Create a strong foundation for young learners

Earn your Early Childhood Education MA/MEd online, and you’ll learn creative ways to offer safe, nurturing and stimulating play environments that help young children learn and grow. Early childhood educators teach in urban and suburban preschools, public and private elementary schools, child development centers, daycare centers and Head Start programs. They also work as educational consultants and home daycare providers.

You have the option to pursue an initial Illinois Teaching License (PEL) with an Early Childhood Education (birth–grade 2) endorsement and an Early Childhood Special Education approval. If you are already a licensed teacher, you can add an Early Childhood Education (birth–grade 2) endorsement and Early Childhood Special Education approval to your PEL. You’ll also be qualified for the ECE Gateway credential.

Our online classes feature best practice online design and offer opportunities for synchronous and asynchronous participation and supervision, as well as synchronous meetings with the faculty. The program can be completed in two years.

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Connected to Chicago

You’ll have the opportunity to practice teaching in elementary school classrooms around the city, as well as serve as an educational advocate for communities and families.

Application Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. Priority deadlines for scholarships are as follows:

• Fall: August 15
• Winter: December 1
• Spring: March 1
• Summer: May 1

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, résumé and a personal statement.

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Required Courses

You’ll complete 14 required courses, field experiences, a student teaching internship and content area coursework. MA students will complete an additional course and thesis.

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96%

of Early Childhood Education graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Learn from leaders in the early childhood education industry

In the Early Childhood Education master’s program, you’ll study with respected experts like Professor Mojdeh Bayat, whose Resilience-based Interaction Model (RIM) is shifting the field’s practices and perspectives on shaping young children’s behavior to insure their future learning success. You’ll work alongside Associate Professor Marie Ann Donovan, whose statewide advocacy for early childhood professionals is improving public understanding and support for quality preparation programs and their graduates.

"While I gained a wealth of knowledge about the world and best practices in early childhood education at DePaul, more importantly, I developed a strong work ethic, a commitment to social justice and a strengths-based perspective. I think those attributes helped set me apart from other candidates."

Lauren (MEd '15)

Lead Teacher, Head Start Program, Erie Neighborhood House 

Alumni Network

Your degree will connect you with a robust community. You’ll benefit from a strong network of nearly 17,500 College of Education alumni. Graduates go on to follow many career paths as elementary teachers, tutors or daycare managers at Bright Horizons.

Scholarships

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about scholarship opportunities available to you.

Early Childhood Education Program Admission Requirements

Admission Eligibility

To be eligible to enroll in the Early Childhood Education master's degree program, students must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Application Requirements

A complete application to the Early Childhood Education program will include the following materials:

• Graduate admission application
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
• Résumé
• Two letters of recommendation (from work supervisors or academic references)
• Personal statement that briefly explains your reasons for wanting to become a licensed educator of young children (i.e., birth through third grade.) In your rationale, include how you envision working with young children, their families and their communities. Use any specific experiences or events that have shaped your thinking to clarify or illustrate your points (minimum 750 words).
• $40 application fee

Applicants who have earned a degree outside of the U.S. or who will be considered international students must submit additional materials. Visit our International Students page for more information.

Applicants can upload supplemental application materials, send requests for letters of recommendation, and pay the application fee through our online application system.

Application Deadlines

The Early Childhood Education program admits new students every quarter: fall, winter, spring and summer. It offers rolling admission, but the regular deadlines are set to assure students full consideration for admission and financial aid. The program will continue to accept and process applications after the regular deadline if space is available.

Term	Regular Deadline
Fall	August 15
Winter	December 1
Spring	March 1
Summer	May 1

Applicants typically receive an admission decision 3-4 weeks after submitting a complete application.

Information Sessions

Learn more about the Early Childhood Education graduate program and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Degree Requirements

The requirements below are those approved by the Illinois State Board of Education in April 2016.

