COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

M.Ed in Education Early Childhood Education

This concentration focuses on inquiry-based learning of developmentally appropriate practice, family involvement, technology, and issues and trends in early childhood education. Students apply theoretical knowledge to action research studies conducted in a variety of early childhood settings. Students are prepared to develop innovative curricula and take leadership roles in the field of early childhood education. Students holding a K-8 teaching certificate may receive a P-3 endorsement upon completion of the concentration core courses. For further information about the P-3 Endorsement program , please contact Dr. Janis Strasser.

Click Here For Application Essay Form
   
Advisor: Dr. Janis Strasser
Entry Requirements
Each applicant must demonstrate that he or she can fulfill the requirements of the program, including the ability to read and write at a graduate level, the capability to do graduate level academic work, and an interest in educational theory and practice. Toward this end the requirements for admission are:
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended.
  • A cumulative grade point average from past degrees of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale*.
  • A minimum verbal score of 450 on the Graduate Record Examination or a minimum score of 388 on the Miller Analogies Test*.
  • A 250-500 word essay by the applicant on his or her philosophy of education and reasons for applying to this graduate program.
  • A copy of a teaching certificate and/or a resume of any teaching or educational work the applicant has performed.
  • Two professional letters of reference, at least one from a professor or other person who can attest to the applicant's academic abilities.
  • Each applicant should have a personal interview before being accepted for matriculation.
Course Requirements: 33 Credits*
Course Number and Title Credits

Select one of the following:

  
ELCL 6190 Applied Developmental Psychology
 3
TBED 5420: Multiculturalism and Acculturation
 3

 
Research (both courses required):
  
ELCL 6290 Research in Education I
 3
ELCL 6300 Research in Education II
 3

 
Concentration Core:  
ELEC 6010/CIEC 6010 Technology in Early Childhood Education 3
ELEC 6020/CIEC 6020 Curriculum Development and Classroom Management in Early Childhood Education** 3
ELEC 6110/CIEC 6110 Parenting and Parent Involvement in School and Community 3
ELEC 6180/CIEC 6180 Language Development and Emergent Literacy 3
ELEC 6340/CIEC 6340 Issues and Trends in Early Childhood**
 3
ELEC 6350/CIEC 6350 Creativity and Play in Early Childhood 3
   
Elective courses:  
Choose two courses selected by advisement. 6

 
Exit Requirements
  • The completion of 33 credits of prescribed graduate study for all concentrations including one three-credit course in the social sciences selected with advisement and six credits in educational research culminating in the production of a master's thesis.
  • The completion of a multi-chapter empirical/action research thesis in the field of specialization to be developed during Research in Education I and Research in Education II courses.
  • Satisfactory completion of a concentration-specific exit requirement. This latter requirement carries no course credit but must be completed before graduation.
Supervisor Certification Requirements

**Part of M.Ed. program
***Taken post-masters