Children Are Our Future

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.

Faculty member speaking with a group of faculty members at a conference table

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

Elementary, Middle and High School Principals
$101,320
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher
$61,620
Instructional Coordinators
$66,490
Postsecondary Teachers
$80,840

US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022

See Yourself Succeed With

A Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

Person writing at a desk

Our Former Students Tell Us…

My experiences have been great, and I
have learned so many theories and practical strategies that I can take back to
the classroom.

Male teacher in elementary classroom.

Career Readiness

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

Woman teaching college class.
Faculty member working with college students in a large classroom

Former Students Tells Us…..

My experiences have been great, and I have learned so many theories and practical strategies that I can take back to
the classroom.

Woman teacher standing by lockers in the hallway.

Education Success

Study cutting-edge developments in law enforcement, like cryptocurrency and the problems it poses for policing. You’ll learn innovative strategies for monitoring an increasingly digitized world.

Female woman teaching young boy.

Hands-on Training

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

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.

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.

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
Teacher working with student with additional students in the foreground

Focus Your Passion

We offer three tracks to cater to your early childhood education career goals. The Master of Education (MED) is designed for teachers who have a teaching certificate to enhance their knowlegde of teaching subject matter content in a PreK – 3rd Grade setting. The Master of Science (MS) Post Bac program designed for those who are seeking teaching certification and an ECE Masters Degree. The Mastor of Science (MS) Non-Thesis degree is designed for those individuals who plan to work in settings such as child care, policy development or non-government organizations.

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.

Masters of Science (MS) Post-Baccalaureate

The Masters of Science (MS) Post-Baccalaureate program is designed for students who seek an initial state teaching certification through our post-baccalaureate alternative certification program.

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! This track allows you to prepare to make a difference through your contribution at the state and federal levels.

Faculty Spotlight

David Brown, Ph.D.

I have a strong interest in developing and designing quality programs for young children and their f…

Donna McCrary, Ph.D.

It is always enlightening to find a person's strength and use that strength to build complex conce…

Josh Thompson, Ph.D.

I wonder about you – what makes you curious about me, what makes you wonder about teaching and learn…

Course Delivery and Resources

Both the MED and MS in Early Childhood Education are offered in a fully online platform to meet your scheduling needs. Our renowned faculty and education experts are committed to helping you reach your educational goals. 

Please check the schedule of classes for locations and times.  Locations and times are subject to change.

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.

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Admission

Your Path to Becoming a Lion

Submit Application

  • 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

Domestic Application Fee 395064

  • Pay the $50 application fee.
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*Applicants for the MS 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.

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

Graduate Coordinator DeRene Sutton 395159

Your Graduate Coordinator

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Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your graduate coordinator.

  • 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 accept 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.

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

We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.

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.

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

You do not need to submit test scores if you have a valid teaching certificate. Email a copy of your valid teaching certificate to your graduate coordinator.

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.

  • 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.

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

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

Graduate Enrollment Specialist Audrey Weiss 395278

Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist

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If you are applying to the Early Childhood Education (MED/MS) program and are an H1B or H4 applicant, please contact this program’s graduate coordinator. H4 applicants will be required to submit a passing TOEFL or IELTS in addition to the admission documents listed for domestic students.

Graduate Coordinator DeRene Sutton 395159

Your Graduate Coordinator

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