The M.S.Ed. in early childhood education program offers focused study to strengthen and broaden the professional preparation of teachers and other professionals who work with young children, birth through eight years. In addition to the basic requirements, course work will be determined on the basis of the individual candidate’s undergraduate preparation, experience, and professional goals. Candidates pursuing this M.S.Ed. may also choose course work to meet Early Childhood Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) requirements to teach children from birth through grade 2 in Illinois public schools. Candidates who meet the PEL requirements will be automatically eligible to receive the Gateways to Opportunity Level 5 Early Childhood Education (ECE) credential. Candidates may also elect course work to fulfill early childhood special education approval requirements for teaching children with disabilities and special needs in pre-kindergarten. Advisers evaluate candidates’ prior course work, professional experience, and previous credentials to determine individual programs leading to PEL with Early Childhood endorsement and/or Early Childhood Special Education approval, as well as the Gateways Level 5 ECE credential.
No more than six credit hours of graduate NIU coursework completed as a student-at-large may be applied to an advanced degree in SEED. Check departmental information for additional requirements.
From among the applicants satisfying the requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the faculty select the most qualified, ordinarily requiring a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher for undergraduate coursework.
Each prospective candidate must have two letters of recommendation from employers, supervisors, or professors and a personal statement describing his or her reasons for applying to the program and his or her goals related to early childhood education.
Retention
To be retained in the M.S.Ed. program, a candidate must demonstrate acquisition and application of specific competencies, through practical experiences.
Candidates must earn a B or better in the course work listed in the Graduate catalog required for the Early Childhood program, in order to take the comprehensive evaluation and/or enroll in student teaching. Candidates receiving lower than a B in any of these professional courses must retake the course. In concert with the university policy, candidates may retake a course only once. If this required grade is not achieved on the second attempt, the candidate may be dropped from the program. Candidates must maintain a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing in the Graduate School.
All other rules regarding academic regulations follow those described by the Graduate School.
Advisement
A candidate is assigned a graduate adviser when admitted to the program. The candidate is also assigned to a faculty mentor. Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact their faculty mentors early in their degree program. Courses of study are developed for each candidate in consultation with the graduate adviser. It is always the responsibility of the candidate to be aware of university policies and regulations affecting his or her program. Candidates should, therefore, familiarize themselves with the Graduate Catalog early in the program.
Requirements
Programs of study must include a minimum of 32 semester hours depending on the Early Childhood tack selected (Licensure, Non-licensure). Candidates elect either the licensure or non-licensure track.
M.S.Ed. Early Childhood Education (Licensure)
Any state licensure requirements for core content in science and social sciences must be verified by the advisor.
Candidates electing the thesis option will select research in early childhood education as their focus area. Six of the 9 semester hours required for the focus area must be taken in SEEC 699, Master’s Thesis. Candidates electing the thesis option are still required to take SEEC 598.
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