Early Childhood Education, M.Ed.

degree requirements

Please select a CONCENTRATION that matches your degree interests:

STRAND 1

M.Ed. plus the Type 04 Early Childhood Education certificate with and endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education.

The requirements for strand 1 of this program were revised for the Spring 2008 semester. If you are a current student in strand 1 of this program (admitted prior to Spring 2008) please consult the strand 1 advising guide effective for fall 2003 through fall 2007 under the advising guide link to the left.

33-34 semester hours of credit are required for the degree of which at least 12 hours must be at the "500" level. Courses numbered 596, 597, 598 or 599 do not meet this requirement. An additional 11-15 hours is required beyond the degree requirements for certification.

Core Curriculum

ED 422 (Advanced Developmental Psychology and Educational Processes-3 hours) or EPSY 526 (Development in Infancy and Early Childhood-4 hours)
SPED 506 (Characteristics of Infants and Young Children with Disabilities-4 hours)
EPSY 449 (History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education-3 hours)
EPSY/SPED 466 (Language Development, Diversity and Disabilities-3 hours)
EPSY 429 (Constructivist Approaches to Development: Piaget & Vygotsky-4 hours)
EPSY 520 (Curriculum and Practice in Early Childhood Education-5 hours)
SPED 508 (Methods of Instruction and Assessment for Infants and Children with Disabilities-4 hours)
EPSY/SPED 582 (Forging Collaboration with Family and Staff-3 hours)
CIE 509 (Reading and Writing with Young Children-4 hours)

Additional Certification Requirements

EPSY 519 (Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in Primary Grades-5 hours)
EPSY 521 (Early Childhood Education Student Teaching-10 hours) or EPSY 522 (Student Teaching in the Primary Grades-6 hours)
Successful completion of the general education requirements with a minimum grade of "C" in each course. (An appointment with the certification officer for an evaluation of previous course work can be made after acceptance into the degree program
Completion of the Illinois Early Childhood Exam
Completion of the Illinois Assessment of Professional Teaching Exam

NOTE: The Illinois State Certification Board may not issue a teaching certificate to an individual who has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor. If the student has been convicted, he or she should bring this to the attention of the advisor.

STRAND 2
obtains an M.Ed. ONLY

32 semester hours of credit are required for the degree of which at least 12 hours must be at the "500" level. Courses numbered 596, 597, 598 or 599 do not meet this requirement.

A. Core Curriculum (9-11 semester hours)

Philosophy of Education (ED 402-3 hours) or History of Education (ED 403 - 3 hours) or History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education (EPSY 449-4 hours)
Developmental Psychology (ED 422-3 hours) or Development in Infancy and Early Childhood (EPSY 529-4 hours)
Curriculum and Instruction (ED 430-3 hours) or Improving Learning Environments (ED 431-3 hours)

B. Area of Concentration (15-16 semester hours)

Constructivist Approaches to Development: Piaget & Vygotsky (EPSY 429 - 4 hours)
Forging Collaboration with Family and Staff (EPSY 582/SPED 582-3 hours)
One course from:
- Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in Primary Grades (EPSY 519-5 hours)
  - Curriculum and Practice in Early Childhood Education (EPSY 520-5 hours)
  - Methods of Instruction and Assessment for Infants and Children with Disabilities (SPED 508-4 hours)
  - Independent Study (EPSY 596-4 hours)
Reading and Writing with Young Children (CIE 509-4 hours)

C. Electives (5-8 semester hours)

Selection of College of Education courses and special topics