College of Education


Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the courses on-line?

None of the early childhood courses are offered fully on-line at this time. Some of the courses have a mixture of face-to-face and on-line meetings depending upon the individual instructor. However, there are a few foundational courses that are occasionally offered in a web-based format.

Can I attend part time?

Yes, many of our students attend part-time. At the graduate level fulltime enrollment is considered nine credit hours or three courses. Many of our students take one, two or thee courses per semester.

Are any of the courses offered in the evening?

Actually, our entire course offerings our in the evenings. The general assumption on our part is that are students are working professionals and are not typically available to attend the University during the day.

I am currently teaching out of field, but in an early childhood setting. Is this the appropriate program for me?

Occasionally there are students who do not have a BA/BS degree in early childhood education or a related field, but they have experience working with children, and are interested in pursuing the M.Ed. For these students, we have four prerequisite courses. These courses are not a part of the Masters program of study, but they must be successfully completed before you can be admitted to the Masters degree. The student will need to take these courses as a non-degree seeking student, and must be cautious about the policies and rules that apply to non-degree seeking students.

The courses are:

  • EEC 4303: Creative Experiences in Early Childhood (Fall semesters only)
  • EEC 4941: Field Experience I (Fall semesters only – 2 mornings a week)
  • EEC 4203: Programs for Young Children (Fall semesters only)
  • EEC 4307: Cognitive Experiences in Early Childhood (Spring Semesters only)

The student will need to have permission from the Department of Childhood Education and Literacy Studies and the instructors for the respective courses to enroll in any of these courses. These courses are generally reserved for our matriculated students in the early childhood undergraduate program, and therefore space/availability for a non-degree seeking student is not guaranteed.

Once a student has successfully completed the prerequisite courses (with a C grade or better), they may apply to the graduate program.

How do I know if my undergraduate major is considered a related field?

Examples of related fields include elementary education, child and family studies, or child development. However, there are other areas of study that are relevant to early childhood education, especially when combined with experiences working with young children and their families. If you think you graduated in a related field, please contact the M.Ed. Program Coordinator to discuss your educational background and experiences.

How do I apply?

All graduate applications must be submitted by the FACTS Online Graduate Application.

Applicants have two options to pay their application fee, either by Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover) or by E-Check (checking/savings account). The application fee is $30.

International applicants should follow the directions for international applications.