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Early Childhood Education
Experienced educators construct an atmosphere that serves as a foundation for a child's health and well-being. If you have a desire to model, coach and guide young children through the first years of life when social, physical, cognitive, and emotional development occur, the Early Childhood Education specialization is a great choice for you. In this specialization, you will learn to assess educational potential, create instructional programs, direct and coordinate learning activities, and manage early childhood classrooms. As an Early Childhood Education graduate, you will be prepared to pursue positions at public or private schools, daycare centers, kindergarten institutions or community colleges, such as curriculum developer, manager or administrator, early childhood consultant and early childhood case manager.
Certification and Licensing
The School of Education serves educational leaders by providing online graduate studies in education to reach worldwide populations. The MEd program is designed to reach national and international markets and does not purport to provide licensure or certification in any particular state or country. Certification requirements vary by state. Students are advised to contact their state department of education or local school district for guidance in obtaining certification or licensure, or for approval in fulfilling district level incentive programs.
There are several reasons why an educator would want to pursue a graduate degree in education that does not lead to state licensing or certification.
Reasons may include:
- "Move up" steps on the salary schedule.
- Improve skills and professionalism in general or to pursue a ”leadership” position outside the classroom (school-based or district level).
- Advance as a ”teacher leader” through a graduate degree (already has a bachelor's degree and certification).
- Meet the needs of increasingly diverse students.
- Work in a traditional K-12 classroom environment (trainer, educational consultant, etc).
Completion Period for Master's Degrees
Northcentral University allows 5 years to complete all 30 credit hour master's programs. Normal time to complete varies depending upon the rate courses are taken and credits transferred.
Course Length
Existing MEd students may opt to switch to eight-week courses by contacting their Academic Advisor. Once existing MEd students have opted for eight-week courses, they must receive approval from the Office of the Dean to switch back to a program of 12-week courses. All eight-week courses are indicated by a "-8" (dash eight) at the end of the course code.
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU5000 / EDU5000-8 | Foundations for Graduate Study | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a Master's degree in Education. Graduate level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
ED5022/ED5022-8 | Educational Policy and Practice | This Master’s level course focuses on research and theory in developing effective schools. Topics include: aligning contemporary educational practice with Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards, collaboration, communication, decision-making, and conflict management. Current educational trends will be addressed to promote the establishment of effective educational climates for teaching and learning. |
Specialization Course 1 | ||
ED5001/ED5001-8 | Contemporary Issues in Education | This course examines the major contemporary issues impacting education. Students evaluate the issues, attempt solutions, and develop personal professional positions. In a broader context, the education profession is affected by numerous and diverse issues that are highly political, emotional, and complex. It is imperative that students understand the issues; the effects the issues have on the profession, as well as formulating a personal response to the issues. |
ED5034/ED5034-8 | School and Community Relations | This course introduces educators to essential competencies and considerations needed to build and sustain positive, productive relationships with members of school communities and the external communities in which schools reside. Emphasis is placed on the development of effective communication policies and practices to instill public confidence in community schools, improve school quality, and improve student learning. |
Specialization Course 2 | ||
ED5023/ED5023-8 | Multicultural Relationships in Educational Organizations | The effects of cultural diversity on organizational behavior are complex and powerful. What is diversity and what are the goals in achieving a more diverse society? This course examines the educational community's thinking on race, language, culture, gender and disability in the educational setting. |
Specialization Course 3 | ||
Specialization Course 4 | ||
ED6002/ED6002-8 | Action Research Capstone | This graduate course emphasizes practical research skills utilized by education practitioners. Students will develop an action research project based on the scientific method and concepts presented in ED6001. The culminating product will reflect critical thinking, graduate level writing skills, and correct APA format. This course is open only to students pursuing the Master of Education. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
EDU5000 / EDU5000-8 | Foundations for Graduate Study | This course is an orientation to Northcentral University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a Master's degree in Education. Graduate level skills, such as academic integrity, time management, effective use of the Northcentral Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a better understanding of personal goals, strengths, and challenges, and a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
