MA in Early Childhood Education

The Master of Arts Degree program in Early Childhood Education is designed to offer professional preparation for careers as master teachers or as early childhood specialists in private and public sectors. The program leading to the degree presupposes that the student has met the requirements for teacher certification or plans to take the additional courses that will lead to certification prior to or at the time of graduation.

The advisor, in consultation with the Chair of the Department of Education, will plan a program of study, which includes specific courses that will enable the student to become certified upon completion of the program of study. In order to meet the requirements of certification and the Master’s degree concurrently, the student should be prepared for a longer period of study.

This program is designed to prepare students for advanced work in early childhood education settings. It provides the opportunity to advance on the career lattice of professional early childhood education.

Accreditation: The program is accredited by the National Association of State Directors for Teacher Education Certification (NASDTEC). It also meets the standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Transfer of Credit: Students may transfer no more than 9 semester hours of graduate credit earned from an accredited institution. Transfer courses will be evaluated and accepted toward the degree, however, on the basis of their applicability to the requirements of the program.

Program of Study: The program consists of completion of a minimum of 39 semester hours, including core courses, specialization courses, research (thesis-option), and electives. Upon completion of additional courses, students may become certified in Serious Emotional Disturbance or Specific Learning Disabilities. Students must maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average to remain in the program.

Program Admission Requirements: Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or better, and meet all admission requirements as established by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Students must take and pass Praxis I before completing their program of study. In addition, applicants must be interviewed by the Department’s Graduate Admissions Committee.

Graduate Writing Proficiency Examination: Students must take and pass the Graduate Writing Proficiency Examination during the first semester of the program.

Comprehensive Examination: All students in the Program (Exception - those who write a thesis) are required to take and pass a comprehensive examination. The examination is given at the end of the final semester of the student’s program of study.

Alumni: Graduates of the program are employed at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels in public, charter, and private schools. Some are proprietors and/or administrators of public, charter, or private special education schools, or serve as private consultants.

Other Required Courses (18 Semester Hours)

Electives (Non-Thesis Option - 6 Semester Hours)

Students electing the thesis option are required to enroll in Thesis and Statistics courses:

Total Hours Required for Master of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education: (36)

Other Special Requirements:
Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education may be required to complete additional courses in the Department of Education.

Students who have no or less that one year of prior teaching experience in Early Childhood Education or who did not complete student teaching in an undergraduate program of study may be required to enroll in the Department of Education’s course, ECED 406 Observation and Student Teaching In Early Childhood Education.

Comment: Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better throughout their program of study.