Early Childhood Focus

Master of Arts in Education with a Focus in Early Childhood Education (30 credit hours)

This program helps you build compelling learning environments for children from birth to age 8. Covering the roles of literacy development, child development, classroom creativity, and family and community partnerships in early childhood programs. This focus area meets and exceeds national accreditation requirements that early childhood program administrators complete at least 9 credit hours, or a minimum of 144 clock hours, in the areas of administration, management, and leadership of early childhood education.  

Courses You Will Take
In addition, to the 15 credit hours of core elementary education courses, you will take the following 15 credit hours:

• EDEL 630 School, Family, and Community Partnerships (3 credit hours)
• EDEL 640 Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
• EDEL 641 Early Childhood Program Leadership (3 credit hours)
• EDEL 644 Education in a Diverse Society (3 credit hours)
• EDEL 651 Educational Programs for Young Children (3 credit hours), Prerequisite EDEL 640

Certificate Options
Graduates of this master’s degree program will also have a “certificate of early childhood program administration” listed on their transcript. Make sure to check with advisor Harold Roberts about how to do this.

Or, you can take only the focus area courses for a graduate certificate in early childhood education.