Early Childhood Education/Child Development
The Early Childhood Education/Child Development master's program requires 36-credits
of course work and offers both a non-thesis and thesis option. A non-thesis requires
the completion of a professional paper or project that is designed by the student.
A thesis is recommended for individuals interested in pursuing scholarly research
or continuing on in a Ph.D. program. The early childhood program emphasizes the advanced
study of education, care, and development of children within the context of families,
educational and human service settings, communities, and societies. The program focuses
on early education, child development, families in social context, and research methods
and design. Flexibility within the program enables students to select supporting courses
in the areas of specialized early childhood education, working with adults, business,
administration, program evaluation and policy, research, internship and individual
studies. Students are encouraged to be creative in the development of their program
to help them accomplish their professional goals. Students develop skills necessary
for working with diverse children and families, planning, developing, implementing,
and evaluating programs for children and families, and conducting research. The program
prepares students for a variety of careers in early childhood settings, child care
related programs and businesses, child-related community, state or federal agencies,
non-profit settings, early intervention settings, public policy, parent education,
and teaching adults.