Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2), Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed)
The graduate program in early childhood education prepares teachers to meet national standards of excellence in teaching by supporting children’s understandings of the world through inquiry and active learning. The program emphasizes deep knowledge of human development, learning processes, instructional strategies, and subject matter. All courses use technology and focus on how teaching, learning, and assessment connect. Special attention is given to how issues of diversity—of culture, language, family, and learning styles—can best be used to positively impact schools and schooling in urban settings. Both the initial and professional programs are designed to meet the New York State Education Department requirements for certification in early childhood education (birth-grade 2).
Initial Certification Program
This program is for graduate students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in an area other than education and do not possess initial certification in early child-hood education at the time of entry into the program. Up to nine credits can be waived at discretion of the advisor for equivalent coursework at the graduate or undergraduate level.
Required Courses
| EDUC 7100A | Urban Schools in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDCE 7300F | Contemporary Problems and Issues in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 7150C | Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Contexts | 3 |
| EDCE 7250C | Curriculum Development in ECE | 3 |
| EDCE 3500C | Education in the Early Years: Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers | 3 |
| EDCE 4200C | Educating Young Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| EDCE 2100K | Development Issues in Early Childhood/Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 7500C | Emergent to Fluent Literacy | 3 |
| EDCE 1900C | Language and Literacy Development in Young Children | 3 |
| EDCE 2101C | Social Studies in the Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| EDCE 3300C | How Young Children Learn Science: Implications for Teaching | 3 |
| EDCE 6000C | How Children Learn Mathematics: Birth - Grade 2 | 3 |
One of the following two
One of the following three
| EDCE 4300C | Art and Expressive Activities in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDCE 4400C | Arts Integration: Theatre and Related Arts in the Curriculum | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDCE 7300C | Young Children's Education in Diverse Non-School Settings | 3 |
One of the following options
| EDCE 7301G | Student Teaching and Seminar in Early Childhood Education I | 3 |
| EDCE 7302G | Student Teaching and Seminar in Early Childhood Education II | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDCE 7301G | Student Teaching and Seminar in Early Childhood Education I | 3 |
| EDCE 7303G | Supervised Teaching and Seminar in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| | AND | |
| EDUC 1900G | Workshops on Child Abuse Identification, School Violence Prevention, Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), and Other Professional Topics | 0 |
Take the following courses
| EDCE 2202I | Content Research Seminar in Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| EDCE 2900I | Seminar in Educational Research II | 2 |
Total Credit Hours: 40-49
Professional Certification Program
This program is for graduate students who already possess Initial Certification in Early Childhood Education. It emphasizes ongoing inquiry and learning and the evolving nature of the professional teacher.
Required Courses
| EDCE 7150C | Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Contexts | 3 |
| EDCE 7250C | Curriculum Development in ECE | 3 |
| EDCE 7300F | Contemporary Problems and Issues in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 2100K | Development Issues in Early Childhood/Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 3500C | Education in the Early Years: Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers | 3 |
| EDCE 4200C | Educating Young Children with Special Needs | 3 |
One of the following three
| EDCE 1900C | Language and Literacy Development in Young Children | 3 |
| EDCE 2000C | First and Second Language and Literacy Acquisition | 3 |
| EDCE 2700C | Literacy for Struggling Readers and Writers | 3 |
One of the following two
| EDCE 2101C | Social Studies in the Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| EDCE 2300C | Social Studies Inquiry for Pre-K to 6 Teachers | 3 |
One of the following two
| EDCE 3200C | Science Inquiry for Pre-K to 6 Teachers | 3 |
| EDCE 3300C | How Young Children Learn Science: Implications for Teaching | 3 |
One of the following two
| EDCE 6000C | How Children Learn Mathematics: Birth - Grade 2 | 3 |
| EDCE 6200C | Mathematics Inquiry for Pre-K to 6 Teachers | 3 |
Take the following courses
| EDCE 2202I | Content Research Seminar in Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| EDCE 2900I | Seminar in Educational Research II | 2 |
Total Credit Hours: 31-34
Initial Certification Program for Candidates Certified in Childhood Education or a Related Area
Required Courses
| EDCE 7150C | Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Contexts | 3 |
| EDCE 7250C | Curriculum Development in ECE | 3 |
| EDCE 2100K | Development Issues in Early Childhood/Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 3500C | Education in the Early Years: Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers | 3 |
| EDCE 1900C | Language and Literacy Development in Young Children | 3 |
| EDCE 2101C | Social Studies in the Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| EDCE 3300C | How Young Children Learn Science: Implications for Teaching | 3 |
| EDCE 4200C | Educating Young Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| EDCE 6000C | How Children Learn Mathematics: Birth - Grade 2 | 3 |
Core Courses
| EDCE 7150C | Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Contexts | 3 |
| EDCE 7250C | Curriculum Development in ECE | 3 |
| EDCE 2100K | Development Issues in Early Childhood/Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 3500C | Education in the Early Years: Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers | 3 |
| EDCE 1900C | Language and Literacy Development in Young Children | 3 |
| EDCE 2101C | Social Studies in the Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| EDCE 3300C | How Young Children Learn Science: Implications for Teaching | 3 |
| EDCE 4200C | Educating Young Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| EDCE 6000C | How Children Learn Mathematics: Birth - Grade 2 | 3 |
One of the following three
| EDCE 4300C | Art and Expressive Activities in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 4400C | Arts Integration: Theatre and Related Arts in the Curriculum | 3 |
| EDCE 7300C | Young Children's Education in Diverse Non-School Settings | 3 |
Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching (in the range of grades for which the candidate has no prior experience):
One of the following two
| EDCE 7301G | Student Teaching and Seminar in Early Childhood Education I | 3 |
| EDCE 7303G | Supervised Teaching and Seminar in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
Research
| EDCE 2202I | Content Research Seminar in Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| EDCE 2900I | Seminar in Educational Research II | 2 |
Total Credit Hours: 34-37
Non-Certification Program
This program is for graduate students interested in learning about how to support the learning and development of young children but who do not want to get certified as a teacher in New York State.
Required Courses
| EDUC 7100A | Urban Schools in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| | OR | |
| EDCE 7300F | Contemporary Problems and Issues in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 7150C | Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Contexts | 3 |
| EDCE 7250C | Curriculum Development in ECE | 3 |
| EDCE 1900C | Language and Literacy Development in Young Children | 3 |
| EDCE 2101C | Social Studies in the Early Childhood Curriculum | 3 |
| EDCE 4200C | Educating Young Children with Special Needs | 3 |
| EDCE 6000C | How Children Learn Mathematics: Birth - Grade 2 | 3 |
One of the following three
| EDCE 2100K | Development Issues in Early Childhood/Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 3500C | Education in the Early Years: Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers | 3 |
| EDUC 7300A | Child Development | 3 |
ELECTIVES: (3) credits of electives or any other courses by advisement
| EDCE 7500C | Emergent to Fluent Literacy | 3 |
| EDCE 3300C | How Young Children Learn Science: Implications for Teaching | 3 |
| EDCE 4300C | Art and Expressive Activities in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDCE 4400C | Arts Integration: Theatre and Related Arts in the Curriculum | 3 |
| EDCE 7300C | Young Children's Education in Diverse Non-School Settings | 3 |
| EDCE 2202I | Content Research Seminar in Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| EDCE 2900I | Seminar in Educational Research II | 2 |
Take the following courses
| EDCE 2202I | Content Research Seminar in Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| EDCE 2900I | Seminar in Educational Research II | 2 |
Total Credit Hours: 31