Online Application Submission

Completed applications must be submitted by the following deadline:

Fall 2023
Application period begins: October 1, 2022
Application due date: June 1, 2023*

Applications are not accepted after the deadline.

*Please note that international applicants (F1 or J1 visa) have an earlier deadline of March 15, 2023 for Fall 2023 consideration.

Use Cal State Apply to apply and be sure to complete all components of the application by the published deadline.

The Cal State Apply dashboard is divided into four sections:

• Personal Information: contact information, biographic information and financial information, etc.
• Academic History: colleges attended, GPAs, etc.; do not hand-enter transcript information
• Supporting Information: enter “I am not adding any experiences”
• Program Materials: statement of purpose, recommendations, etc.

Please refer the tutorial on the GSO Tutorials and Tips for Applying website for tips on filling out these sections of Cal State Apply. Please also refer below for detailed information for what documents to submit for the program materials.

Lastly, there is a non-refundable $70 application fee. Your application will not be processed until this fee has been paid. Please note that the CSU system does not offer a fee waiver for graduate level applications.

Important: you may only apply to one graduate program per CSU.  If you are unsure about which program is best for you, contact the Graduate Studies Office.

For technical assistance with Cal State Apply, please contact the Cal State Apply Help Desk:  (857) 304-2087, CalStateApply@liaisoncas.com or visit the Cal State Apply Applicant Help Center.  Cal State Apply Application Support is available Monday – Friday, 6AM – 5PM PT.

After you complete and submit the university application, please upload supplementary program application materials via MyCED by the application deadline:

• Statement of purpose (prompt provided below)
• Résumé 
• Document

  ECE Verification of Teaching Experience 2023.pdf

Statement of Purpose

Submit a three-page, double-spaced statement of purpose. Each question must be answered sequentially. The quality of the applicant’s essay is taken into consideration while making admission decisions. The statement of purpose should address the following four prompts:

1. Describe your personal and professional experience teaching and working with young children and families.
2. Describe your experiences with communities of color, non-native English-speaking communities, lower-income communities, immigrant communities, etc. How have these experiences influenced your interactions with diverse children and families?
3. Discuss your personal and professional goals in pursuing a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. How do you perceive the program helping you attain these goals?
4. Explain the contribution you will make to the profession of early childhood education.

Need help with writing your Statement of Purpose? Visit our website for tips and resources: GSO Tutorials and Tips for Applying

Résumé

Please upload the most recent copy of your résumé. 

Need help with updating your resume? Visit our website for tips and resources: GSO Tutorials and Tips for Applying

Supplemental Materials - Verification of Teaching Experience

Verification of Teaching Experience is required. Please upload copy of the completed 

Letters of recommendations must be submitted through MyCED. Access to MyCED is only permitted once you have completed and submitted the University application in Cal State Apply. 

Be prepared to enter the names and e-mail addresses for two recommenders. Recommenders should be familiar with your work, i.e., faculty members, supervisors, or mentors with sufficient experience to offer an informed and compelling statement of your skills and qualifications. We encourage you to seek the strongest possible letters. Therefore, we suggest speaking with your recommenders before completing this section.

 When specifying the Due Date, enter 6/1/2023.

Once you have entered and saved information for a recommender, an email request will automatically be sent to the recommender on your behalf. Please advise your recommender to look for this email in their inbox, as well as their spam or junk-mail folder, as emails do occasionally get filtered out.

Lastly, please ask your recommenders to:

Please provide the following relevant information regarding the applicant’s suitability for graduate study:  

• Applicant’s potential for graduate for work (e.g. former academic, work ethic, diligence);
• Applicant’s interpersonal skills (e.g., communication, ability to work with others)
• Applicant’s knowledge and ability/potential to develop curriculum and instructional activities (e.g., creativity, problem-solving skills, attention to details)
• Applicant’s ability to interact with young children from diverse backgrounds