Early Childhood Education, M.Ed.

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A master’s degree in Early Childhood Education can be achieved by completing an innovative program designed to promote research-based practices that ensure that all students can and do learn. The program consists of a minimum of 36 hours of course work. This degree does not lead to initial certification in Elementary Education.

In addition to the requirement for regular admission, the following requirements apply for applicants to the M.Ed. degree in Early Childhood Education:

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education and be eligible for an Elementary Education clear and renewable certificate or possess a renewable professional certificate in Elementary Education with a minimum overall 2.7 GPA.

Courses include 9 hours in professional studies, 6 hours in research and assessment, 15 hours in elementary content, and 6 hours of electives.

Required Courses: (9 Hours)

CURR 6575 - Curriculum Trends and Issues 3 Credit Hours
ECSE 7500 - Diverse Classrooms in Global Society 3 Credit Hours
ECED 6249 - Seminar For P-5 Teachers 3 Credit Hours

Professional Specialization: (15 Hours)

(Choose one course from each of the five (5) areas below. Similar Arts and Science Courses may be taken in replacement of each specialization course below as approved by advisor)

Area 1
ECED 7259 - Investigating Methods and Materials in Mathematics 3 Credit Hours ⁵
Area 2
ECED 7260 - Investigating Methods and Materials in Science 3 Credit Hours ⁵
Area 3
ECED 7262 - Investigating Language Arts 3 Credit Hours ⁵ or
ECSE 7564 - Content Area Literacy Instruct 3 Credit Hours or
ECED 7261 - Literature for the Young Child 3 Credit Hours
Area 4
ECED 7264 - Investigating Social Studies Methods 3 Credit Hours ⁵
Area 5
ECED 7265 - Parent Education for Teachers and Child Care Workers 3 Credit Hours or
ECED 7266 - The Young Child: Home and Community 3 Credit Hours or
ECED 7273 - Family/Community Involvement for School Improvement 3 Credit Hours

Research/Assessment: 6 Hours

(Choose one course from each of the two (2) areas below)

Area 1
EDRS 6301 - Introduction to Research in the Human Sciences 3 Credit Hours or
Other research course approved by advisor 3
Area 2
EDRS 6342 - School and Classroom Assessment 3 Credit Hours

Related Studies/Electives: 6 Hours

(Choose two courses from the entries below)

ECED 7263 - Writing Across The Curriculum 3 Credit Hours or
ECED 7267 - Teaching Creative Arts 3 Credit Hours or
ECED 7268 - Teaching Creative Dramatics 3 Credit Hours or
ECED 7272 - Classroom Management Early Grades (P-5) 3 Credit Hours or
ECSE 7560 - Contemporary Issues in Education 3 Credit Hours or
K-5 Mathematics Endorsement
EDME 7271 - Elementary Mathematics I 3 Credit Hours and
EDME 7271L - Elementary Mathematics I Lab 1 Credit Hours and
EDME 7272 - Elementary Mathematics II 3 Credit Hours and
EDME 7272L - Elementary Mathematics II Lab 1 Credit Hours and
EDME 7273 - Advanced Strategies for Teaching Elementary Mathematics 3 Credit Hours and
EDME 7273L - Advanced Strategies for Teaching Elementary Mathematics Lab 1 Credit Hours or
Reading Endorsement
READ 7271 - Literacy, Development, and Practices in the Digital Age 3 Credit Hours and
READ 7263 - Comprehensive Literacy Assessments and Interventions 3 Credit Hours and
READ 7201 - Integrating Language, Literacy and Technology across Content Area 1.0 - 3.0 Credit Hours or
Other Electives (Reading, Technology, Media, Leadership, Special Education, Foundations, Educational Psychology, etc.) as approved by advisor

Program Notes:

Admission to this program requires a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education and eligibility for an Early Childhood or Elementary Education clear and renewable certificate or possession of a valid Early Childhood Education or Elementary clear and renewable certificate.
CURR 6575 must be taken within the first two semesters of admission to the program.
ECED 6249 must be taken within the last two semesters before completion of the program.
CURR 6575 , ECSE 7500 , and ECED 6249 are required courses.
A content course in related area can be taken to satisfy this section of the program sheet as approved by an advisor.
To enroll in the K-5 Mathematics Endorsement, educators must have at least one year of teaching experience and must have a valid clear renewable level 4 or higher teaching certificate in one of the following fields: Early Childhood Education (P-5); Middle Grades Mathematics (4-8); Special Education General Curriculum/Early Childhood Education (P-5). Educators holding any of the following certificates combined with a core academic content concentration in mathematics are also eligible to enroll: Special Education General Curriculum (P-12); Special Education Adapted Curriculum ((P-12); Special Education Behavior Disorders (P-12); Special Education Learning Disabilities (P-12); Special Education Deaf Education (P-12); Special Education Physical and Health Disabilities (P-12); Special Education Visual Impairment (P-12); and Gifted Education (P- 12).
Completion of the K-5 Mathematics Endorsement requires six (6) semester hours beyond degree requirements.
Completion of the Reading Endorsement or the ESOL Endorsement requires three (3) semester hours beyond degree requirements.
Candidates will be required to document clinical experiences with diverse students on Tk20 as part of the exit requirements for this program.