Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education

The Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education with Early Childhood Special Education Preliminary Teaching Credential prepares you to work in early intervention, preschool, transitional kindergarten (TK), and kindergarten education settings with infants and young children (ages birth through five) who experience a range of disabilities. Our equity-centered approach to praxis advances social justice and increases access and opportunity for all children.In your clinical experiences, you’ll have an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of effective early intervention and preschool special education. These clinical experiences total more than 900 hours, exceeding the 600 hours of fieldwork required by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).Our Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education is a 42-credit, two-year program. We aim for our experiential learning opportunities to set the global standard in preparing practitioners to lead in their professions as early childhood educators and leaders in California public schools. Through collaboration with families, you will support young children with disabilities, from birth through kindergarten, to live up to their potential.Most of our MA in Early Childhood Education courses meet CCTC standards and utilize a strengths-based approach, which teaches you to approach early childhood with an appreciation of the diverse capabilities and resources children and families offer. Our program focuses on social justice and equity, centering on a disability-studies approach. You’ll examine how societal systems set limitations based on “othered” identities, and how instruction, interaction, and advocacy can create equitable and accessible learning opportunities. The master’s degree is conferred by Mills College at Northeastern University, and the teaching credentials are presented by CCTC.

Online applicationStatement of purpose (500–1000 words): identifies your educational goals and expectations from the program; please be aware that the university's academic policy on plagiarism applies to your statement of purposeProfessional resuméUnofficial undergraduate transcripts; official transcripts required at the time of admissionEnglish language proficiency proof: Students for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the following:Official associate or bachelor's degree transcript from an accredited college or university in the U.S., stating degree conferral and date