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Master of Arts in Education
Early Childhood Education Emphasis
Program Objective
Early Childhood Education is the term given to the teaching of children from birth to age eight. Professional practices of early childhood educators focus on teaching strategies based on child development and learning styles; creating developmentally, individually, and culturally appropriate practices; assessing children's development and learning; and developing positive relationships with children and families. Learners in the MA program will design research and apply the results to a practical problem, understand and articulate developmentally appropriate practices, focus on advocacy and leadership within early childhood education.
Course Descriptions
ECE 522 Play: Theoretical Foundations and Applications - 4 credits
This course is a study of the various theoretical foundations of play and their application to young children's development and learning. Students examine the role of the teacher in children's play, analyze play environments, and review the issues and research affecting children and curricula.
ECE 523 Topics in Early Childhood Education - 2 credits
This course is a study of current issues in early childhood education in an historical context, emphasizing their relevance to and impact on today's programs for children ages eight and under.
ECE 526 Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood Education - 2 credits
Along with the presentation of curriculum and instruction theory, this course will explore the development and implementation of early childhood curriculum and instruction. The link between assessment and program evaluation will be made.
ECE 527 Observation and Assessment in Early Childhood Education - 4 credits
The various methods of child study and observation strategies are studied as a way to assess children's growth and development of knowledge and skills. In addition, the physical environment can be observed in an effort to identify any potential changes that could benefit children.
ECE 541 The Diverse Classroom - 2 credits
This course presents studies of education in multicultural settings. Students explore the values, beliefs, customs, and perceptions of racial and ethnic groups which affect social life and the education of children. Concepts of culture, social class, and power are developed.
ECE 544 Language Development and Emergent Literacy - 4 credits
Current research is studied in regard to emergent literacy and language development in children with implications for the classroom teacher. Whole language strategies are explored for children from birth through age seven.
ED 540 Legal and Legislative Issues - 2 credits
This course will deal with law and legislation that affects early childhood education. Children and childcare are presented as issues of public policy. The skills and strategies of child advocacy are discussed, and students are challenged to become active in public advocacy for children.
ED 582 Ethics for Educators - 2 credits
This course is a study of ethics and moral philosophy with applications to making decisions regarding current social and personal problems.
ED 587 Synthesizing Seminar I: Introductions and Literature Reviews - 2 credits
This course builds and expands on the work you began in "Navigating." In this course, relying on collected sources around a topic of interest you have gathered from other course work. Students will learn the process of narrowing a topic of interest to a general research question or professional problem via a literature review that identifies the background of the problem, salient theory used to understand the problem, and the methods used to produce results across several studies. At the end of the course, students will have a working draft of the first two chapters of a mock research proposal.
ED 588 Synthesizing Seminar II: The Capstone Proposal - 2 credits
This second synthesizing seminar pulls together the previous components of the research narrative, program courses in the student's emphasis, and interests in one of the capstone options. Simply stated, the primary task is to develop and write a capstone proposal, one that the student actually intends to carry out. This involves a thesis or project. The Capstone proposal can be developed from the "mock" proposal developed so far in the program of study.
ED 595 Capstone - 1 credit
As the final work submitted by a graduate student, and in respect to the guidelines for research base, analysis and synthesis, the students have three options in which they may design their closing assignment. Students can choose from a thesis, portfolio, or project style to complete their graduate experience.
FAS 501 Family Systems - 4 credits
This course is an analysis of the family. It investigates the family as a system of relationships that interact across the family life cycle. It includes a survey of current developments in the study of the family and analysis of changes in American society and their influence on family life. Included is an emphasis on the impact of the family on education.
FAS 531 The Practitioner as Researcher - 2 credits
Students will discuss what it means to be a life-long learner. The course will focus on the learning that takes place in the professional setting of the early childhood educator. Issues of creative thinking, scholarly research, continuous learning, ethical frameworks, and creative problem solving are discussed in light of clarifying the relationship between research and practice. Students explore reflective thinking as it relates to the current practice of early childhood education.
FAS 532 Navigating Oceans of Data and Information - 3 credits
The course is designed to introduce the scope and function of information and the research process in early childhood. The course will introduce students to types and fundamental concepts and process in the research literature. Problem solving is viewed as one of the primary functions of the research literature information, leading to strategies and action for solutions and change. Students will gain experience developing a framework for consuming the research literature and information in early childhood.
FAS 534 Reflexive Assessment and Evaluation - 3 credits
This course reviews the connection between research methods and the research question or problem. Students will explore the role of assessment and evaluation in early childhood education. Various forms of assessment will be considered with an emphasis on the recursive nature of assessment. Students will experience the process of establishing strategy for a program in early childhood education.
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