Early Childhood Education (Master of Arts)

The Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education program is designed for individuals who currently have or are seeking careers as educators of young children, birth through eight years of age. It focuses on educational issues and practices appropriate for this population. Coursework outside of the concentration strand has been designed to support and enhance the concepts presented. Students select the thesis option (33 credits) or non-thesis option (36 credits). Individuals who wish to pursue a research career, administrative position and/or doctoral degree in education are encouraged to select the thesis option. The program complies with the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The program is open to individuals who hold elementary teaching certification. Individuals with extensive backgrounds in child development who do not hold an elementary teaching certificate may also be considered for admission. Upon successful completion of the concentration, the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Education (Test Code 82), and a minimum of 300 contact hours (150 with each of two of the age groups infant-toddler, preprimary, and K-3rd grade), graduates with teaching certificates from the State of Michigan will be eligible for a certificate endorsement in early childhood education (coded ZA in Michigan).

Requirements.

1. Core education courses (6 credits)
   EDE 500 - Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching.  or EDE 601 - Contemporary Issues in Educational Policy in a Pluralistic Society. 
   EDE 670 - Research Seminar. 
2. Early childhood education strand (18 credits).
   1. ECE 500 - Current Trends and Issues in Early Childhood Education. 
      ECE 522 - Understanding and Working with Parents of Young Children. 
      ECE 541 - Developmental Assessment of Young Children’s Learning. 
      ECE 645 - Advanced Study of Early Childhood Integrated Curriculum. 
   2. Two from:
      ECE 520 - Early Childhood Special Education. 
      ECE 649 - Administration, Organization and Operation of Early Childhood Programs. 
      ECE 660 - Advanced Supervised Field Experience in Infant-Toddler Settings. 
      ECE 661 - Advanced Supervised Field Experience in Pre-Primary Settings. 
      ECE 662 - Advanced Supervised Field Experience in Primary Settings. 
      EDE 545 - Instructional Issues in Multicultural Education. 
      EDE 580 - Independent Study in Elementary Education. 
      EDE 585 - Special Topics in Elementary Education. 
      EDN 510 - Teaching in the Inclusive Classroom. 
      EDR 520 - Reading and Writing Development of Young Children. 
      EDR 530 - Children’s Literature.  
      ECE 645 - Advanced Study of Early Childhood Integrated Curriculum.  
      Students who do not have the State of Michigan Early Childhood Endorsement (ZA) and who wish to receive it with this degree program must elect two courses from ECE 660 , ECE 661 , ECE 662 . Students who already have the ZA endorsement can elect any 6 credits from the list.
3. Cognate courses (6 credits).Two from:
   LIN 520 - Linguistics for Teachers. 
   LIN 521 - First Language Acquisition. 
   PSY 500 - Growth and Development of Young Children. 
4. Thesis or non-thesis option (33-36 credits).
   1. Non-thesis option (6 credits). Additional courses listed under A or B2 above, and/or ECE 520 .
   2. Thesis option (3 credits). EDE 698  (prerequisite: completion of at least 24 credit hours).

Early Childhood Certificate Endorsement

This 21-credit-program is developed for individuals who hold elementary teaching certification and wish to add the Early  Childhood endorsement to their teaching certificates. All coursework applied toward the endorsement may also be applied  toward the Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education. Upon successful completion of the endorsement program and the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Education, individuals will be eligible for a certificate endorsement in early childhood education (coded ZA in Michigan). A minimum of 300 contact hours (150 with each of two of the age groups infant-toddler, pre-primary and K-3rd grade) are required.  Students should consult an early childhood advisor before registering for field courses.

Requirements.

1. Core early childhood courses (12 credits).
   ECE 500 - Current Trends and Issues in Early Childhood Education. 
   ECE 522 - Understanding and Working with Parents of Young Children. 
   ECE 541 - Developmental Assessment of Young Children’s Learning. 
   ECE 645 - Advanced Study of Early Childhood Integrated Curriculum. 
2. Field Experiences (6 credits).  Two from:
   ECE 660 - Advanced Supervised Field Experience in Infant-Toddler Settings. 
   ECE 661 - Advanced Supervised Field Experience in Pre-Primary Settings.  
   ECE 662 - Advanced Supervised Field Experience in Primary Settings.  
   Each includes a minimum of 150 contact hours with one of the age groups: infant-toddler, preprimary, and grades K-3.
3. Electives (3 credits).
   One from: ECE 500 , ECE 520 ; EDE 601 , EDE 545  (prerequisite: EDE 432  / EDE 532 ), EDE 585 ; EDN 510 ; EDR 520 , EDR 530 , EDR 535 , EDR 645 ; LIN 520 , LIN 521 ; PSY 500 .