Option I: Students Holding an Illinois Professional Educator License Endorsed in Elementary or Special Education
A student holding an Illinois professional educator license is not required to complete additional clinical hours in those areas in which they have previously had supervised experience. Field experiences are required of those without previous Pre-K through grade 3 experience. A practicum experience is required for those with a license, but who are lacking experience in teaching grades P-3. Students who have an Illinois professional educator license do not need to complete additional general education requirements.
Degree Requirements
Students must meet all university requirements for a Master of Arts degree. In addition, students:
- Must complete all course work on the student’s approved study plan.
- May apply a maximum of six hours of course credit earned from other accredited institutions or as a student-at-large toward the degree requirements, subject to approval by the coordinator of graduate studies.
- Must maintain a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, with a grade of “B” or better in EDUC6100 and either EDEC8810 or EDUC8820, and a grade of “C” or better in all other coursework, having no more than two core or professional courses with a grade of “C”.
- Must complete all course work, including transfer credits, within six calendar years.
- Must pass a written comprehensive examination.
Core Courses (18 Hours)
- EDUC 6100 Issues in Education (3)
- EDEC 7740 Issues and Methods for At Risk/Special Needs (3)
- EDUC 8114 Teacher as Researcher (3)
- EDEC 8810 History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education (3)
- EDEC 8820 Advanced Early Childhood Development (3)
- EDEC 8968 Culminating Experience (3)*
*Note: This experience consists of writing a thesis, completing a research project, preparing a portfolio, completing an internship, or other experience approved and supervised by a committee of three faculty members. Further information is available in the Graduate Early Childhood Education Student Handbook.
Additional Required Courses
Option I: 22-30 hours or 34-42 hours with student teaching, plus the 18 hour core.
- EDEC 4510 Beginning Reading and Writing Instruction (3)
- EDEC 6641 Lab 1: Infant and Toddler (1)
- EDEC 6640 Child with and without Special Needs and Family in the Community (3)
- EDEC 6620 Methods of Teaching in the Arts (2)
- EDEC 6650 Preprimary and Special Education Curriculum Development in Early Childhood (3)
- EDEC 6651 Lab 2: Preprimary (1)
- EDEC 7780 Psycholinguistics (3)
- EDEC 8830 Advanced Assessment Techniques for Children with and without Special Needs in Early Childhood (3)
- EDEC 8860 Integrating Instruction in Early Childhood Education (3)
Students who do not have prior course work in teaching reading, language arts, science, math, or social science at the primary level will be required to complete the appropriate courses below or equivalent course work determined by the coordinator of the Early Childhood program:
- EDEC 6680 Literacy Methods in Early Childhood Education (3)
- EDEC 6681 Lab 3: Literacy in Early Childhood Education (1)
- EDEC 6690 Methods of Teaching Primary Math, Science, and Social Studies (3)
- EDEC 6691 Lab 4: Teaching Primary Math, Science, and Social Studies (1)
Students who do not document previous student teaching in grades K-3, or successful teaching experience while holding a valid license at these grade levels, are required to complete:
- EDEC 4499 Student Teaching (12)
Total - 40 - 60 Hours