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Early Childhood Education - M.Ed.

The M.Ed. program is designed for teachers and other professionals in fields related to education that wish to pursue advanced study in teaching, leadership, research, or public policy and advocacy.

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More About This Program

Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education provides a comprehensive education in early childhood education studies. This program prepares students for various careers in early childhood education and related fields.

Early Childhood Education M.Ed. students are guided by faculty in the development of a self-assessment and program of study that satisfies individual professional goals and expectations of the program. All students must complete an exit project that may include a thesis, practicum, or action research project. Ohio endorsements/second license for Pre-K, Pre-K-5, and reading endorsements can be embedded.

Prospectus: M.Ed. in Early Childhood

 

 

Concentrations

Three concentrations in Early Childhood Education are available. Concentrations can be embedded within the M.Ed. or taken as stand-alone classes.

Early Childhood Leadership: Advocacy, Curriculum and Policy Concentration

This concentration of the Early Childhood Education M.Ed. commonly appeals to individuals who have worked in the field and have a desire to further their own early childhood programs, become master teachers, and/or enhance their own leadership on behalf of young children and professionals who work with them. Individuals delve into issues and trends in the field, reconceptualize practice, understand and deconstruct/reconstruct policy understandings and complete their own independent research as inquiry exit projects or theses.

Globalization & Intercultural Competence Concentration

Are you working with international students and in search of research based solutions to learning and teaching? Build your intercultural competence to meet the demands of your district's growing or changing immigrant and refugee populations. This concentration is intended for those teaching in the early years or a related field and licensed PreK-5.

  • ECED International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Certificate in Teaching and Learning (embedded in the program)
  • Individualized Plan of Study

Course topics in GIC Concentration:

  • Principles of Development and Cross-Cultural Development
  • Understanding Emergent Bilingual Children and their Families
  • Intercultural Dimensions of Teaching and Learning
  • Teaching Emergent Bilingual Children in the Early Years
  • Integrated Curriculum
  • Multi-Cultural Education in Global and Local Contexts
  • Choices of Methods of Teaching English as a Second Language, Second Language Acquisition, or Heritage Languages and Second Language Acquisition
  • Research in Education

For more information about this concentration, please contact Dr. Gumiko Monobe (gmonobe@kent.edu) or Dr. Janice Kroeger (jkroege1@kent.edu).

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Concentration

Master's students in the STEM Concentration learn to engage children in interdisciplinary instruction, integrating STEM to break down traditional boundaries. They also gain experience working with and integrating technology in classroom instruction.

The STEM Concentration includes courses in early childhood STEM education; electives in Mathematics Education, Science Education, and Educational Technology; and additional early childhood focused courses.

For more information, please contact Dr. Bridget Mulvey (bmulvey@kent.edu) or Dr. Karl Kosko (kkosko@kent.edu).

Program Information for Early Childhood Education - M.Ed.

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Education degree in Early Childhood Education prepares critically reflective teachers with advanced knowledge in pre-school through primary multi-disciplinary curriculum. Students are prepared to be democratically accountable leaders, co-decision makers, pedagogical experts and committed professionals in various early childhood realms. The program emphasizes commitment to equitable and caring learning communities.

Ohio endorsements for pre-school and literacy may be embedded in the program. In addition, students have the opportunity to receive an International Baccalaureate (IB) recognition award in the M.Ed. degree.

The Early Childhood Education major includes the following optional concentrations:

  • The Early Childhood Leadership: Advocacy, Curriculum and Policy concentration commonly appeals to teachers who desire to further their own early childhood programs, become master teachers and/or enhance their own leadership on behalf of young children and professionals who work with them. Students delve into issues and trends in the field, reconceptualize practice, understand and deconstruct/reconstruct policy understandings and complete their own independent research as an inquiry exit project or thesis.
  • The Globalization and Intercultural Competence concentration is designed for teachers who are searching for research-based solutions to the learning and teaching of international students and/or who want to build intercultural competence to meet the demands of growing or changing immigrant and refugee populations in the classroom.
  • The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics concentration provides students the opportunity to engage children in interdisciplinary instruction; gain experience working with and integrating technology; and integrate STEM to break down traditional boundaries.
Admissions for Early Childhood Education - M.Ed.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions
Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Co-construct curriculum as a co-worker with learners and others (parents, families, colleagues and community members) to make sound decisions for learning and teaching experiences, as opposed to being passive receivers of prescribed curriculum.
  2. Synthesize conceptual understandings of children, theory, content, technology and socio-cultural contexts into meaningful activities and opportunities for learning with all students in pre-kindergarten to grade three.
  3. Engage in the habit of self-assessment in order to continually uncover unknown possibilities in children's learning, classroom practice, educational theory and one's own teaching identity in the local and global context.
  4. Become committed to the children and their learning, the families and the local community while having an awareness of the global context.
  5. Engage in continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning.
  6. Apply skills, knowledge and dispositions to challenge "questionable" policies that limit opportunities for all children.
  7. Utilize research and theory to develop varied and effective pedagogies and assessments that will positively impact all students' learning (learning and teaching is a transdisciplinary practice).
  8. Advocate as ethical leaders and moral agents striving for social justice.
  9. Acknowledge and practice multiple, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multiracial, multi-social, multi-economic and multilingual perspectives in a global society.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
ECED 60152APPLICATION OF SELECTED THEORETICAL PRINCIPLES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN 3
Major Electives, choose from the following:11
ECED 50093
VARIABLE TITLE WORKSHOP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 50203
CRITICAL INQUIRY: THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE FRAMEWORK
ECED 50301
TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES IN K-5 CLASSROOMS
ECED 50302
TEACHING PHONICS AND WORD STUDY
ECED 50303
TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN THE ELEMENTARY YEARS I
ECED 50403
TEACHING WRITERS IN THE ELEMENTARY YEARS
ECED 50404
TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN THE ELEMENTARY YEARS II
ECED 54444
DEVELOPMENT AND PEDAGOGY IN UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ECED 60101
CONSTRUCTIVIST TEACHING IN TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS
ECED 60103
SOCIAL STUDIES AND THE ARTS IN PRESCHOOL
ECED 60113
PRESCHOOL EDUCATION
ECED 60115
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS FOUNDATIONS FOR EARLY AND MIDDLE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 60151
SOCIOMORAL ENVIRONMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 60158
RECONCEPTUALIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM
ECED 60201
TEACHING EARLY READERS
ECED 63333
FAMILY-SCHOOL-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN DIVERSE SETTINGS
ECED 67292
PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 67296
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 67298
RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Additional electives with advisor approval
Culminating Requirement
ECED 67296INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 3
or ECED 67298 RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Additional Requirements or Concentrations
Choose from the following:15
Minimum Total Credit Hours:32

