Early Childhood Special Education

About the Program

Philosophy
We’ve centered our program around three core principles: 

• Quality learning occurs best within the context of caring relationships. 
• Self-reflection and self-knowledge are important professional competencies for those working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with special needs.  
• Forming collaborative partnerships with families is central to working with young children with special needs.

At the heart of the program is family-centered care. Because young children with special needs (like all children) develop within families, understanding and supporting their families is as important as understanding and supporting the children themselves.

Curriculum
This is a 37-hour, two-year program. You may specialize in early intervention (birth to age three) or early childhood special education (age three through five). You’ll integrate course work and field experiences within all of your classes. Courses focus on strategies that promote interdisciplinary collaboration, family-centered services, and sensitivity to cultural diversity.

Faculty
You’ll build learning partnerships with seasoned professionals who bring both academic expertise and real-world experience to the classroom. Our faculty includes a family involvement specialist—the parent of a child with a disability—who ensures that a family perspective is reflected in all program development. This specialist plans courses, co-teaches classes with faculty, collaborates with field site placement professionals, and supervises students in the family mentor program.

Family Mentor Program
This program creates a dynamic learning partnership between families and graduate students. You will be linked with two family mentors who will engage you in a set of specific learning tasks that correspond to your course work. Connecting you directly with families as partners in learning encourages you to integrate a family-centered philosophy into your work.

Cohorts
The program embraces the College’s belief that students play a significant role in one another’s learning, motivation, and success. Students who begin the program in the Fall Term form a cohort that stays intact throughout the program. You’ll work closely with your cohort members in classroom and study projects, and you’ll help one another maintain a sense of progress and achievement. Because of the vital role the cohort plays in each student’s success, students are selected to complement one another in the learning process.

04 Teacher Certification Option
Students can opt to participate in the 04 initial teacher certification track and earn an Illinois teaching certification in early childhood education. This will require three additional courses and an 8-week additional student teaching experience.

Advising
You’ll work face-to-face with a dedicated faculty advisor to create the schedule of courses that best fits your academic and professional goals.

Practicalities
You’ll attend class on weekday evenings to accommodate your busy schedule. You can receive credit for up to two prior Elmhurst graduate courses (taken as a non-degree student). You’ll study cutting-edge materials without paying extra for them.