Counseling and Child Development Degrees Offered At Erikson Institute
Erikson Institute appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Online Developmental Psychology Online Programs.
While Erikson Institute does not offer traditional counseling and/or psychology degrees, the programs available include elements of both as they are applied to early childhood education and development. Erikson offers graduate degrees at the Masters and doctoral levels, as well as graduate certificate programs, both on campus and online. In addition, working professionals can participate in a variety of continuing education and professional development opportunities that are often needed to maintain certificates in the various educational and social work fields.
At the Master’s degree level, Erikson currently offers Master of Science degrees in Child Development and in Early Childhood Education, as well as a Master of Social Work Degree and a dual Master of Science in Child Development and Master of Jurisprudence (MJ) in Children’s Law and Policy. The dual degree is offered in conjunction with Loyola University’s School of Law. Of these offerings, only the Master of Science in Early Childhood Education is offered in both on campus and online formats, with only the on-campus format leading to educational licensure.
Erikson also offers a doctoral degree in Child Development, available through attending classes on campus only and involving a total of 42 semester hours beyond those taken at the Masters level. These include two semesters of a doctoral internship. Other courses offered throughout the graduate level spectrum cover such subjects as Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Social and Cultural Contexts, and Social and Emotional Development. These are interspersed with courses that cover more directly early childhood education and teaching.
Online and digital learning through Erikson is available mainly through their continuing education offerings, given in webinar format. Simply viewing the webinars is free for anyone wishing to access them, while the use of them for professional development credits is offered for a fee that varies according to the webinar chosen. Some subjects covered by archived webinars include Trauma and Young Children, Anxiety in Early Childhood: a Root Cause of Behavioral and Emotional Issues, and Unaccompanied Child Migrants: Examining the Current Humanitarian Crisis and Implications for Early Childhood Mental Health.
About Erikson Institute
Erikson Institute is a premier independent institution specializing in early childhood development. Bringing the most current scientific knowledge and theories of children’s development to bear, Erikson offers graduate education, professional training, community programs, and a strong influence on policymaking where early childhood education is concerned. The Erikson Institute was founded in 1966 as the Chicago Institute for Early Childhood Education and, in 1969, renamed after renowned developmental psychologist Erik Erikson.
While still physically located in Chicago, IL, the Erikson Institute began offering online educational opportunities in 2009, giving the school the chance to meet the needs of students anywhere there is an internet connection. Today, Erikson remains true to its original founding ideal of helping to improve the lives of young children and their families through education and direct service in the community.
Erikson Institute Accreditation Details
Erikson Institute is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This overall accreditation applies to master’s degrees and certificates in those fields related to early childhood education and child development. It also includes the Master of Social Work degree under this umbrella.
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In addition, the Master of Social Work program is further accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), recognized as the sole accrediting agency in the U.S. for social work education by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Illinois Board of Higher Education also authorizes Erikson Institute to grant the various Master of Science degrees in Child Development and Early Childhood Education, both online and on campus.
Erikson Institute Application Requirements
Students seeking entrance into one of the Master’s programs at Erikson Institute must first hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and be able to show a minimum GPA of 2.75 overall on a 4-point scale. When completing the application, students will also provide several short essays in response to application questions, two letters of recommendation, and a completed Applicant Self-Disclosure form. Finally, students must submit official, sealed transcripts from any colleges or universities previously attended.
Students seeking entrance into the doctoral program in Child Development must show proof of a Master’s degree earned from an accredited institution and in a related field, such as social work, psychology, sociology, or education. In addition, while GRE scores are not required for entrance into the Master’s programs, they are required for consideration when applying for the doctoral program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Students seeking either a Master’s degree or the doctoral degree can expect to pay tuition at the rate of $1,060.00 per semester credit hour, regardless of degree focus. Certificate programs in Bilingual/ESL and Child Development assess tuition at the rate of $750.00 per semester credit hour. In addition to tuition, students are assessed an annual services fee of $600, covering the use of technology and other activities. These fees apply regardless of whether the student is online or on campus.
Students seeking the dual degree in conjunction with Loyola’s School of Law will be assessed the current Loyola tuition for those courses taken at Loyola while paying the Erikson tuition rates listed above for the portion of the degree coursework taken at Erikson. Students in this program will pay each school separately.
Financial aid is available to all Erikson students, with 100% of students who apply for Erikson financial aid receiving grants or scholarships. In addition, students are encouraged to apply for federal and state financial aid for additional help in covering the costs of graduate education. The need for federal aid is determined by having the student fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and designating Erikson as the school of choice. Aid available in addition to the grants and/or scholarships offered through Erikson directly may include federal student loans, federal TEACH grants for teacher candidates, and State of Illinois Gateway Scholarships.
Because the school’s entire mission revolves around creating equal opportunities for all children to reach their full potential, financial obstacles are cleared whenever possible so that students can shine. By producing qualified graduates from its various programs, Erikson Institute can continue to serve the needs of children and families so that they can, in turn, achieve optimal social, emotional, and physical well-being.
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