Early Childhood Education (MED/MS) - Texas A&M University-Commerce

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Children Are Our Future

Prepare to meet the challenges in the modern classroom and help our children attain the skills they need to succeed.

Our children deserve the best in Texas education. As an Early Childhood Educator, you can lead the next generation to a brighter future. Our graduate program takes a closer look at the physiological and psychological development of children from birth through fourth grade. While here, you'll learn how to apply curriculum theory to the kindergarten classroom and beyond. We understand that earning a degree while teaching is demanding. That's why we've created a flexible, online program that lets you enroll in courses over the summer. Take the next step in advancing your career through our Early Childhood Education program. We'll help you along the way.

Where It Is Offered Commerce, Mesquite, Online

Duration 1.5 to 2 years

Foreign Language No foreign language credits required

Delivery Fully Online

Total Credit Hours 36 hours

Thesis Requirements MA option only

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Focus Your Passion

We offer two tracks to cater to your early childhood education research interests and career goals. Both tracks emphasize early childhood curriculum design, classroom management, creative arts, math, science and social studies, literacy development diversity and bilingual/ESL education.

Discover which track works best for you.

Master of Education (MEd) Non-thesis

Are you currently certified to teach in Texas? Consider earning your Master of Education in Early Childhood Education! Designed for current educators, our non-thesis track offers a flexible way to enhance your education online.

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Master of Science (MS) Non-Thesis

If you desire greater early childhood education coursework but aren’t certified to teach in Texas, the Master of Science track is for you! Admission into our MS track does not require a teaching certificate. You can also earn your teaching certificate through our post-baccalaureate alternative certification program.

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SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A Master’s DEGREE IN Early Childhood Education

Hands-on Training

Whether it's a full year in the classroom, practicum courses and internships, you will engage in practical, real-world learning experiences that build confidence and skill.

Woman teacher standing by lockers in the hallway.

Education Success

Education is what we’re known for. Join the ranks of our graduates who have gone on to become successful teachers, principals, superintendents and school counselors.

Guidance You Need

Located in the Frank Young Education North Building, our Mentor Center provides the information and support you need to reach your career goals.

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Accomplished Faculty

Enjoy the opportunity of learning from home with guidance and mentorship from world-class faculty who are respected researchers in their fields.

Career Readiness

Participate in excellence-driven programs that empower you with knowledge of curriculum content, pedagogy, instruction design and evidence-based assessments.

What you will learn

A master’s degree in Early Childhood Education will offer you the opportunity to:

Learn how language develops in early childhood
Apply current practices of classroom management and positive reinforcement
Formulate programs to increase literary retention and mathematical development
Expand your professional career within the public and private school setting
Create a nurturing environment to boost self-esteem and intellectual creativity within the classroom

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Careers

Gain the recognition you deserve by earning your master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Many ISDs reward educators who pursue higher learning with salary increases and job openings. Our graduate program also opens opportunities to make a difference at the administrative level.

Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries

Education Administration, Elementary and Secondary School

$97,440

Elementary, Middle and High School Principals

$95,310

Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher

$57,980

Instructional Coordinators

$64,450

Postsecondary Teachers

$78,470

US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018

Potential Employers

Local ISDs often seek after our graduates. Job placement and satisfaction is ranked highly in our education program. These are just a few examples of districts where our students found employment. Now's your chance to discover where you belong.

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Commerce independent school district icon.

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Garland independent school district icon.

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Featured Courses

Diversity and Equity in Education EDCI 559

Multicultural Ed in School. Three semester hours. This course focuses on factors of diversity that impact decisions educator must make regarding design and implementation of curriculum, teaching strategies, and materials in order to provide equity and excellence for all learners.

Literacy Development in the Early Years ECE 536

Communication Skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Three semester hours. Study of the acquisition and development of language in the early childhood years with emphasis on the content, methods and theory, appropriate for extending learnings in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, and 3.

Creative Expression in the Arts ECE 537

Creative Expression in the Arts. Three semester hours. Study of the theory, content, and practice of integrating the performing arts into the curriculum design and the learning environments. Emphasis is placed on aesthetic development of young children through play, movement, music, visual art and creative dramatics.

Child Development ECE 561

Child Development – Three semester hours This course is a study of the principles and theories of child growth and development in early childhood education. Course content centers on the physical, cognitive, affective, and social development domains. Students will be required to observe the development of a young child outside of the classroom in order to complete a comprehensive child study project.

View Full Curriculum In The University Catalog

Course Delivery and Resources

Earn your Master of Education or Science in Early Childhood Education online or at the Mesquite Metroplex Center. Our flexible program meets the needs of current educators and working professionals. Our renowned faculty and education experts are committed to helping you reach your education goals.

Graduate Program Cost

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.

Tuition Calculator

Financial Aid

Scholarships

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS International/Domestic Tabs

Admission

Early Childhood Education (MED/MS/MA) :: Program Admission Requirements

Deadlines

Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Step 1. Submit Application

Submit your application at tamuc.edu/apply.

Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”

Select one of the following as your “Major”
- Early Childhood Education, MED for certified teachers
- Early Childhood Education, MS for those seeking initial teacher certification as part of the master’s degree
- Early Childhood Education, MA for those seeking initial teacher certification as part of the master’s degree

Pay the $50 application fee.

*Applicants for the MS/MA in Early Childhood Education must also apply for the Post Baccalaureate Teacher/Alternative Certification program.

Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.

After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.

Provisional Status

After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.

Step 2. Submit Documents

Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.

Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to [email protected], unless otherwise specified below.

Official Transcripts

Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].

We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.

All international transcripts must be evaluated and the evaluation submitted to the Graduate School.

We accepts evaluations sent directly from the following Agencies.

If a normal evaluation is submitted, official original transcripts with all marksheets will still need to be submitted.
If a WES ICAP or equivalent is submitted, we will not need the official transcripts to be submitted separately.

Postal Alternative

If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:

Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011

Statement of Goals

Submit a statement of educational and professional goals of 500 words or less on the following prompt:

Discuss your educational and professional goals and how you believe this graduate degree will help you achieve them.

Resume or CV

Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.

Test Scores or Teaching Certificate

You do not need to submit test scores if you have a valid teaching certificate. Email a copy of your valid teaching certificate to [email protected]

If you do not have a teaching certificate, you may submit your scores for one of the following tests:

PPR, ExCet or TExES
MS and MA applicants can submit PACT or PRAXIS scores in place of GRE scores.

Submit official General Test GRE scores

Request that your GRE®scores be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce (6188) when you register for the test. If you have already taken the GRE®, you can order additional score reports.

Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status

Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.

Dayla Burgin Graduate Student Services Coordinator

Step 3. Apply for Financial Assistance

Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.

Step 4. Register for Classes

Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist is here to help you complete registration.

View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
View the Schedule of Classes.
To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.

Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.

Audrey Weiss Graduate Enrollment Specialist

Early Childhood Education (MED/MS/MA) :: Program Admission Requirements International

If you are applying to the Early Childhood Education (MED/MS/MA) program and are an H1B or H4 applicant, please contact the Graduate School for details at [email protected]. H4 applicants will be required to submit a passing TOEFL or IELTS in addition to the admission documents listed for domestic students.

We are here to help!

Audrey Weiss Graduate Enrollment Specialist

Dayla Burgin Graduate Student Services Coordinator

Donna McCrary, Ph.D. Professor

David Brown, Ph.D. Professor

Contact Us

Department of Curriculum and Instruction
903.886.5537
903.886.5581

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