Early Childhood Education M.A./M.S.
The focus of the program is to achieve the goal of educating professionals in early childhood to support young children of all ability levels. In the field of early childhood today, personnel are working with children of all ability levels. As a result, knowledge of inclusive education and associated practices are necessary to provide the recommended services for all children. Students who complete the program will have a choice of four specialty areas.
The four specialty areas include: Constructivism in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, Infant Toddler Mental Health, and a Distributed Focus that draws from the other three specializations. Students will participate in three courses that were jointly developed by CI and SPED faculty and have a distinct focus on inclusive education.
General Requirements
Core Courses
| Ed 550 | Foundations in Early Childhood and Inclusive Education | 4 |
| Ed 551 | Child Development in Early Childhood and Inclusive Education | 4 |
| Ed 552 | Issues in Early Childhood and Inclusive Education | 4 |
| CI 590 | Action Research Proposal | 3 |
| CI 591 | Action Research Implementation | 3 |
Electives
| | Adviser approved electives taken within the Graduate School of Education | 9 |
Total Credit Hours: 27
Constructivism in Early Childhood
Courses
| CI 571 | Play: Curriculum in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CI 573 | Assessment and Technology in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CI 576 | Equity and Cultural Diversity in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| CI 577 | Learning Designs: Early Childhood Environments | 3 |
| CI 578 | Constructivist Curriculum: Big Ideas in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| | | |
| CI 579 | Young Child as Scientist | 3 |
| | or | |
| CI 572 | Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 18
Early Childhood Special Education
Courses
| SpEd 510 | Inclusive Early Childhood Models | 3 |
| SpEd 520 | Collaboration I: Families and Community - EL and EI/SE | 3 |
| SpEd 580 | Introduction to Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| SpEd 582 | Specialized Techniques: Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| SpEd 583 | Communication and Language Development: EI/SE (Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education) | 3 |
| SpEd 586 | Instructional Strategies II: EI/SE | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 18
Infant Toddler Mental Health
Courses
| SpEd 510 | Introduction to Infant Toddler Mental Health | 3 |
| | or | |
| | Another course with advisor approval | 3 |
| | | |
| Coun 520 | Collaborative Partnerships to Support Infants and Toddlers | 1-3 |
| CI 592 | Dynamic Models of Infant/Toddler Development | 3 |
| SpEd 594 | Assessment Methods and Classification in Infant Mental Health | 3 |
| SpEd 595 | Prevention and Intervention in Infant Mental Health | 3 |
| Coun 597 | Strengths, Risk Factors, and Disturbance in Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 18
Distributed Focus
Take a minimum of two courses from each strand with approval of adviser.
Total Credit Hours: 18