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Early Childhood Education


	Description

	Degrees Offered

	Admission

	Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education

		Additional Certification Track

		Initial Certification Track

	Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

		Early Literacy Track

		Educational Leadership Track

		Family, School and Community Track

		Pre-Kindergarten Handicapped Endorsement Track

	Contact Info

Description

The master’s degree programs in Early Childhood Education are designed to meet the needs of both prospective and practicing teachers through the delivery of relevant, rigorous course work and related academic experiences.

Students who already hold Early Childhood Certification may enroll in the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program, which includes a full range of courses and the choice of 2 specialization tracks. Prospective teachers who do not hold certification in the area of early childhood may enroll in the Master of Arts (M.A.) Initial Certification in Early Childhood Track, which leads to certification in this area. Students who hold elementary education certification and would like to add the Pre-Kindergarten Primary Certification may enroll in the Master of Arts (M.A.) Additional Early Childhood Certification Track.

In addition to fostering the professional development of certified early childhood teachers, this program will also serve as a bridge among schools and community agencies and will provide the educational experiences to nurture educational leaders who will work within and across these areas.

Degrees Offered

Additional Certification Track
Initial Certification Track

Early Literacy Track
Educational Leadership Track
Family, School and Community Track
Pre-Kindergarten Handicapped Endorsement Track

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Graduate Catalog. Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:

Evidence of a GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 attempted credit hours of undergraduate study at an accredited institution and a minimum score of 840 on the combined verbal/quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); or
A minimum GRE score of 1000 or above on the combined verbal/quantitative sections of the exam.
Admission criteria for the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education (ECE) track include the completion of a bachelor’s degree and Florida pre-kindergarten primary (age 3 to grade 3) teacher certification.
Admission to the M.A. in ECE initial track requires completion of a bachelor’s degree, but not Florida teacher certification.
Admission to the M.A. in ECE additional track includes completion of a bachelor’s degree and Florida elementary education teacher certification.
For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.

Additional Notes on Admissions

Students will be admitted to the program three times a year (in the fall, spring, and summer) and must apply for graduate admission by the application deadline established for this program. No admissions decisions will be made using race, sex, or ethnic origin of the student. Students who do not meet published admission requirements may be admitted provisionally and will be interviewed by a faculty program committee whose recommendations will be forwarded to the master’s admission and retention committee in accordance with College of Education code for final admission action. Other admission factors that may be used in selecting students for provisional admission to the program are: previous teaching experience or work (i.e., social service agencies) with pre-kindergarten or primary age children and their families.

Application Due Dates

All students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

Program(s) Fall Priority Fall Spring Summer

Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Additional Certification Track Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Initial Certification Track Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Master of Education in Early Childhood Education Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Early Literacy Track Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Educational Leadership Track Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Family, School and Community Track Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

Pre-Kindergarten Handicapped Endorsement Track Feb 1 Jul 15 Dec 1 Apr 15

International Applicants

Program(s)

Fall Priority

Fall

Spring

Summer

Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Feb 1

Jul 1

Additional Certification Track

Feb 1

Jul 1

Initial Certification Track

Feb 1

Jul 1

Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

Feb 1

Jul 1

Early Literacy Track

Feb 1

Jul 1

Educational Leadership Track

Feb 1

Jul 1

Family, School and Community Track

Feb 1

Jul 1

Pre-Kindergarten Handicapped Endorsement Track

Feb 1

Jul 1

Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

Minimum Hours Required for M.Ed.—36 Credit Hours

Core courses and track courses may be taken in any sequence preceding the capstone experience. The capstone experience serves as the culminating experience in the program of study and substitutes for the comprehensive examination.

Area A: Core—9 Credit Hours

EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours)
EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 5205 Programs and Trends in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)

Area B: Specialization Tracks—24 Credit Hours

Select one track for admission into the program. Twelve additional hours will be selected in consultation with your adviser.

Early Literacy Track—12 Credit Hours

EEC 6213 Communicative Arts in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 6XXX Early Childhood Children’s Literature (3 credit hours)
LAE 6616 Trends in Language Arts Education (3 credit hours)
RED 6116 Trends in Reading Education (3 credit hours)

Educational Leadership Track—12 Credit Hours

EDA 6061 Organization and Administration of Schools (3 credit hours)
EDA 6931 Contemporary Issues in Educational Leadership (3 credit hours)
EDS 6123 Educational Supervisory Practices I (3 credit hours)
EEC 6XXX Early Childhood Program Administration (3 credit hours)

Family, School, and Community Track—12 Credit Hours

EEC 6405 Home-School-Community Interaction in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 6406 Guiding and Facilitating Social Competence (3 credit hours)
EEC 6946 Practicum in Family Liaison Building (3 credit hours)
EEX 5750 Communication with Parents and Agencies (3 credit hours) or EEC 6263 Studies in Curriculum Environments for Early Childhood Education ( 3 credit hours)

Pre-Kindergarten Handicapped Endorsement Track—12 Credit Hours

EEX 5702 Planning Curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten Children with Disabilities (3 credit hours)
EEX 5750 Communication with Parents and Agencies (3 credit hours)
EEX 6017 Typical and Atypical Applied Child Development (3 credit hours)
EEX 6224 Observation and Assessment of Young Children (3 credit hours)

Area C: Capstone Experience—3 Credit Hours

EEC 6XXX Master’s Seminar (Action Research) (3 credit hours)

Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Initial Certification in Early Childhood Education Track

Minimum Hours Required for M.A.—39 Credit Hours

Core courses and professional teaching certificate courses may be taken in any sequence preceding the graduate internship.

