Early Childhood Education _M

							Early Childhood Education (M.S.)
Administered by the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Effective Fall, 2006

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.

Certification Requirements

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.

Required 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)