Erikson Institute

Located in Chicago, IL, the Erikson Institute is a graduate school focused on child development. Founded in 1966 by four child advocates, the school was originally intended to train individuals working in the then-new Head Start program. There are about 300 students enrolled in the school, which offers Master of Science degrees, certificates, and doctorate programs. There are about 40 full- and part-time faculty and 10 research associates at the school who teach courses and conduct research in a number of areas; the Institute is home to the Center for Children and Families and several other institutes, and has been involved in a number of projects and partnerships.

Teacher Education at Erikson Institute

The Erikson Institute offers four master’s programs - Child Development, Child Development and Clinical Social Work, Early Childhood Education for certified teachers, and Early Childhood Education leading to initial Type 04 certification - each with specific specializations. The school also offers several 18-hour programs leading to certificates in Bilingual/English as a Second Language, Infant Mental Health, and Infant Specialist. And along with the Graduate School Loyola University Chicago, the Institute offers a Ph.D. in Child Development. Erikson’s projects and partnerships include the Early Mathematics Education Project, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Early Childhood Unit, and the Herr Research Center for Children and Social Policy.