Content Area Prerequisites

Following the requirements set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education in spring of 2016, DePaul’s Early Childhood Education program requires that students in the early childhood education program have courses in each of the following areas:

• mathematics1
• physical science
• life science
• earth and space science
• history
• geography
• political science/civics
• economics

These courses may be taken at the undergraduate level and may have been included in the student’s bachelor’s degree program. Early childhood education students' transcripts will be evaluated by an academic advisor after admission to determine if additional coursework is needed. Completion of content area requirements is not a prerequisite for admission; however, coursework must be completed before student teaching. It is strongly encouraged that applicants meet with an advisor after admission and prior to taking content courses.

• DePaul alumni that have taken MAT 120 or ISP 120 can receive credit towards the math requirement.

Heath, Safety and Child Nutrition Requirement

Students must provide documentation of successful course completion that shows they possess the requisite knowledge and skills to provide appropriate content and experiences for young children from birth through age 8 that reflect the interrelationships among health, safety, and nutrition. In addition, students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of cultural influences on young children’s health, safety, and nutrition, and how to work with special needs children affected by health impairments. Finally, students also must demonstrate their familiarity with practices that promote good nutrition, dental health, and the physical, social, and emotional well-being of young children.

This requirement can be met by completing T&L 615 (Child Health Safety & Nutrition), or an equivalent course taken at the undergraduate or graduate level outside of DePaul. Consult a faculty advisor to determine whether a prior course fulfills this content requirement.

Course Requirements

Introductory Courses: 12 quarter hours required, grade of B- or better required.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SCG 404	CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT	4
T&L 406	LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD (BIRTH TO 8) (Birth to 8)	4
T&L 421	CHILD AND FAMILY IN THE URBAN COMMUNITY	4

Advanced Courses: 40 quarter hours required, grade of B- or better required.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 407	PREPRIMARY PROGRAMS: CURRICULUM AND STRATEGY	4
T&L 408	CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION IN PRIMARY GRADES	4
T&L 411	ASSESSMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD INCLUSIVE SETTINGS	4
T&L 420	MATH AND SCIENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD	4
T&L 423	FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT: INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD	4
T&L 427	YOUNG EXCEPTIONAL CHILD: METHODS AND CHARACTERISTICS	4
T&L 434	LITERACY, LITERATURE, & THE YOUNG CHILD	4
T&L 481	INTERNSHIP IN PRESCHOOL SETTING (35 CLOCK HOURS OF SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE) 1	2
T&L 482	INTERNSHIP IN PRIMARY SETTING (35 CLOCK HOURS OF SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE) 2	2
BBE 451	TEACHING DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: THEORY, POLICY AND PRACTICE	4
Select one of the following:		4
SCG 408	EDUCATION AND SOCIETY
SCG 409	SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
SCG 411	PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

1	T&L 407 may be taken concurrently.
2	T&L 408 may be taken concurrently.

Student Teaching: 8 quarter hours required

Registration in student teaching requires completion of all requirements and procedures listed in the college core section. 

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 595	EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDENT TEACHING (grade of B- or better required)	6
T&L 596	EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR (grade of C or better required)	2

Recommended/Optional Courses

T&L 480 provides experience with a population for whom highly qualified educators are in increased demand.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 480	INTERNSHIP WITH INFANTS AND TODDLERS

Master of Arts (MA) Option Degree Requirements: 4 quarter hours required

A master’s thesis is written to fulfill the requirements of this course. An oral examination on the thesis is required. 

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 589	THESIS RESEARCH IN TEACHING AND LEARNING	4

Bilingual/ESL Endorsement Courses

Teacher candidates seeking an endorsement in Bilingual or ESL can add the credential to the Professional Educator License (PEL) by taking additional courses. Requirements are listed in the Endorsements section of the Course Catalog and are in addition to degree requirements.

Learning Behavior Specialist Special Education Endorsement Courses

Individuals seeking an endorsement in Special Education (called LBS1-Learning Behavior Specialist) can add the credential to the Professional Educator License (PEL) by taking additional courses. Courses are: SER 431, SER 475, SER 476, SER 597. Requirements are listed in the Endorsements section of the Course Catalog and are in addition to degree requirements.

