Nov 13, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2024-2025 
    
Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

Early Childhood Education, M.A.T.


The department offers two options for a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Option One: Initial Licensure

  • Povides individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree in another discipline the opportunity to earn a master’s degree and an Illinois Professional Educator License with early childhood endorsement. Initial licensure requires successful completion of the Illinois Early Childhood Content Area Test, and an edTPA portfolio.

Option Two: Subsequent Endorsement

  • Provides individuals who have acquired an Illinois Professional Teaching License with an endorsement in an area to earn a subsequent endorsement and a master’s degree in ISBE Early Childhood Education. Those seeking a subsequent endorsement in Early Childhood must pass the Early Childhood Content Area Test but are not required to complete an edTPA portfolio in an early childhood classroom.

General Requirements


  • Students are responsible for meeting the program and College requirements in effect at the time they officially register in a program leading to licensure at Chicago State University regardless of when they were admitted to the University.
  • Admission to the degree program is contingent upon good academic standing and acceptance by the department.
  • Formal admission to the College of Education as a degree-seeking student in a pre-professional program is based on current COE requirements.
  • Graduation requirements include a minimum of 34 credit hours of the student’s course work completed at the 5000-level; including courses identified to meet content area designation requirements, as approved by the program in consultation with the department for the specified content area designation.
  • No more than two grades of C may be applied toward the degree.
  • A full academic schedule of courses for graduate students is nine semester credit hours (6 hrs. during summer). Exceptions to this policy may be made only with the approval of the department.
  • Candidates must abide by all College policies stated in this catalog, unless exceptions are processed through established department, college and university procedures, documented in writing.
  • Completion of all master’s degree requirements, including the Candidate Work Sample Capstone Project, must be completed within six years.

Option One: Initial Licensure [66 Credit Hours]


Admission Requirements


  • Provide two transcript(s) as evidence of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and that the final 60 credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate courses demonstrate a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Credit towards required courses in the program will only be awarded for grades of C or higher.
  • Submit proof that undergraduate coursework meets a minimum grade of C threshold in the following general education requirements:
    • Three credit hours in each of composition II, speech, college-level mathematics, Art Appreciation, Music Appreciation, Political Science, U.S. History, Geography, biological science, physical science, earth/space science (at least one science course must include a laboratory). General Education course requirements for licensure are subject to change by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). 
    • One course which incorporates multicultural or global perspectives.

Program Completion and Graduation Requirements


  • General program completion and graduation requirements include completing an application for graduation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all required and elective courses in professional education and the designated content area, as well as completion of the following addition licensure requirements:
    • Pre-clinical and clinical fieldwork forms documenting 100 clock hours are submitted to the Office of Field Placement. A summer practicum can be completed to make up missing field hours.
    • Field Practicum and Student Teaching Clinical Experiences successfully completed.
    • All College of Education and Program Assessments submitted in the LiveText by Watermark courseware domain, including the Candidate Work Sample (edTPA) Capstone Project and Professional Portfolio.
  • Illinois State Board of Education licensure examination / assessments, including the Content Area Test in the discipline. Proof of passing must be submitted to the academic program by announced due dates PRIOR to permission given to register for the final Student Teaching clinical experience course.
    • Spring Semester Student Teaching - October 15th in the prior Fall Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process
    • Fall Semester Student Teaching - March 15th * in the prior Spring Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process * Extensions to June 30th can be granted with program approval.
    • All requirements are met for state licensure as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education, in consultation with the Office of Teacher Licensure.

Required Courses [66 credit hours]


Students are required to take a minimum of 34 credit hours at the graduate level in Early Childhood Education.

* Licensure in Early Childhood Education can be obtained before completing ECH 5970  and ECH 5971   or ED 5690.

Students are required to take 22 credit hours at the undergraduate level in Early Childhood Education:


  • ECH 2401 - History and Philosophy of ECH Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 2403 - Health, Nutrition, Safety in ECH Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 2404 - Foundations of Instruction in ECH Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 2420 - Child Development Age 0-8 Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 3550 - Infant Mental Health Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 34XX - Child Fam. Community Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 34XX - Speech, Lang. Dev. In ECH Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 3XXX SoCRTL SEMINAR II Credit Hours: 1

Students are required to take 21 credit hours at the graduate level in Early Childhood Education:


  • ECH 54XX - The Pedagogy of Arts and Literature Integration Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 5411 - Meth Inf.Tod. Curr. Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 5413 - Mth Tch Social Science Credit Hours: 2
  • ECH 54XX - Mth Tch Math & Science Credit Hours: 4
  • ECH 5416 - Mth Tch Read/Lng Art Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 5419 - Screen, Asses, Eval Credit Hours: 3
  • ECH 3XXX SoCRTL SEMINAR III Credit Hours: 1
  • ECH 3XXX SoCRTL SEMINAR IV Credit Hours: 1
  • ECH 3XXX SoCRTL SEMINAR V Credit Hours: 1

Option Two: Subsequent Endorsement/Certificate Option (45 credit hours)


Admissions Requirements


  • Illinois Professional Educator License
  • Three months of teaching experience as a licensed teacher.
  • Provide two transcript(s) as evidence of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and that the final 60 credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate courses demonstrate a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Credit towards required courses in the program will only be awarded for grades of C or higher.

Program Completion Requirements for Subsequent Licensure


  • General program completion and graduation requirements include completing an application for graduation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all required and elective courses, and completion of the following addition licensure requirements:
  • Illinois State Board of Education licensure examination / assessments, including the Content Area Test in the discipline. Proof of passing must be submitted to the academic program by announced due dates PRIOR to permission given to register for the final Student Teaching clinical experience course.
    • Spring Semester Student Teaching - October 15th in the prior Fall Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process
    • Fall Semester Student Teaching - March 15th * in the prior Spring Semester as part of the Application for Student Teaching Process
      * Extensions to June 30th can be granted with program approval.
    • All requirements are met for state licensure as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education, in consultation with the Office of Teacher Licensure.