Administered by the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Effective Fall, 2005
Admission. The following admission requirements, which apply to both the Master of Science in Early Childhood Education program and to the master's program with an Early Childhood Education Certification, must be met in addition to the general admission requirements for the School of Graduate Studies. Undergraduate work need not be in a specific field of study.
An interview and a review of academic credentials are required. Applicants who lack an undergraduate QPA of 3.0 will be admitted on a provisional basis.
All applicants will take the Miller Analogies Test. A minimum score of 30 is required. Waivers may be granted to graduate students that score lower but have excellent academic records.
Three recommendations from any of the following persons: undergraduate or graduate faculty, direct-line supervisors, administrators, and other individuals who are familiar with the applicant's academic abilities and personal qualities. Recommendation forms are available from the program coordinator for early childhood education.
Written completion of a 10-day field experience. Forms are available from the observation/program coordinator.
Written completion of a 14-day participation experience. Forms are available from the program coordinator.
Passing and/or remediation of speech and hearing tests, and vision tests. TB tests are required. Forms are available from the program coordinator.
Passing the National Teacher Examination core battery and the specialty area of early childhood education. Pennsylvania Department of Education requires all certification applicants to pass the Praxis Series of Examinations (NTEs) for certification. It is the graduate student's responsibility to register, complete and earn a passing score on the examinations.
Retention. Students must maintain a QPA of 3.0 throughout their program. Courses in which a grade of B- or lower is obtained must be repeated with a grade of B or higher. Nine graduate credits may be transferred into the program.
State Police checks (Criminal, Act 34 and Abuse, Act 151) required by the Department of Health and Welfare and the Bureau of Certification must be obtained prior to student teaching in private and public schools, Head Start programs, and day care centers in Pennsylvania.
All students will take and pass a comprehensive examination, which is administered when they have completed 12 to 15 semester hours of graduate work. The examination consists of written and oral requirements. An appointment is made with the program coordinator.
Graduation. The Master of Science in Early Childhood program consists of 30 semester hours; 12 additional semester hours in course work and practicum are required for the Level I Certification, N, K-3. Students must complete 6 semester hours in foundation courses, 18 to 30 semester hours in early childhood education core courses, and 6 semester hours in related studies courses.
Students seeking a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education must complete 30 semester hours with a 3.0 QPA. Students seeking a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education with N, K-3 certification must complete 42 semester hours with a QPA of 3.0.
A departmental paper, thesis, comprehensive project, or the comprehensive examination is required for completion of the degree program. Specific guidelines are available from the program coordinator. All papers must be written following the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide. A five chapter format is preferred.
All program requirements must be completed within six years after admission into the program. Students are required to complete their programs within four years after passing their comprehensive exam. Extensions may be granted in certain situations. Students who fail to enroll and complete a course within a two-year period are placed in an inactive file. Inactive students must reapply for admission, retake the comprehensive examination. Courses older than six years will not meet the degree requirements. All deficiencies, tests, if applicable, monetary and academics, must be satisfied before the degree can be granted.
I. Foundation Courses (6 credits required)
60.501 Major Philosophies of Education
60.502 School and Society
60.512 Educational Media and Software (required by all N, K-3 - other computer courses may be substituted based upon the graduate student's skills and interests.)
60.514 Home, School and Community Relations
60.527 Classroom Management and Effective Discipline
79.501 Teaching, Learning and Assessment in Elementary Classrooms
Other courses may be selected based upon the needs, educational background or deficiencies of each individual student. Approval of the coordinator for ECE and the dean of the graduate school is required.)
II. Early Childhood Education Studies (18 credits required for M.S. in Early Childhood Education; 30 credits required for M.S. in Early Childhood Education with N, K-3 Certification).
62.510 Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education I
62.520 Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education II
62.522 Curriculum Trends in Early Childhood Education
62.523 Practices in Teaching the Young Child
62.590 Current Research and Development in Early Childhood Education
62.591 Learning and Development of the Young Child
62.592 Identification and Prescription of the Needs of Young Children
62.593 Organization and Administration of Educational Programs for Young Children
62.594 Practicum in Early Childhood Education - 6 credits, one semester
III Related Courses (6 credits required)
60.534 Creativity for Teachers
62.510 Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education I
62.520 Methods and Materials in Early Childhood Education II
62.251 Elementary School Curriculum
62.524 Knowledge and the Curriculum in the Elementary School
62.525 Current Practices in Elementary School Science
62.526 Methods and Materials in Elementary School Science and Mathematics
62.527 Social Studies in the Elementary School
62.528 Language Arts in the Modern School
62.529 Literature for Children in Elementary Grades
62.530 Environmental Education for the Elementary Teacher
62.531 Environmental Education Experiences
62.533 Values Clarification in the Elementary School
62.537 Methods and Materials in Elementary School Language Arts and Social Studies
62.539 Current Topics in Elementary Education
62.581 Independent Topics in Elementary Education
62.583 Seminar in Elementary Education
62.595 Individualized Instruction: Principles and Practices for the Classroom
63.540 Introduction to the Teaching of Reading
63.541 Diagnosis and Prescription in Reading
63.543 Reading Clinic I
63.548 Reading Instruction for the At-Risk Student
63.549 Teaching Reading to the Hearing Impaired/Language Handicapped Child
63.550 Literature, Literacy and Culture
79.599 Thesis (3-6 credits)