Who is this degree for?
Increasingly, all early childhood teachers need to be able to educate students with varying learning abilities, developmental delays, and/or disabilities. Not only are special education teachers in high demand, but growing numbers of these learners are entering inclusive early childhood classrooms.
Erikson’s specialization in early childhood special education prepares teachers to meet the needs of these students.
Early Childhood Special Education Letter of Approval
By completing the requirements of this specialization, candidates will also be eligible to receive a letter of approval from the Illinois State Board of Education to teach young children (birth through age five) with special needs.
Early childhood teachers, including Erikson alumni, who already hold a teaching certificate can earn the Early Childhood Special Education letter of approval by completing only the specialization courses. For more information on applying, contact Valerie Williams at [email protected]. (Students taking only the four courses are not eligible for federal Title IV financial aid.)
Requirements
To complete the specialization and earn the letter of approval, you will take four courses in addition to the core curriculum for the teacher licensure program. Each course includes a minimum of 15 hours of field experience working with children with special needs and their families.
For a full description of the teacher preparation program requirements, see M.S. in Early Childhood Education Leading to Teaching License
Course Work
Sample course schedules
Prerequisite Courses:
Core Courses:
- C421 – Human Development I: Psychosocial Development in Infancy and Childhood
- C425 – Physical Growth and Development
- C426 – Development of Cognition, Language, and Play I: Cognitive Development
- C427 – Development of Cognition, Language, and Play II: Language Development
- C432 – Family and Culture
- S410 – Curricular and Instructional Methods in Early Childhood Special Education
- S411 – Family and Professional Collaboration in Early Childhood Special Education
- S412 – Assessment of Infants and Preschool-aged Children with Disabilities/Developmental Delay
- S413 – Communication and Language Development and Disabilities
- T404 – Teaching and Learning in Diverse Settings: Science and Social Studies
- T405 – Teaching and Learning in Diverse and Inclusive Settings: Reading and Writing
- T406 – Teaching and Learning in Diverse and Inclusive Settings: Mathematics
- T408 – Foundations of American Schooling and Bilingual Education
- T412 – Preschool Curricular Approaches in Diverse and Inclusive Settings
- T438 – Children with Special Needs and Diverse Abilities
- T446 and T447 – Internship, Student Teaching, and Tutorial I and II
- T456 – Integrative Seminar: Classroom Management and Instructional Techniques in Diverse and Inclusive Settings I
- T457 – Integrative Seminar: Classroom Management and Instructional Techniques in Diverse and Inclusive Settings II
- T461 – Assessment for Classroom Teachers
- T466 and T467 – Proseminar for Teacher Candidates I and II
