed in the Graduate Catalog.

General Education

Students must provide transcripts for credit evaluation by an early childhood advisor to determine courses that are acceptable toward fulfillment of the State of Illinois general education requirements.

Communication Skills

• Written Communication ENG 102 or Comp 2 or equivalent

Mathematics (must be above Math 100 – Intermediate Algebra) 3 semester hours

Science (must include one of each and one must be a lab course) 6/7 semester hours

• Biological Science
• Physical Science

Humanities 9 semester hours

• History, English, literature, foreign language, fine arts, linguistics, philosophy
• Students must take either U.S. History or American Government; semester hours may be counted in humanities or social science hours.

Social Sciences 9 semester hours

• Political science, economics, cultural geography, history, psychology, sociology
• Students must take either U.S. History or American Government; semester hours may be counted in humanities or social science hours.

Non-Western / 3rd World 3 semester hours

• Humanities or social Science course – Asia, Africa, Central / South America, or Native American; can also be counted in humanities or social science hours

 

Area of Academic Concentration 18 semester hours

• Additional study in one discipline approved by advisor, including a minimum of 9 semester hours of upper division course work

No grade below a C accepted in general education and area of concentration courses.

Evidence of passing scores on the Illinois Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) must be submitted before students may enroll in Professional Education coursework at Roosevelt University.

Professional Education Coursework

• EDUC 407 Topics and Issues in Human Development (3)
• SPED 419 Exceptional Children and Youth* (3)
• ECHD 405 Assessment in Early Childhood (3)
• ECHD 409 Child, Family and Community (3)
• ECHD 411 History & Philosophy of ECE (3)
• ECHD 433 Science, Math & Social Concepts in ECE* (3)
• ECHD 437 Literacy in ECE (Reading & Language Arts)* (6)
• ECHD 434 Language Development (3)
• ECHD 438 Early Childhood Curriculum* (3)
• EDUC 480 Inquiry in the Classroom (3)

*Each course requires 25 hours field experience in a preprimary or primary grade.

Evidence of passing scores on the Early Childhood Subject Matter Test must be submitted before students may register for Student Teaching. 

• ECHD 474 Student Teaching & Seminar in ECE: Preschool/ Kindergarten (4)
• ECHD 475 Student Teaching & Seminar in ECE: Primary Grades (4)

Evidence of passing scores on the Assessment of Professional Teaching test must be submitted before student is recommended for Type 04 IL Teacher Certification. 

Total  41 hours

*Each course requires 25 hours field experience in a preprimary or primary grade.

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES

• EDUC 485 Technology in the Classroom (3)
• ECHD 482 Early Childhood Special Education Methods** (3)

**Requires 20 hours of field experience in a preprimary setting including children with special needs.

Certification

In order to qualify for Roosevelt University / College of Education’s recommendation for the Early Childhood Teaching certificate (Type 04), students must meet all general and professional requirements in effect at the time of their application. Students must also complete 100 hours of field experience as a condition of being admitted to student teaching. Before issuing a certificate, the Illinois State Board of Education also requires satisfactory scores on the Illinois Early Childhood Certification Test and the Assessment of Professional Teaching Test.

All programs subject to change – please see your advisor each semester.

Request Further Information

Call, write or e-mail today for more information about our BA program in early childhood education.

Lynne Firsel, Ed.D. Faculty 847-619-8470 lfirsel@roosevelt.edu

Renae Jacob , Ed.D. Visiting Faculty 312-853-4772 rjacob@roosevelt.edu