Teacher Education

Master of Arts in Education

Option in Early Childhood Education

The Master of Arts in Education, Option in Early Childhood Education (30-33 units) is designed to foster the development of educators who are able to apply research-based knowledge in designing developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum and assessment strategies for children ages birth through 8. Candidates develop parent involvement strategies, reflect on issues facing the field, evaluate the quality of early childhood programs in their local communities, critically evaluate policies that impact young children and their families around the world, and utilize technology to enhance communication and learning. Visit the program website for program details (www.ced.csulb.edu/teacher-ed/academic/ece).

Prerequisites

The following are required for admission to the program:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
2. Minimum 3.0 overall grade point average in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units of coursework.
3. EDP 301 or HDEV 307 or PSY 361.
4. EDEL 420.
Prerequisites: None.
5. EDEL 482 or one year of documented and approved teaching experience.
6. International applicants have additional university application requirements including meeting the English language proficiency requirement. Please visit The Center for International Education (CIE) website at www.csulb.edu/cie for more information.

Application

Candidates must apply separately to both the university and the program by posted deadlines. Applications should be submitted at the same time.

The application for Graduate Admission to the University is available online through CSUMentor (www.csumentor.edu). One complete set of official transcripts must be submitted with the university application. This set of transcripts will be used to determine grade point average eligibility. Failure to submit transcripts in a timely manner will result in a delayed review of the application.

The Early Childhood Education program application must be submitted to the College of Education Graduate Studies Office (ED1-7). An application and directions can be downloaded at www.ced.csulb.edu/graduate/application-packets. The program application does not require a set of transcripts.

Conditional Admission

Successful applicants are admitted to the program with Conditional admission status.

Advancement to Candidacy - Clear Admission

Students should advance to candidacy as early as possible. They should meet with the program coordinator to plan their program no later than completing 6 units. For Advancement to Candidacy (Clear Admission status), students must:

1. Fulfill the campus Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).
2. Resolve all incomplete grades.
3. Maintain a 3.0 grade point average.
4. Submit to the Graduate Studies Office an Advancement to Candidacy form signed by the program advisor.

Requirements

1. Research methods (6 units):

Take the following:

EDP 400 Introduction to Educational Research (3)
Prerequisites: None.

Take one of the following:

EDP 520 (for Comprehensive Examination track) (3)
Prerequisites: EDP 400 or equivalent.
EDP 595 or EDP 696 (for Thesis track) (3)
Prerequisites EDP 400 or equivalent.

2. Core courses (21 units):

Take all of the following:

EDEC 520 Early Childhood Curriculum and Assessment: Critical Perspectives (3)
Prerequisites: None.
EDEC 521 Historical and Contemporary Perspectives in Early Childhood (3)
Prerequisites: None.
EDEC 522 Parent Education and Involvement in Educational Environments (3)
Prerequisites: None.
EDEC 523 Leadership, Advocacy and Supervision of Early Childhood Programs (3)
Prerequisites: None.
EDEC 526 Adv Study of Infant & Toddler Programs (3)
Prerequisites: EDP 301 or consent of instructor.
EDEC 621 Research in Early Childhood Education (3)
Prerequisites: EDP 400 and teaching experience.
EDEC 622 Seminar in Early Childhood Care and Education: International Perspectives (3)
Prerequisites: None.