Master of Education:
Early Childhood Education Option

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Early Childhood Education, Master of Education (M.ED)

Early Childhood Education M.Ed.-This program is designed for graduate candidates to gain advanced knowledge of early childhood education. The ECE Program will prepare graduates to work in Head Start, ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) and public/private preschools or, upon ECE add-on endorsement, eligible to work in P-3.

This program foundation is based on principles of developmentally appropriate practice and Universal Design for Learning. The coursework is aligned with Washington State Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals, the ECE Endorsement Competencies for the State of Washington Educator Standards Board, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards for Early Childhood Preparation Programs.

This emphasis area does not lead to an initial, residency teaching certificate. However, candidates who hold a valid Washington State teaching certificate, complete program requirements, and complete the NES assessment are then eligible for recommendation for the add-on endorsement.

For more information about this program visit our website. For information about internships for this program, visit our internship website.

This is an online accelerated program with 6-week academic sessions.

Admissions Requirements

  1. Have earned a baccalaureate degree (either a BA or BS) from an accredited institution of higher education.
  2. Have earned a grade point average ≥3.0 on a 4-point scale during the final 90 quarter credits (or 60 semester credits) of enrolled courses.

Note: candidates may or may not be certified teachers.

Required Common Core
EDUC 522TRANSFORMATION OF LEARNING AND TEACHING4
EDUC 505CURRENT ISSUES IN EDUCATION4
EDUC 507PHILOSOPHY AND ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN SCHOOL4
EDUC 520METHODS OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH4
Area Specialization
EDUC 581THE SCIENCE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT: RISK AND RESILIENCE4
EDUC 582CURRICULUM AND PRACTICE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION4
EDUC 583THE INTENTIONAL TEACHER4
EDUC 584POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN4
EDUC 585FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, SYSTEMS AND THEORY4
EDUC 586EARLY CHILDHOOD LEADERSHIP, POLICY AND PRACTICE4
Internship
EDUC 631EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERNSHIP I2
EDUC 632EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERNSHIP II2
Portfolio and Comprehensive Exam
EDUC 633EARLY CHILDHOOD PORTFOLIO2
EDUC 634EARLY CHILDHOOD COMPREHENSIVE EXAM3
Total Credits49