Early Childhood Education (M.Ed.)

Degree Requirements

• Completion of required prerequisite courses.
• Course Work for the Degree
• Goals Statement: At the beginning of the program, students will select an Area of Focus to guide their professional growth in their graduate study and will submit a Goals Statement. This document will serve as a plan so that students may achieve their individual professional and academic objectives in their Area of Focus.
• Graduate Professional Portfolio: Each student will present a professional portfolio as an exit requirement to the program. Along with ECED 773 (or ECED 898), the portfolio will provide a capstone experience. It will demonstrate integrated graduate level learning and evidence of essential professional dispositions, and will reflect the student's growth as a professional and leader in the chosen area of specialization in the field of early childhood education. An on-going collection of graduate work, it will serve as a synthesis of learning throughout the degree coursework and reflect NAEYC Standards for Advanced Professional Preparation.

For descriptions of the course offerings below visit the Graduate Catalog.

Note that courses numbers are often listed with decimal points followed by three numbers, such as "ECED 607.101" for example. The number after the decimal is the Section Number. Below is a list of the different sections numbers and what they mean. Be careful not to register for a class that is not under your correct Section Number.

Required Courses (21 credits)

Electives (12 credits)
These courses will support the candidates area of focus or specialization as indicated on initial Goals Statement and are to be selected from departmental elective courses or up to six units from another department with permission.

Electives in other programs may be of interest. Examples include courses from the Post-baccalaureate Certificates in autism studies and family-professional collaboration.

Grade Requirements
All students must complete ECED 773 with the grade A or B (the course may be repeated) or successfully complete ECED 898 Thesis.

Course Sequence
The first 6 units of the graduate program are ECED 611 Teacher as Researcher and ECED 609 Growth and Development of Young Children. These two courses must be completed before other courses are taken, except for students who begin degree coursework during the summer. The final, or capstone, course is ECED 773 Seminar in Early Childhood Education. In ECED 773, students are provided an opportunity to develop a creative and interdisciplinary statement of their professional identity, as they articulate their views on why they care about children and why they do what they do. All other course work must be completed prior to taking this course.

Thesis Option
As an alternative to ECED 773, students may elect the ECED 898 Thesis in Early Childhood Education. This option is available for students who may wish to pursue doctoral studies at a later date or who have identified a strong commitment to a specific topic of inquiry they wish to pursue in great depth. Students who elect the Thesis Option will take the 6-unit ECED 898 Thesis in place of the 3-unit ECED 773 Seminar and 3 elective units.

Certificate Options Within the M.Ed.
M.Ed. Plus Certification: The M.Ed. Plus provides a certification option for Early Childhood graduate students who already have a background in the field of early childhood education in addition to increased professional development at the graduate level. The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is recommended for graduate students with undergraduate degrees or significant experience in Early Childhood Education, Child Development or Child and Family Studies or who are practicing professionals working with young children and families. The M.Ed. Plus consists of the seven required courses and four elective courses in the M.Ed. that are geared toward certification as well as additional units in specific areas to meet certification requirements. These additional credits will be determined based on prior experience and course work and may include courses in the teaching of reading and internships. The M.Ed. Plus may require more than the 33 units for the basic M.Ed.

Post-baccalaureate Family-Professional Collaboration Certificate: Family/home collaboration is a vital aspect of Early Childhood professional practice. One of the Areas of Focus in the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education at Towson is the Early Childhood Family Specialist. Graduate students selecting this Area of Focus will complete the requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Family-Professional Collaboration within their master's degree program. These students must also meet with the Director of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Family Studies for advising on course requirements for the certificate program. Students will take the following courses as three of their electives in the M.Ed. in order to obtain the Family-Professional Collaboration Certificate:

For more information about the Family-Professional Collaboration Certificate, see the description in the Interdisciplinary Programs section of the Graduate Catalog.

College of Education
Hawkins Hall, Room 304

Phone: 410-704-2570
Fax: 410-704-2733