Early Childhood: Inclusive Education M.A./M.S.
This innovative early childhood education master's degree program emphasizes educating professionals to welcome multiple perspectives, engage all members of the community, experiment and build theories, make learning and listening visible, and think deeply together. Students develop a critical understanding of the role of development, diversity, and culture in the lives of young children and their families and their communities. Knowledge of inclusive early childhood ideas and practices foster the leadership necessary to ensure equity for all children.
Students have a choice of four specialty areas: Constructivism in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, Infant Toddler Mental Health, and a Distributed Pathway that draws from the other three specializations. All students will participate in core courses with a distinct focus on inclusive education and complete a culminating action research project focused on their own practice.
Constructivism
Courses
| ECED 571 | Play: Curriculum in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECED 573 | Assessment and Technology in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECED 577 | Learning Designs: Early Childhood Environments | 3 |
| ECED 578 | Constructivist Curriculum: Big Ideas in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
Six credits chosen from the following options:
| ECED 526 | Mathematical Thinking in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECED 529 | Art as Languages of Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECED 572 | Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| ECED 579 | Young Child as Scientist | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Early Childhood Special Ed
Courses
| ECED 528 | Educational Rights and Inclusive Environments in Early Childhood | 3 |
| ECED 560 | Inclusive Early Childhood Models | 3 |
| SpEd 580 | Introduction to Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| SpEd 581 | Family Guided Early Intervention | 3 |
| SpEd 582 | Specialized Techniques: Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education | 3 |
| SpEd 587 | Introduction to Infant Toddler Mental Health | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Substitution for
SpEd 582 may be possible with advisor approval.
Infant Toddler Mental Health
Courses
| SpEd 587 | Introduction to Infant Toddler Mental Health | 3 |
| | or | |
| | Another course with advisor approval | 3 |
| | | |
| Coun 520 | Collaborative Partnerships to Support Infants and Toddlers | 1-3 |
| ECED 585 | Dynamic Models of Infant/Toddler Development | 3 |
| SpEd 594 | Assessment Methods and Classification in Infant Mental Health | 3 |
| SpEd 595 | Prevention and Intervention in Infant Mental Health | 3 |
| Coun 597 | Strengths, Risk Factors, and Disturbance in Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
General requirements
Core Courses
| ECED 550 | Foundations in Early Childhood and Inclusive Education | 4 |
| | or | |
| ECED 553 | Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood and Inclusive Education | 4 |
| | | |
| ECED 551 | Child Development and Critical Perspectives in Inclusive Early Childhood Education | 4 |
| ECED 552 | Social Justice and Transformative Practice in Early Childhood Inclusive Education | 4 |
| CI 590/ECED 590 | Action Research Proposal | 3 |
| CI 591/ECED 591 | Action Research Implementation | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Electives
| | Adviser approved electives taken within the College of Education | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Distributed Pathway
Take a minimum of two courses from each specialization with approval of adviser.