In Loyola's Early Childhood Special Education program, you'll learn inclusive, specialized teaching practices to support each and every child across the span of birth through second grade.

With a degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Loyola, you will be fully licensed in both early childhood education and special education and eligible to teach in general education, inclusive, or special education programs. Our program supports you in developing the critical skills required to develop meaningful learning experiences for both typically developing children and those with disabilities.

You will leave fully credentialed in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Early Intervention (enabling you to work with the families of infants and toddlers with disabilities), and Special Education. Our field-based, hands- on approach is the only program in Illinois offering credentials in all of these areas, and graduates are highly sought by school and program administrators.

Our program uses an apprenticeship approach, so you'll work directly with infants/toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children throughout your four years. You will earn a unique blended Illinois Professional Educator License in ECSE, as well as an ESL endorsement, a credential in EI, and Level 5 Infant/Toddler and Preschool Gateways credentials, which together highlight you as a desirable candidate on the job market. Our graduates are selected for competitive positions, and after the first eight years, 92% were still working in the field of education.

Learn more by reading through our Early Childhood Special Education Program Viewbook.

Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CIEP 104	Mathematics for Teachers I	3
CIEP 206	Children's Literature	3
CIEP 315	Language Development and Literacy	3
CIEP M16	K-2 Literacy Methods for EC	2
CIEP M17	Early Childhood Math Methods	2
CIEP M42	K-2 Special Education Methods for ECSE	2
CIEP M43	Special Education Methods: Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers	3
ELPS 302	Philosophy of Education	3
TLSC 110	The Profession and Our Program (TLLSC)	1
TLSC 120	Bringing Language, Learning & Development Theory into Practice	2
TLSC 130	Sequence One: 130 Community Immersion	1
TLSC 140	Teaching, Learning and Leading for Social Justice	1
TLSC 150	Constructive Learning Environments For Diverse Students	1
TLSC 160	Analyzing Culturally-Responsive Classroom Instruction	1
TLSC 210	Educational Policy For Diverse Students	2
TLSC 221	Individualized Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Learners	2
TLSC 222	Authentic Assessment and Instruction for Bilingual Learners	2
TLSC 250	Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) with Infants/Toddlers and Their Families	3
TLSC 251	Family-Centered Assessment and Intervention in Early Intervention	3
TLSC 252	Foundations, Settings, and Studies of Effective Early Childhood Education	1
TLSC 253	Developmentally Appropriate Practice Assessment & Intervention for Young Children Special Needs	2
TLSC 300A	Professional Learning Communities	0
TLSC 300B	Professional Learning Communities	1
TLSC 310	Language and Literacy for Diverse Students	2
TLSC 320	Using Classroom Data in a Collaborative Environment to Advance Student Achievement	2
TLSC 330	Discipline-Specific Literacy for Diverse Students	2
TLSC 340	Teaching and Learning in an Area of Specialization	2
TLSC 350	Teaching and Learning with a Global Framework	4
TLSC 360	Developing Rigorous and Relevant Instruction & Assessment	3
TLSC 370	Design & Implement Rigorous & Relevant Instruction & Assessment: Teaching Perform Assessment Prep	3
TLSC 380	Teaching, Learning and Leading with Schools and Communities Internship: Student Teaching	12
Total Hours		74

All of Loyola’s Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEd) degrees are grounded in the Teaching, Learning, and Leading with Schools and Communities (TLLSC) curriculum. This field-based model is known across the United States, and its outcomes have been extensively researched.

The TLLSC curriculum focuses on hands-on learning. Your studies will be built around four Cornerstones—partnering with schools and communities, classroom diversity, ongoing classroom experience, and participating in professional learning communities.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework.  An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study.  Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.

