LEARN TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF YOUNG STUDENTS WITH A MASTER鈥橲 IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
What Makes the Lewis Master’s Degree in Early Child Education (ECE) Standout?
- Triple Endorsement Program: We were the first approved program in the state of Illinois to integrate multiple endorsements within the M.A. degree and have alumni all across Illinois who have been successfully teaching for 10+ years.
- Life Experience Credits: We generate a personalized learning plan that takes your past work experience, personal journey, and education to facilitate a streamlined pathway to graduation.
- Licensure Preparation: The program is designed to prepare students for the Illinois Professional Educator Licensure (PEL) with dual endorsements in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education with ESL fully embedded, enhancing your career prospects.
The Early Childhood Education with ESL Endorsement graduate program provides working professionals with opportunities to extend their understanding of concepts and develop valuable skills used in increasingly diverse classrooms. Upon graduation, you will understand the unique developmental characteristics and needs of young children, how to evaluate children’s learning and development, and how to communicate and build relationships with families of young children.
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PROGRAM DETAILS: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MASTER鈥橲 DEGREE
海角社区’s M.A. in Early Childhood Education with ESL Endorsement is one of the only programs in the state to offer all three endorsements within one degree:
- Early Childhood Education 鈥� Regular education classrooms, birth through 2nd grade
- Early Childhood Special Education 鈥� Special education classrooms, birth through 2nd grade
- English as a Second Language 鈥� Classrooms with students speaking English as a second language, grades Pre-K through 12.
These endorsements are quickly becoming the required qualifications for teachers of preschool and primary children in the state of Illinois. Many schools and districts seek candidates with these three endorsements for teaching positions at lower grade levels.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SUBSEQUENT TEACHING ENDORSEMENT 鈥� BIRTH-GRADE 2 (18 CREDIT HOURS)
Once you hold a Professional Educator License (PEL) or Educator License with Stipulations endorsed in a teaching field, you can add additional content area endorsements.
Admission Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 for the final 60 credit hours of study
- Official college transcripts from all institutions previously attended
- Successful completion of the 海角社区 College of Education and Social Sciences Graduate Writing Examination
- Submission of a graduate application form
- Two letters of recommendation
- Meet with the appropriate Department Chair or Program Director for a personal interview to discuss education goals
Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admission for application requirements and specific next steps.
Sample graduate ece Courses
Lewis Early Childhood Education courses are designed to meet the needs of today’s early childhood educators. Courses will address current issues of inclusiveness, speech and language, and the foundations of reading, writing, math and science.
- Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- Child, Family, Culture and Community
- Beginning Linguistics and Development of Speech and Language in Early Childhood
- Instructional Methods in Early Childhood Inclusive Education
- Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Inclusive Education
- Exceptional Learners in Inclusive Communities
Early childhood special education Letter of Approval Option
More school districts are requiring that individuals with a Professional Educator License (PEL) be licensed to teach early childhood special education (non-categorical) for children up to the age of six. Educators with the Early Childhood Endorsement or those who are endorsed in Special Education can apply for a “Letter of Approval” from 海角社区. This state-approved, standalone endorsement includes coursework that, when completed, qualifies teachers to instruct students with special needs at the pre-K level.
The Early Childhood Special Education Approval course of study focuses on four areas:
- Methods
- Assessment
- Language Development
- Family & Community Relationships
Note: You may only add the Early Childhood Special Education Approval onto a PEL with an existing early childhood or special education endorsement. This approval does not expire.
The Early Childhood Special Education with ESL Endorsement program is fully approved by the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board and the Illinois State Board of Education.
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WHY CHOOSE AN ECE M.A DEGREE FROM LEWIS UNIVERISTY?
You Will Earn Critical Thinking and Decision-making Skills In:
- Child Development: Understanding and comprehending the various stages of a child’s growth as they progress through early education.
- Family Engagement: Building strong relationships with the long-term goal of student success.
- Classroom Best Practices: Establishing a secure classroom environment of both fun and professional learning where students know they are expected to learn.
- Child Psychology: Having a stronger perception of how a child’s thought process develops.
Scholarship Options
- Mines-Quinlan Annual Scholarship
- TEACH Grant
- Lasallian Book Scholarship
Visit the Financial Aid for Educational Studies page for more information on education scholarships.
Career Options
- Public School Teacher - You can have the freedom to either work in standard or special education, and work either in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Grades 1-2.
- Child Care Center Director - In this leadership role, you will supervise and train staff, facilitate future program plans, oversee daily operations, and prepare budgets for the upcoming year.
- Head Start Personnel - Offering full-day, year-round childcare to families, usually programs are about eight hours long and are open both during the school day and summer
. - Social Worker - Assisting children and families, a social worker builds relationships within a community to help provide a safe and positive environment for both the children and their families.
- Home Visitation/Parent Education Programs - Designed to prioritize at-risk families, you would help to provide crucial resources to isolated families, including information, support, and referrals to more social services.
Resources at 海角社区
As a nationally-recognized Midwestern Regional University, Lewis was founded on a spirit of innovation that carries over to the student-faculty interaction in the classroom. You will graduate well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to 聽build a better world.
- : A comprehensive view of 海角社区’s courses and its educational values, guided by the shared ideals expressed in their Catholic and Lasallian mission statement.
- You don’t just earn a graduate degree 聽when you go to 海角社区, you get a whole network of professional connections from a thriving alumni community.
- Taught by a passionate community of experienced professionals from diverse backgrounds, 海角社区’s faculty is committed to providing you with the skills needed to succeed in your professional career.
Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admission for application requirements and specific next steps.
Related Programs
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