Area A: Core—6 Credit Hours

EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours)
EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)

Area B: Professional Teaching Certificate Courses—33-45 Credit Hours (dependent on undergraduate degree)

Historical, philosophical, and sociological perspectives in early childhood Education—3 Credit Hours

EEC 5205 Programs and Trends in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)

Child growth and development from conception to age eight (8)—3 Credit Hours

EEX 6017 Typical and Atypical Applied Child Development (3 credit hours)

Developmentally appropriate integrated curriculum and practices in programs serving children ages three through five—9-18 Credit Hours

EEC 5206 Organization of Instruction in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 5208 Creative Activities in Early Childhood (3 credit hours)
EEC 6213 Communicative Arts in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 6269 Play Development, Intervention, and Assessment (3 credit hours)
EEC 6263 Studies in Curriculum Enrichment for Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 6XXX Early Childhood Children’s Literature (3 credit hours)
TSL 5345 Methods of ESOL Teaching (3 credit hours)
TSL 5525 ESOL Cultural Diversity (3 credit hours)

Issues and practices to promote family and community involvement—3-6 Credit Hours

EEC 6405 Home-School-Community Interaction in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEX 5750 Communication with Parents and Agencies (3 credit hours) Health, nutrition, and safety for children ages three through five (3 Credit Hours)
EEC 6XXX Practicum in Family Liaison Building (3 credit hours)

Health, nutrition, and safety for children ages three through five—3 credit hours

EEC 4731 Health, Safety, and Nutrition for Young Children (3 credit hours)

Diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation—3 Credit Hours

EEX 6224 Observation and Assessment of Young Children (3 credit hours) Special needs of all children and their families—6 Credit Hours

Special needs of all children and their families—6 credit hours

EEX 5051 Exceptional Children in the Schools (3 credit hours)
EEX 5702 Planning Curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten Children with Disabilities (3 credit hours)

Child guidance and classroom management—3 Credit Hours

EEC 6406 Guiding and Facilitating Social Competence (3 credit hours)

Area C: Internship—6 Credit Hours

Required only for students who have less than one year of experience in early childhood settings (pre-kindergarten through grade three)
EDG 6940 Graduate Internship (6 credit hours)

Additional Certification in Early Childhood Education Track

Minimum Hours Required for M.A.—39 Credit Hours

Core courses and professional teaching certificate courses may be taken in any sequence preceding the graduate internship.

Area A: Core—6 Credit Hours

EDF 6432 Measurement and Evaluation in Education (3 credit hours)
EDF 6481 Fundamentals of Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)

Area B: Professional Teaching Certificate Courses—33-45 Credit Hours

Historical, philosophical, and sociological perspectives in early childhood Education—3 Credit Hours

EEC 5205 Programs and Trends in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)

Child growth and development from conception to age eight (8)—3 Credit Hours

EEX 6017 Typical and Atypical Applied Child Development (3 credit hours)

Developmentally appropriate integrated curriculum and practices in programs serving children ages three through five—9 Credit Hours

EEC 5206 Organization of Instruction in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 5208 Creative Activities in Early Childhood (3 credit hours)
EEC 6XXX Communicative Arts in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 6268 Play Development, Intervention, and Assessment (3 credit hours)
EEC 6275 Studies in Curriculum Enrichment for Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEC 6XXX Early Childhood Children’s Literature (3 credit hours)
TSL 5345 Methods of ESOL Teaching (3 credit hours)
TSL 5525 ESOL Cultural Diversity (3 credit hours)

Issues and practices to promote family and community involvement—3 Credit Hours

EEC 6405 Home-School-Community Interaction in Early Childhood Education (3 credit hours)
EEX 5750 Communication with Parents and Agencies (3 credit hours) Health, nutrition, and safety for children ages three through five (3 Credit Hours)
EEC 6XXX Practicum in Family Liaison Building (3 credit hours)

Health, nutrition, and safety for children ages three through five—3 credit hours

EEC 4731 Health, Safety, and Nutrition for Young Children (3 credit hours)

Diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation—3 Credit Hours

EEX 6224 Observation and Assessment of Young Children (3 credit hours) Special needs of all children and their families—6 Credit Hours

Special needs of all children and their families—6 credit hours

EEX 5051 Exceptional Children in the Schools (3 credit hours)
EEX 5702 Planning Curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten Children with Disabilities (3 credit hours)

Child guidance and classroom management—3 Credit Hours

EEC 6406 Guiding and Facilitating Social Competence (3 credit hours)

Area C: Internship—6 Credit Hours

Required only for students who have less than one year of experience in early childhood settings (pre-kindergarten through grade three).
EDG 6940 Graduate Internship (6 credit hours).

Additional Program Graduation Requirements

Complete a portfolio according to program guidelines. This portfolio requires demonstration of professional growth, reflection, and proficiency in the 12 Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.
Pass all applicable sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination.

Financial Support

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

If you’re interested in financial assistance, you’re strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. To receive need-based fellowship awards, the student must have demonstrated need as determined by FAFSA. Merit fellowship awards are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application).
For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program coordinator of your major.