College of Education
Early Childhood Education - M.Ed. ( Collaborative Master's Program )
The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is designed for the teacher who wishes to establish a learner-centered classroom. Through an integrated approach that provides choices and opportunities for decision making and dynamic group interactions, teachers participating in this collaborative master’s program become partners with faculty in shaping the path or paths by which content is learned.
Program Academic Regulations
This program prepares educators to work with tomorrow’s citizens. Its design is based on the assumption that learning is a constructive process that builds on the knowledge and experience of the learner. Certain beliefs characterize this program, including that learning happens in a social setting where children and teachers learn together and that meaningful learning occurs in the context of the university setting and in classrooms. With these beliefs as the core, this program provides opportunities for teachers to reflect and refine their understandings about teaching and learning.
Consistent with programmatic core beliefs, evaluation for all courses will be on-going. Therefore, IP (“in progress”) grades will be assigned for most courses each term. Upon completion of all programmatic requirements, traditional grades (A-F) will be assigned to each course with the exception of ECE 7740 and ECE 7750. These two courses are evaluated as satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
In addition to the college-wide graduation requirement of an overall 3.00 grade point average (calculated on all graduate work attempted), the Department of Early Childhood Education requires that the students maintain satisfactory progress as he or she pursues the program of study. Any student whom faculty believes is not making satisfactory progress toward fulfillment of degree requirements may be removed from the program.
- Participants must be employed as classroom teachers and hold certification in early childhood education, and they must have completed at least one year of teaching.
- Applicants are interviewed by Early Childhood Education faculty and school-based personnel for admission.
- Participants must commit to four academic terms of continuous study and must register for a minimum of nine semester hours per term. Because of the special nature of this program, students who drop out will not be able to complete it unless they reapply, nor will students be able to substitute course prerequisites.
- Participants must be willing to attend a two-day retreat scheduled during the first academic term of enrollment as a coursework requirement. The participant will assume the cost of the retreat.
- Students must participate actively in the design of the program structure, content, and assessments. Students may satisfy program requirements in a variety of settings and through a variety of experiences (e.g., seminars, class meetings, classroom research, group and/or individual projects, curriculum design, workshops).
- Students will participate in the design of a capstone experience during the final academic term. This capstone will demonstrate the accumulated knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired throughout the program.
In addition to the requirements listed above, students must file a formal application for graduation with the Graduation Office, Office of the Registrar, at least two academic terms in advance of the expected date of graduation to establish eligibility for graduation with the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education.
In this program, the teacher functions as a collaborator with parents and children to focus on strategies for enhancing effective child learning. All coursework and instruction will incorporate reflective practice, collaboration, theories of child development, and strategies for managing classrooms and affirming diversity. For a detailed description of departmental requirements, please refer to the CMP Program Manual available from the Department of Early Childhood education or at the bottom of this web page.
Program Degree Requirements
A. Professional Studies (9).
Required (9):
EPRS 7910 Action Research (3)
EPSF 7120 Social and Cultural Foundations of Education (3)
EPY 7090 The Psychology of Learning and Learners: The Young Child (3)
B. Teaching Field/Internship (18).
Required (18):
ECE 7390 Curriculum in the Early Childhood Classroom I (3)
ECE 7400 Curriculum in the Early Childhood Classroom II (3)
ECE 7410 Critical Issues in Early Childhood Education I (3)
ECE 7420 Critical Issues in the Early Childhood Education II (3)
ECE 7740 Internship in Early Childhood Classroom I (3)
ECE 7750 Internship in Early Childhood Classroom II (3)
C. Capstone Experience (9).
Students admitted to the Reading Recovery Program may apply up to 6 semester hours of credit in appropriate Reading Recovery courses toward completion of the capstone experience. However, students are expected to complete a capstone experience.
Required (9):
ECE 7800 Capstone Experience (9)
Program total: minimum of 36 semester hours
CMP Program Manual (PDF)
CMP Program Brochure (PDF)