Early Childhood Education
Master of Arts
About this program
The Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education emphasizes advanced coursework in child development, culturally responsive education, critical pedagogy, curriculum design, and practitioner inquiry. The 30-unit program consists of seven required courses and a choice of 3 electives. A field-based research project is the culminating project for the program. It is highly recommended that program participants work or volunteer in early childhood settings during their MA studies.
Program Curriculum and Requirements
Program Scope
The MA in Early Childhood Education is designed for educators who want to deepen their expertise with children from birth to age 8, and strengthen their work with families in multicultural and multilingual communities. You build advanced knowledge in early learning theory, research and classroom practice, so you can make stronger instructional decisions and create learning environments where young children thrive.
This degree supports a range of career goals, from infant toddler and preschool teaching to primary grade teaching, early childhood program leadership and community college instruction. Coursework also aligns with California Child Development Matrix pathways for teacher and administrator levels, giving you a practical, career relevant foundation as you advance.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Articulate how theories and practices in one or more of the major early childhood theoretical frameworks come to be accepted, contested, changed, and implemented in the early childhood field.
- Evaluate the quality of early childhood curricula and assessments on the basis of their sources and the methods used to generate that information.
- Analyze educational, social, and cultural issues as well as ethical dilemmas that arise out of early childhood research, discoveries, and applications.
- Construct coherent and sound inquiry and reflection goals and practices with support from multiple sources, including online and library resources as well as other existing resources in the field of early childhood education.
- Analyze issues of equity, access, and social justice related to children’s learning and teaching and leadership practices in early childhood contexts. Apply this analytical knowledge to their own lives and to ways in which they can contribute purposefully to the well-being of their local educational institutions and communities.
- Apply the methods of practitioner inquiry and analysis characteristic of one or more of the education disciplines related to the study of child development, teaching practices, leadership, and curriculum as related to the appropriate cultural, linguistic, and educational contexts.
Admissions Information
- Elementary teaching credential or the completion of a minimum in 12 units in professional course work relevant to early childhood education
- Successful professional experience working with young children
- Possession of B.A. with 3.0 minimum GPA for the last 60 units
- Education: Concentration in Early Childhood Education (M.A.) — minimum 30 units
- Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated
Statement of purpose:
- A clear and well-organized statement of purpose that states the following:
- Your professional competencies and goals, and your goals for graduate school and the future: describe what you have done previously in early childhood education and what you were doing now and what you hope to do once you get our degree
- Your level of competency in languages other than English, if you are bilingual and/or bi-literate
Two letters of recommendation that include the following topics:
- Your academic ability to pursue graduate work (from a professor or instructor)
- Your professional experiences teaching young children or adults (from an administrator or other professional educators)
- For the letters of recommendation please address the letters on letterhead to the Early Childhood Coordinators: Dr. Mina Kim and Dr. Daniel Meier
Transcript(s) from every college or university attended
Current and complete resume or CV
- Applications for Fall Admissions: May 1
(if the due date is on a holiday or weekend, the form is due on the following business day) - Applications for Spring Admissions: December 1
(if the due date is on a holiday or weekend, the form is due on the following business day)
Ready to apply? Visit the Graduate Students page to get started.
Questions?
If you have questions about the admissions process please contact Dr. Mina Kim or Dr. Daniel Meier, co-coordinators of Early Childhood Programs, Elementary Education Department.