Special Education Approval Courses

All students in ECE program will take 5 courses that are required for the degree. These courses will make ECE students who are seeking a PEL eligible to receive a letter of approval in early childhood special education. An approval in early childhood special education makes graduating ECE license holders eligible to work in preschool special education settings. Five special education courses are: T&L 406, T&L 411, T&L 421, T&L 423, T&L 427.

Licensure Tests

Students seeking licensure by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are required to successfully complete a set of tests specific to the Early Childhood professional field:

• Early Childhood Content Area Test (test #206) – assesses knowledge of language and literacy development, learning across the curriculum, diversity, collaboration, and professionalism in the early childhood program. Test is required before Student Teaching (deadlines apply).
• EdTPA - assessment conducted during the student teaching experience including video clips of instruction, lesson plans, student work samples, analysis of student learning and reflective commentaries. Students will submit an electronic portfolio to an outside agency for independent evaluation and a fee will be imposed by that agency as part of the assessment.

Internships & Other Field Experiences

Each student seeking licensure from the College of Education must complete supervised Internships in appropriate settings in conjunction with education courses. In addition, there are some courses, which might require certain hours of field experience to be completed, and /or have field assignments, which students are required to complete. Two internship-type field-based courses (T&L 481, T&L 482) are aligned with curriculum and instruction theory courses across the program. Each internship course requires completing 75 hours of field experience in its relevant grade level classroom. T&L 481 is taken concurrently with T&L 407.  T&L 482 is taken concurrently with T&L 408. Since these internship courses are scheduled only once per academic year, be sure to work with your advisor in carefully mapping out when you will take them. For details on requirements, expectations, documentation, & courses in your program that require fieldwork hours, visit the College of Education website.

Non-Licensure Option

Individuals that do not desire a license or are not eligible for a license can seek to earn the degree without meeting licensure requirements. In seeking this option, individuals understand that the following stipulations apply:

• Confirmation must be given in writing that they seek this option and agree to the stipulations.
• A notation is placed on the transcript indicating that “completion of degree requirements did not lead to eligibility for licensure.”
• Individuals have the option to return to the ECE program within 1-2 years after earning the graduate degree to complete student teaching and other licensure requirements (including ISBE-mandated tests) and become eligible for the license. The non-licensure notation will remain on the original transcript for the graduate degree. Additional coursework may also be required.
• Coursework is chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and is tailored to individual’s prior coursework, experience, and professional interests.
• All coursework must be taken at DePaul; no transfer credit is allowed from other institutions.
• Individuals must complete the specified coursework within 2 years or be subject to re-evaluation.
• A minimum of 2 courses (8 credit hours) are required to substitute for the student teaching experience. Coursework must be 400 level and receive a grade of B- or better.

Developmental Therapy Option

These course, listed below, will prepare early childhood teacher candidates for a career requiring expertise in early intervention for infants and toddlers (e.g., from birth to age three) with special needs and their families. The coursework can be taken in additional to degree requirements, or if seeking the non-licensure option, can be taken to replace student teaching. After taking the required courses and earning the degree, individuals will be required to take a training workshop on the State of Illinois system of Early Intervention and apply directly to Provider Connections to receive their Developmental Therapy credentials after submitting their transcripts.  

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
ECE 490	DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPY STRATEGIES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN EARLY INTERVENTION	4
ECE 491	ASSESSMENT OF INFANT AND TODDLERS	4
ECE 492	WORKING WITH FAMILIES OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS: PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION IN EARLY INTERVENTION	4
ECE 493	INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES WITH INFANTS, TODDLERS AND TWOS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (optional)	2

Infant Toddler Courses

Two infant toddler courses are available for special population or as elective for early childhood education students who seek additional specialty in infant/toddler education. 

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
T&L 495	DESIGNING CURRICULUM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS	4
T&L 615	SPECIAL TOPICS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING	4

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.