Established
1966
Alumni
1,800
Our graduates are leaders who serve children and families in every capacity. They head social service agencies, advocacy organizations, museums, hospital programs, and parent support initiatives. They are principals, Golden Apple Award-winning teachers, program directors, social workers, therapists, and researchers. They teach at every level from preschool to graduate school. They are working in these areas:
These are just a few examples of alumni leading efforts to improve early education, care, and childhood experiences.
- Louise Beem, cofounder, DuPage Children’s Museum, and founder, early childhood care and education program at College of DuPage
- Carol Brunson Day, president, National Black Child
Development Institute and former executive director, Council for Early
Childhood Professional Recognition - Leon Denton, manager of Head Start, Salvation Army Child Care Program
- Chipo Dyanda, deputy vice chancellor, University of Zimbabwe
- Toby Herr, founder and director of Project Match,
a community-based employment program that recently won a MacArthur
Award for Creative and Effective Institutions - Pat Manning, director of Child Life and Family Education, University of Chicago Children’s Hospital
- Molly McGrath, director of Baltimore City Department of Social Services
Academic programs
The amazing physical, cognitive, and social-emotional
development that takes place in the first eight years sets the foundation for
success in learning and life. That’s why all Erikson programs instill a deep,
interdisciplinary knowledge of all aspects of that growth. Our students focus
on how family, culture, and community shape development — and how their own
culture influences relationships with the children they serve. They learn to
continually reflect on their interactions, making them more effective
practitioners.
Programs offered
Master of science degrees
- M.S. in Child Development with optional specializations in Administration, Child Life, Children with Special Needs, Family Services, Infancy, Infancy & Administration
- M.S. in Child Development and M.S.W. (Dual Degree), with an optional specialization in Infancy
- M.S. in Early Childhood Education Leading to Teacher Licensure, with optional specializations in Bilingual/ESL or Special Education
- M.S. in Early Childhood Education (Online) for experienced educators, with an optional specialization in Bilingual/ESL
Certificate programs
- Infant Specialist Certificate Program, with specializations in prevention/early intervention and infant/toddler child care
- Infant Mental Health Certificate Program
- Bilingual/English as a Second Language Certificate Program (Online Offering)
Ph.D. in Child Development
- (in collaboration with Loyola University Chicago)
See program accreditation information
Students by the numbers
In fall 2011, Erikson enrolled approximately 220 master’s degree students, 15 doctoral students, and 60 certificate students. Together, they present the following profile:
- Women: 96%
- Students of color: 28%
- Average age: 30
- Age range: 21–63
- States represented: 28
- Countries represented (outside U.S.): 8
Professional development
Erikson’s broadest impact is through professional development opportunities. Each year nearly 2,500 early childhood professionals sharpen their skills and enhance their effectiveness in courses, workshops, seminars, and customized on-site staff development offered throughout the greater metropolitan Chicago area. These research-based learning opportunities focus on the following:
- teaching and learning
- early intervention
- leadership and supervision
- infancy
Faculty
Our professors are recognized scholars and respected voices for children. Our faculty includes advisers to the U.S. Department of Education, a Fulbright senior scholar, award-winning researchers, pioneers of the infant mental health movement in Illinois, and more.
While actively teaching courses, they also bring their expertise to community through dozens of projects and community partnerships that support and enhance early childhood programs. These projects generate new knowledge and provide students with opportunities for hands-on experience in different areas of the field.
Research
These scholars study important questions that shape the care and education of children. Some topics include:
- early childhood assessment tools and methods
- after-school program effectiveness
- Early Head Start effectiveness
- preparing teachers to meet the needs of culturally, economically, and racially diverse students
- vocabulary acquisition among second-language learners
- impact of teachers’ math knowledge and language on children’s learning
- literacy development, particularly among urban students
- technology training for early childhood teachers
- parent support and efficacy
- parent-child psychotherapy
- effectiveness of services to families of children with special needs
- impact of excessive crying on infants’ development
The Herr Research Center for Children and Social Policy conducts original research and disseminates knowledge that informs, guides, and supports effective early childhood policy in the Great Lakes region.
Community engagement
Putting knowledge about child development to work in the community is a vital part of Erikson’s mission. We do this through an ever-growing variety of projects and partnerships. A few are listed here:
Center for Children and Families
A multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive, family-centered assessment and treatment for children birth to age eight with behavioral, social-emotional, learning, and developmental issues.
Early Mathematics Education Project
Young children get a better grounding in math concepts as this project coaches 100 preschool and kindergarten teachers to bolster their proficiency and help them weave math’s big ideas into classroom activities.
Early Childhood Project with Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
DCFS contracted with Erikson to administer developmental screenings for all children ages birth through five entering the foster care system and assess their biological parents and foster caregivers, to determine required services.
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Project
This project enhances the capacity of Prevention Initiative (birth to three) and state pre-K program staff to promote infant’s and young children’s mental health and school readiness.
Herr Research Center for Children and Social Policy
The center informs, guides, and supports effective early childhood policy in the Great Lakes region with original research regional and dissemination of knowledge that promotes the well-being of young children.
New Schools Project
This project brings Erikson’s early childhood expertise directly into pre-kindergarten through third grade classrooms in the Chicago Public Schools. Consultants partner with schools to establish positive learning environments so children experience school success.
See more research and community projects
See experts guide
Services for children and families
Erikson’s Center for Children and Families provides comprehensive, family-centered assessment and treatment for children birth to age eight with behavioral, social-emotional, learning, and developmental issues.
Erikson’s Fussy Baby Network provides telephone support and home visits for parents struggling to cope with an infant that cries inconsolably. The network also features Spanish-language support and services to parents in immigrant communities.