Subsequent Endorsement for educators with a current Professional Educator License (PEL) in Illinois.
Based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Advanced Standards and the test framework for the Illinois Early Childhood Content Test, this program is designed to help prepare Illinois educators to meet the course requirements needed for the Illinois Early Childhood Endorsement. This program will enable candidates to:
- Strengthen theoretical understandings of early childhood education and increase knowledge of child development, with emphasis on the young child from birth through age eight.
- Increase awareness of partnerships with children’s families and communities.
- Understand child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early childhood education.
- Strengthen understanding and use of a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child’s development and learning.
- Increase knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for each and every young child.
- Participate in a variety of field experiences to develop knowledge, skills and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood education.
General Graduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into graduate degree-seeking, approval, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Previously admitted students seeking to change programs may do so at the beginning of a semester (only) by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards at the time of requesting a program change.
Endorsement Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECE-6100 | Early Childhood Curriculum and Content, Ages 3-5 | 3 |
| ECE-6105 | Observation and Assessment | 3 |
| ECE-6115 | Infant and Toddler Curriculum | 3 |
| ECE-6160 | Child, Family and Multicultural Community | 3 |
| ECE-6180 | Trends and Methods in ECE in Literacy | 3 |
| ECE-6320 | Child Development and Ethics in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Non-degree Completion Requirements
- Have on file an application as a non-degree-seeking graduate student.
- Complete, for the program being sought:
-
- the credit hours and levels as designated,
- within the specified time limit,
- with course grades of C- or higher,
- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- If transfer credit is approved to be applied: have on file an approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s) or evaluation(s).
- Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
- Take and pass the final examination or terminal requirements in the program during or after the final course.
- Approval of the faculty.
- All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts.
Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to completion requirements.
This program does not lead to initial Illinois licensure (PEL) but will, through direct university entitlement, lead to an additional credential on your existing PEL. The awarding of this credential will require the completion of this academic program and an existing and active PEL, and may require a passing score on the corresponding Illinois State Licensure Test(s), associated work experience, a previous master's degree, and completion of a state training academy. For specific requirements regarding this credential please refer to ISBE’s webpage or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu.