Early Childhood Education Leading to Certification (Birth to Kindergarten or Nursery to Grade 3), M.Ed.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Required Credits: 42 minimum

The Early Childhood Education program is designed to prepare teachers at the graduate level to work in school settings with all children between birth and kindergarten and/or nursery and third grade. The program focuses on an inclusion model, involving every student in a prekindergarten and/or kindergarten inclusive setting. Students are prepared to work with families, provide for the integration of children and services, and collaborate with other professionals

Professional Education:

The following requirements constitute the Early Childhood Certification program. Students in this program are required to complete a Professional Foundations core of 18 credits as well as a Nursery/Kindergarten (NK) core of 12 credits of course work plus one NK student teaching experience of 3 credits. Students may undertake an endorsement in the birth to kindergarten area with an additional 6 or 9 credits and/or an endorsement in the Nursery to Grade 3 area with an additional 6 or 9 credits.

Professional Foundations (18 credits)

EDF 568 - Philosophic and Cultural Issues in Contemporary Education 3 credit(s)
EDH 510 - Theoretical Foundations: Children and Adults with Special Needs 3 credit(s)
EDR 544 - Foundations and Strategic Actions of Literacy Learning 3 credit(s)
EDR 550 - Fundamentals of Reading Instruction 3 credit(s)
EDP 540 - Applied Developmental and Learning Theories 3 credit(s)
EDT 663 - PK-6 Science & Technology 3 credit(s)

Nursery/Kindergarten Core (15 credits)

EDY 630 - Model Programs in Early Childhood Education 3 credit(s)
EDY 647 - Working with Families: The Child, the Home, and Community 3 credit(s)
EDY 646 - Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood 3 credit(s)
EDY 644 - Birth–Kindergarten Integrated Curriculum 3 credit(s)
EDY 554 - Student Teaching: Nursery- Kindergarten 3 credit(s)

Birth-Kindergarten Courses (9 credits)

(#112 CT Certification)

EDY 643 - Infants and Toddlers: Development and Assessment 3 credit(s)
EDY 552 - Student Teaching: Infant/Toddler 3 or 6 credit(s) (Students must take EDY 552 for 6 credits)

Nursery-Grade 3 Courses (9 credits)

(#113 CT Certification)

EDY 645 - Kindergarten–3 Integrated Curriculum 3 credit(s)
EDY 553 - Student Teaching: Grades 1, 2, 3 3 or 6 credit(s) (Students must take EDY 553 for 6 credits)

edTPA: ECE Requirement

ED 501 - edTPA: ECE 0 credit(s)

Note(s):

Also required for certification if not taken at the undergraduate level: EDR 558 - Reading and Language Arts through Children’s Literature (3 credits) and 15 credits in Human Growth and Development.* The 15 credits in Human Growth and Development may be taken from prior study or may be taken concurrently with the required Early Childhood Education program.

*Questions regarding specific courses taken at the undergraduate level can be answered by an advisor.