ECE5001-8 | Foundations of Early Childhood Education | This Master's level course presents an overview of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in American society including foundational theories for educating the young child. Students will explore basic educational concepts and practices central to developmentally appropriate classrooms for children pre-K through grade three, including children with exceptional needs. Various historical and contemporary models, delivery systems, and newest innovations are investigated. Students pursuing a specialization in ECE are advised to take this as their first specialization course. |
ECE5002-8 | Growth and Development of Young Children | This Master's level course is a discussion of theory and research related to the education of young children. The intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of infants, toddlers and young children will be examined and their implications on the development of early childhood education instructional programs. |
ECE5003-8 | Administration of Early Childhood Programs | This Master's level course focuses on the development and implementation of early childhood programs for a variety of age groups and purposes. Specifically, curriculum development, materials, teaching strategies, evaluation, budgets, hiring procedures, and state guidelines/regulations are addressed, and skills are gained through practical application of these topics in practice. |
ECE5005-8 | Children and Families in a Diverse Society | This course introduces students to multicultural and anti-bias issues in early childhood settings. Students will explore culturally relevant methods for working with children and families. Upon completion of this course the prospective early childhood educator will have a comprehensive understanding of multi-cultural, bilingual and anti-bias issues, and appropriate strategies for providing culturally relevant programs in an early childhood setting. |
ECE5007-8 | Childrens Literature | This course is designed to provide students with effective strategies for sharing literature to support emerging literacy skills. Students will explore a variety of genres and criteria for selecting and using high-quality literature with young children. Potential early childhood educators will reflect on the selection of literature appropriate for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and primary age children. Students will explain and identify strategies to demonstrate how literature supports the development of childrens language, cognitive skills, personality, social and moral development, and aesthetic and creative development. National professional standards aligned with state and local standards for early childhood literacy will be presented. Upon completion of this course the prospective early childhood educator will have a comprehensive understanding of high quality childrens literature and its use as a teaching tool for literacy development in educational settings from infancy to age 8. |
ECE5009-8 | Early Childhood Education Capstone | This course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and apply in a comprehensive manner their learning of early childhood education. Students will reflect on the courses taken and develop an understanding of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NCAEYC) standards, developmentally appropriate practices based upon child development research, center-based curriculum, and professionalism. This course will culminate with a comprehensive final project that integrates the learning throughout the program. |
CT5004-8 | Foundations of Language & Literacy Education | This course will assist educators in learning more about the foundations of language development and the impact language acquisition has on literacy learning. Educators will be asked to reflect on their own understanding of language development and reflect on their teaching of language. |
CT5005-8 | Literacy Teaching and Learning | This course provides students working in professional teaching settings opportunities to develop their understanding of the eight principles guiding literacy development in the early years. Theory, strategies, activities as well as a summative assessment are presented throughout this course to assist teachers in gaining a more thorough perspective on literacy development in the early grades. |
Course Code | Name | Course Description |
|---|---|---|
ED6002 / ED6002-8 | Action Research Capstone | This graduate course emphasizes practical research skills utilized by education practitioners. Students will develop an action research project based on the scientific method and concepts presented in ED6001. The culminating product will reflect critical thinking, graduate level writing skills, and correct APA format. This course is open only to students pursuing the Master of Education. |
At Northcentral University, we pride ourselves in being completely transparent when it comes to tuition and fees. We have adopted an all-inclusive tuition model that gives you the cost of your Master of Education tuition and fees in one flat program rate*. The only additional cost above your MEd program rate is books. Learn more about the NCU’s MEd costs below:
- Per credit cost: $544
- Per 3 credit course cost: $1,631
- Program cost: $16,310
- Average book cost per course: $150
- Application Fee: $0
- Technology Fee: $0
- Registration Fee: $0
Click here to learn more about payment and financing options.
*Program rates are subject to change and generally increase at the start of each calendar year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about our students, it’s that they are motivated and ambitious—but they are also busy! At Northcentral University, we’ve designed our education experience to work with you, not against you, so you can achieve your academic goals without sacrificing the quality, flexibility and support you need to be successful.
- Regionally Accredited
- No Physical Residency Requirements
- One-to-One Teaching
- 100% Doctoral Faculty
- Flexibility of Online Learning
- University Resources
To learn more, request information or call 1-866-776-0331 or start a live chat to speak with an enrollment advisor today. We offer new courses every Monday of the year so you can get started when it’s best for you.
