Early Childhood Education, M.Ed.
This online-only program is designed for educators interested in the deepening their knowledge and expertise in the growing field of early childhood education. The curriculum provides current theories of child development, research-based practices in early care and education, and early childhood leadership and administration, and combines best practice coursework from the M.A.T. Early Childhood Education and the M.Ed. Early Childhood Administration programs.
The program is offered in the United States as well as internationally, initially in China due to the country’s growing need to support early childhood educators and administrators with advanced education and professional growth opportunities.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. PROMOTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs are grounded in a child development knowledge base. They use their understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs, and of multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning, to create environments that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging for each child.
PLO2. BUILDING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that successful early childhood education depends upon partnerships with children’s families and communities. They know about, understand, and value the importance and complex characteristics of children’s families and communities. They use this understanding to create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and to involve all families in their children’s development and learning.
PLO3. OBSERVING, DOCUMENTING, AND ASSESSING TO SUPPORT YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that child observation, documentation, and other forms of assessment are central to the practice of all early childhood professionals. They know about and understand the goals, benefits, and uses of assessment. They know about and use systematic observations, documentation, and other effective assessment strategies in a responsible way, in partnership with families and other professionals, to positively influence the development of every child.
PLO4. USING DEVELOPMENTALLY EFFECTIVE APPROACHES - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that teaching and learning with young children is a complex enterprise, and its details vary depending on children’s ages, characteristics, and the settings within which teaching and learning occur. They understand and use positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation for their work with young children and families. Candidates know, understand, and use a wide array of developmentally appropriate approaches, instructional strategies, and tools to connect with children and families and positively influence each child’s development and learning.
PLO5. USING CONTENT KNOWLEDGE TO BUILD MEANINGFUL CURRICULUM - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs use their knowledge of academic disciplines to design, implement, and evaluate experiences that promote positive development and learning for each and every young child. Candidates understand the importance of developmental domains and academic (or content) disciplines in early childhood curriculum. They know the essential concepts, inquiry tools, and structure of content areas, including academic subjects, and can identify resources to deepen their understanding. Candidates use their own knowledge and other resources to design, implement, and evaluate meaningful, challenging curriculum that promotes comprehensive developmental and learning outcomes for every young child.
PLO6. BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL - Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs identify and conduct themselves as members of the early childhood profession. They know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related to early childhood practice. They are continuous, collaborative learners who demonstrate knowledgeable, reflective and critical perspectives on their work, making informed decisions that integrate knowledge from a variety of sources. They are informed advocates for sound educational practices and policies.
PLO7. EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD EXPERIENCES - Field experiences and clinical practice are planned and sequenced so that candidates develop the knowledge, skills and professional dispositions necessary to promote the development and learning of young children across the entire developmental period of early childhood – in at least two of the three early childhood age groups (birth – age 3, 3 through 5, 5 through 8 years) and in the variety of settings that offer early education (early school grades, child care centers and homes, Head Start programs).
Program Details:
- Requires 32 SH for completion
Required Courses
Program Requirements - 32 SH
| ECE 502 | Quality Child Care for Infants and Toddlers | 2 |
| ECE 503 | Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 504 | Human Development: Infancy and Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 507 | STEM in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 510 | Child, Family and Community | 3 |
| ECE 512 | Early Childhood Curriculum | 2 |
| ECE 521 | Writing and Effective Communication for Early Childhood Education Administrators | 1 |
| ECE 525 | Strategies for Supervision and Staff Development | .5 TO 3 |
| ECE 526 | Methods of Developing Mathematical Mindsets in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECE 538 | The Early Childhood Administrator: Individual and Organizational Perspectives | 2 |
| ECE 544 | Early Childhood Environments: Design and Facilities Management | 2 |
| EDU 504 | Assessment and Curriculum Differentiation in Early Childhood Setting | 2 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
Notes: ECE 525 must be taken for 3 semester hours.