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Major Requirements
CI 60169UNDERSTANDING EMERGENT BILINGUAL AND IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES 3
or ECED 60115 SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS FOUNDATIONS FOR EARLY AND MIDDLE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
or ECED 60158 RECONCEPTUALIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM
or MCED 60115 SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATH FOUNDATIONS FOR EARLY AND MIDDLE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
CI 60171TEACHING EMERGENT BILINGUAL AND IMMIGRANT STUDENTS 3
or ECED 60116 SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATH INQUIRY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
or ECED 60163 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Additional Major Electives, choose from the following: 19
ECED 50093
VARIABLE TITLE WORKSHOP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 50203
CRITICAL INQUIRY: THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE FRAMEWORK
ECED 50301
TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES IN K-5 CLASSROOMS
ECED 50302
TEACHING PHONICS AND WORD STUDY
ECED 50303
TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN THE ELEMENTARY YEARS I
ECED 50304
TEACHING SCIENCE IN THE ELEMENTARY YEARS
ECED 60101
CONSTRUCTIVIST TEACHING IN TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS
ECED 60113
PRESCHOOL EDUCATION
ECED 60151
SOCIOMORAL ENVIRONMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 60158
RECONCEPTUALIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM
ECED 63333
FAMILY-SCHOOL-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN DIVERSE SETTINGS
ECED 67292
PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 67296
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
ECED 67298
RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Additional electives with advisor approval
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15
1

Courses fulfilling major program requirements (listed above) may not be used to also fulfill the requirements for the additional major electives.

Early Childhood Leadership: Advocacy, Curriculum and Policy Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
ECED 60101CONSTRUCTIVIST TEACHING IN TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS 3
ECED 60158RECONCEPTUALIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM 3
ECED 60163CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 3
ECED 60170WRITING FOR PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 3
Advisor-Approved Concentration Elective3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15

Globalization and Intercultural Competence Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
CI 60169UNDERSTANDING EMERGENT BILINGUAL AND IMMIGRANT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES 3
CI 60171TEACHING EMERGENT BILINGUAL AND IMMIGRANT STUDENTS 3
Concentration Electives, choose from the following with advisor approval:3-6
CI 61130
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION: STRATEGIES
CI 67005
INTERCULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
ECED 50123
CRITICAL INQUIRY INTO INTEGRATED CURRICULUM IN THE PRIMARY YEARS
English Education Electives, choose from the following3-6
ENG 63001
METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
ENG 63033
THEORIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
ENG 63038
TEACHING LITERATURE AND CULTURE
ENG 63047
HERITAGE LANGUAGES AND SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING
Additional elective with advisor approval
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements
ECED 60115SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS FOUNDATIONS FOR EARLY AND MIDDLE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 3
or MCED 60115 SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATH FOUNDATIONS FOR EARLY AND MIDDLE CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Mathematics Education Electives, choose from the followng with advisor approval:6
CI 67095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
CI 67224
TEACHING MATHEMATICS USING COMPUTERS AND CALCULATORS
CI 67225
RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
Science Education Electives, choose from the following with advisor approval:6
CI 61134
RESEARCH TRENDS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION
CI 61140
CULTURE AND MULTICULTURALISM IN SCIENCE EDUCATION
CI 61141
NATURE OF SCIENCE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION
CI 67240
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Additional electives with advisor approval
Minimum Total Credit Hours:15

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • Students are guided by faculty in the development of a program of study that satisfies both individual professional goals and expectations of the school, college and university.
  • All students are expected to complete an exit project that involves a practicum or action research project.
  • Students completing the M.Ed. degree in Early Childhood Education must take at least 32 credit hours for completion.
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Early Childhood Education - M.Ed.

Graduates of Â鶹´«Ã½'s M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education are prepared for specialized career opportunities in the early childhood education industry.

Education teachers, postsecondary

4.8%

about as fast as the average

77,300

number of jobs

$65,440

potential earnings

Elementary school teachers, except special education

3.5%

about as fast as the average

1,452,100

number of jobs

$60,940

potential earnings

Kindergarten teachers, except special education

3.7%

about as fast as the average

127,700

number of jobs

$57,860

potential earnings

Preschool teachers, except special education

2.5%

slower than the average

540,400

number of jobs

$31,930

potential earnings

Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

3.6%

about as fast as the average

1,395,900

number of jobs

$28,900

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

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