The graduate plan in Early Childhood Education leads to the master of science degree. Students will be subject to an interview with members of the Early Childhood Education program prior to admission. Students seeking this degree must complete at least 36 hours of credit. Within the degree, there are three tracks of Early Childhood Education: master’s degree, master’s degree focusing on young children with disabilities and master’s degree with EC-6 certification..

Check prerequisites before enrolling in any courses.

Professional Education Core (12 hours):

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EDUC 6032     EDUC 6033     INST 6031¹    SILC 6030   
¹Students in Track C must take TCED 6031 instead of INST 6031.   
Required Early Childhood Core (9 hours):

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ECED 5031    ECED 5032    ECED 5131      
Track A - Master's Degree Only

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Advised Electives (9 hours)   
ECED 5033     ECED 5132     ECED 5133     ECED 5231    
ECED 5331     ECED 5332 ¹     ECED 5333     ECED 5335    
ECED 5737          
Master's Degree Options (6 hours) :
Option 1: EDUC 6939 or
Option 2: EDUC 6839 or
Option 3: ECED 6739 plus 3 hours of an approved elective (Internship requires prior completion of a minimum of 9 hours of the Professional Education Core and a minimum of 15 ECED hours completed from the 21 ECED hours on the plan).   
Track B – Master's Degree with Focus on Young Children with Disabilities

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Required (12 hours)    
ECED 5332 ¹     ECED 5333 ¹     ECED 5737    SPED 5131¹   
Master's Degree Options (6 hours):
ECED 6739 plus 3 hours of an approved elective (Internship requires prior completion of a minimum of 9 hours of the Professional Education Core and a minimum of 15 ECED hours completed from the 21 ECED hours on the plan)   
Track C – Master's Degree with EC-6 Certification (39 hours)

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Includes initial teaching certification (see academic advising for graduate teacher certification plan)

Required (12 hours)

ECED 5033     ECED 5132     ECED 5331    ECED 5335    

Master's Degree Options (6 hours):
ECED 6739 plus 3 hours of an approved elective (Internship requires prior completion of a minimum of 9 hours of the Professional Education Core and a minimum of 15 ECED hours completed from the 21 ECED hours on the plan).

Additional Certification Courses (36 hours):

EDUC 5130/4130     EDUC 5132/4132     LLLS 5131/4434      LLLS 5533/4435   
SPED 5030/4030     TCED 5010¹/4010¹    TCED 5231/4231     TCED 5232/4232   
TCED 5233/4233⁴    TCED 4738 and TCED 4798 or TCED 4768/4769   

¹Students not passing the state assessments by the final semester of this plan must also enroll in and successfully complete this course.