Plan of Study Grid

Sequence 1		Hours
TLSC 300A	Professional Learning Communities (ECSE)	0
TLSC 110	The Profession and Our Program (TLLSC)	1
TLSC 120	Bringing Language, Learning & Development Theory into Practice	2
TLSC 130	Sequence One: 130 Community Immersion	1
UCWR 110	Writing Responsibly	3
CORE	Scientific Literacy Tier I	3
CORE	Literary Knowledge & Experience Tier I	3
UNIV 101	First Year Seminar	1
Must submit required documentation and background check prior to program entry
	Hours	14
Sequence 2
TLSC 300B	Professional Learning Communities (ECSE)	1
TLSC 140	Teaching, Learning and Leading for Social Justice	1
TLSC 150	Constructive Learning Environments For Diverse Students	1
TLSC 160	Analyzing Culturally-Responsive Classroom Instruction	1
CIEP 104	Mathematics for Teachers I	3
CIEP 206	Children's Literature (Tier II Literary)	3
CORE	Historical Knowledge Tier I	3
CORE	Philosophical Knowledge Tier I	3
	Hours	16
Sequence 3
TLSC 300A	Professional Learning Communities (ECSE)	0
TLSC 210	Educational Policy For Diverse Students	2
TLSC 221	Individualized Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Learners	2
TLSC 222	Authentic Assessment and Instruction for Bilingual Learners	2
ELPS 219	American Education (Tier II Historical)	3
CORE	Theological & Religious Studies Tier I	3
CORE	Societal & Cultural Knowledge Tier I	3
	Hours	15
Sequence 4
TLSC 300B	Professional Learning Communities (ECSE)	1
TLSC 250	Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) with Infants/Toddlers and Their Families	3
TLSC 251	Family-Centered Assessment and Intervention in Early Intervention	3
TLSC 252	Foundations, Settings, and Studies of Effective Early Childhood Education	1
TLSC 253	Developmentally Appropriate Practice Assessment & Intervention for Young Children Special Needs	2
CIEP 315	Language Development and Literacy	3
General Elective		3
	Hours	16
Sequence 5
TLSC 300A	Professional Learning Communities (ECSE)	0
TLSC 310	Language and Literacy for Diverse Students	2
TLSC 320	Using Classroom Data in a Collaborative Environment to Advance Student Achievement	2
TLSC 330	Discipline-Specific Literacy for Diverse Students	2
CIEP M43	Special Education Methods: Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers	3
CORE	Artistic Knowledge	3
CORE	Ethics	3
Apply for Sequence 7-8 One-Year Internship by October 1
	Hours	15
Sequence 6
TLSC 300B	Professional Learning Communities (ECSE)	1
TLSC 340	Teaching and Learning in an Area of Specialization	2
TLSC 350	Teaching and Learning with a Global Framework	4
PHYS 101	Liberal Arts Physics (Tier II Scientific)	3
PLSC 101	American Politics (Tier II Societal)	3
CIEP M16	K-2 Literacy Methods for EC	2
Take ECSE Content Exam from IL Licensure Testing Service after Sequence 6
	Hours	15
Sequence 7
TLSC 300A	Professional Learning Communities (ECSE)	0
TLSC 360	Developing Rigorous and Relevant Instruction & Assessment	3
TLSC 370	Design & Implement Rigorous & Relevant Instruction & Assessment: Teaching Perform Assessment Prep	3
ELPS 302	Philosophy of Education (Philosophical Tier II)	3
CIEP M17	Early Childhood Math Methods	2
CORE	Theological and Religious Studies Tier II	3
CIEP M42	K-2 Special Education Methods for ECSE	2
Apply for May Graduation in LOCUS by October 1
Register for Educational Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) with Pearson Inc.
	Hours	16
Sequence 8
TLSC 300B	Professional Learning Communities (ECSE)	1
TLSC 380	Teaching, Learning and Leading with Schools and Communities Internship: Student Teaching (Engaged Learning)	12
Must have passed IL ECSE Content Exam prior to Sequence 8
Must pass edTPA
	Hours	13
	Total Hours	120

Additional Undergraduate Graduation Requirements

All Undergraduate students are required to complete the University Core, at least one Engaged Learning course, and UNIV 101.  SCPS students are not required to take UNIV 101.  Nursing students in the Accelerated BSN program are not required to take core or UNIV 101.  You can find more information in the University Requirements area.

Learning Outcomes

You'll have accrued the equivalent of one year of full-time teaching experience through all the hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in Chicago's classrooms and community organizations, so you will be ready to be at the head of your own classroom. With the foundational knowledge from your Loyola education, you will utilize theories, data, and research practices when making decisions in your classroom and for your students and when assessing the effectiveness of teaching on learning.