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Admissions Requirements Graduate Admission

Application Requirements

Review these requirements prior to submitting your application.

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You Belong At Erikson

With your Erikson Institute experience, you’ll be better prepared to support children and families in reaching their fullest potential. Join us in our mission and take the first step today.

Have a question about your application or the process?

No GRE Required

You are more than a number. We take a holistic view of your story, working with you to build tomorrow’s future early childhood leaders.

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Intellectual Curiosity

Erikson Institute promotes collaborative and creative thinking to help create lasting change that empowers professionals and positively impacts children.

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Commitment to Children and Families

Our students are motivated to serve the children and families in their communities so they can achieve optimal educational, social, emotional, and physical well-being.

Apply on a Rolling Basis or Before a Priority Application Deadline

We accept applications on a rolling basis. This means we accept applications throughout the year for all academic terms and programs, and applications are evaluated as they are completed. In some instances a degree program may have a specific deadline not tied to an intended term start date.

Want to earn primary consideration for scholarship awards? Apply before our Priority Scholarship Deadlines.

Master’s in Social Work, Master’s in Child Development (Core), Master’s in Early Childhood Education Online (non-licensure)

  • Spring 2024
    • Priority Scholarship Deadline: November 15, 2023
    • Complete Admission Application Deadline: December 8, 2023
  • Summer 2024 (Master’s in Early Childhood Education [non-licensure] Only)
    • Priority Scholarship Deadline: March 15, 2024
    • Complete Admission Application Deadline: April 19, 2024
  • Fall 2024
    • Priority Scholarship Deadline: July 15, 2024
    • Complete Admission Application Deadline: August 2, 2024

Priority Deadlines for Master’s in Early Childhood Education (teacher licensure)

  • Summer 2024
    • Priority Application Deadline for Educator Impact Grant:
      • November 15, 2023 and
      • March 15, 2024
    • Priority Scholarship Deadline: March 15, 2024
    • Complete Admission Application Deadline: April 19, 2024
  • Fall 2024
    • Priority Application Deadline for Educator Impact Grant:
      • November 15, 2023
      • March 15, 2024
      • June 14, 2024
    • Priority Scholarship Deadline: July 15, 2024
    • Complete Admission Application Deadline: August 2, 2024

Priority Deadlines for Master’s in Child Development: Child Life

  • Fall 2024
    • Priority Admission Application Deadline: January 30, 2024
    • Applications will remain open until August 2, 2024 or until all seats have been filled

Priority Deadlines for International Students (regardless of program)

  • Spring 2024
    • Complete Application Deadline: October 1, 2023
  • Summer 2024
    • Complete Application Deadline: February 15, 2024
  • Fall 2024
    • Complete Application Deadline: June 1, 2024

Master’s Degree, Licensure and Graduate Certificate Programs Requirements

Ready to start your application? Make sure you have digital copies of these items available to upload into the online application — it will save you a lot of time.

Have a question about any step of the process?

Ask my question I’m Ready to Apply

one

Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.75/4.0 in the last 60 credit hours of the degree by the date of enrollment OR a 3.0/4.0 from an earned master’s degree at the time of application

two

Resume

Include the latest copy of your resume with your application, highlighting your most relevant experiences.

three

Master’s and certificate applications require two essays: one program-specific, and one leadership-driven.

four

Letters of Recommendation

Two professional/academic letters of recommendation for Master’s Degrees; One professional/academic letter of recommendation for Certificate Programs.

five

Transcripts

Copy of official or unofficial transcripts from the bachelor’s degree (earned or in-progress at the time of application) and for any courses taken beyond the bachelor’s degree, including any earned master’s degree or higher.

NOTE: Official transcripts will be required by the end of the first semester at Erikson.

six

TOEFL

Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if applicable, taken within two years at the time of your admission.

Doctoral Program Requirements

Ready to start your application? Here’s a list of the items you’ll need to submit your online application.

Ask my question I’m Ready to Apply

one

Master’s Degree

A master’s degree* from an accredited institution of higher education in a field related to child development (e.g., education, sociology, psychology, social work).

*If you have your bachelor’s degree, you can apply under a special combined Master of Science in Child Development (MSCD)/Ph.D. track, which guarantees admission to the doctoral program with maintenance of an A- average in the MSCD program.

two

Resume

Include the latest copy of your resume with your application, highlighting your most relevant experiences.

three

Letters of Recommendation

For our Doctoral Programs, we require three letters of recommendation from a professional or academic individual.

four

Writing Sample

Please include at least one of your latest research papers or a sample of your academic writing for review.

five

Transcripts

Copy of official or unofficial transcripts from the bachelor’s degree (earned or in-progress at the time of application) and for any courses taken beyond the bachelor’s degree, including any earned master’s degree or higher.

NOTE: Official transcripts will be required by the end of the first semester at Erikson.

six

TOEFL

Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if applicable, taken within two years from the time of your admission.

seven

Loyola Enrollment

Accepted students are then admitted concurrently to Erikson and Loyola. Erikson will share the application data of admitted students with Loyola to create an admitted student record. You will be invited to access Loyola’s portal to take necessary enrollment steps.

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Welcome International Students

Learn more about the additional requirements for international students and available scholarships.

Learn more about International Student Eligibility

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More than 90% of Erikson Students Receive Financial Aid

As a premier graduate school for early childhood development, Erikson participates in several federal and state financial aid programs and awards over $2.5 million in scholarships each year.

Explore financial aid opportunities

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Meet an alum or current student, and ask your biggest questions at our next Erikson event.

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