Earn Your Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education Online

Immerse yourself in the world of primary education and prepare for new career opportunities by earning your master’s in Early Childhood Education online from Eastern Michigan University.

4/6/24 Next Application Due Date
5/6/24 Start Classes
Apply Now Request Info

Program Overview

Why Our Online Early Childhood Education Degree Stands Out


$15,360 Total Tuition
As few as 18 months Program Duration
30 Credit Hours

The Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education online program at Eastern Michigan University is designed for those who hold teacher certification and are seeking an Early Childhood endorsement to add to the certificate, seek careers as classroom teachers (preschool through third grade), child care program directors or other positions related to the care and education of children ages birth to eight years.

Aligned to National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards, the M.A. in Early Childhood Education at EMU provides an in-depth understanding of best practices in developing and implementing socially and culturally age-appropriate curriculum for young children.

Students in this internationally known EMU master's degree in education program will learn from our expert faculty who have extensive early childhood teaching, administration and scholarship experience. Learn to apply cutting-edge research and foster relationships with our large alumni network of educators and administrators across the U.S. At the completion of this program, students will be fully prepared to take the ZS endorsement test.

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Graduates of the Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education online program will be able to:

  • Explore educational leadership roles, staff development, supervision and advocacy in early childhood programs
  • Create supportive, educational partnerships with students’ families and schools as a whole, and engage with the community
  • Establish developmentally appropriate learning environments for children from birth through eight years, including those with special needs and from diverse cultures
  • Prepare to teach children with exceptional needs in early childhood or to teach in early childhood special education classrooms
  • Research different concepts and ethical issues in early childhood education using data-gathering methods, narrative inquiry and interpretive analysis

Early Childhood Education career opportunities:

  • Preschool – 3rd Grade Classroom Teacher
  • Child Care Program Director
  • Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
  • Preschool – 3rd Grade Classroom Teacher
  • Child Care Program Director
  • Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

Also available:

Eastern Michigan University offers a variety of graduate education programs and a post-master’s certificate online. Check out our other online education programs.

$15,360 Total Tuition
As few as 18 months Program Duration
30 Credit Hours
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

All professional education programs in the Eastern Michigan University College of Education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Michigan Department of Education.

Need More Information?

Call 844-351-9389

Call 844-351-9389

Tuition and Fees

Find Out How and When to Pay Your Tuition


The M.A. in Early Childhood Education online program offers the same affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition to all students, no matter where you are. Financial aid may also be available for students who qualify.

Tuition breakdown:

$15,360 Total Tuition
$512 Per Credit Hour

Tuition breakdown:

$512 Per Credit Hour
$15,360 Total Tuition

Calendar

Important Dates for Our Students


The M.A. in Early Childhood Education online program features a convenient course schedule and multiple start dates each year. View the full calendar to locate the best class start for you, along with due dates for submitting your application, enrolling in classes and paying tuition.

Now Enrolling:

4/6/24 Next Application Due Date
5/6/24 Start Classes
AllStart DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Deadline*
Winter II3/3/242/3/242/12/243/3/243/7/24
Summer I5/6/244/6/244/15/245/6/245/10/24
Summer II6/24/245/24/246/3/246/24/246/28/24
Fall I8/26/247/26/248/4/248/26/248/30/24
Fall II10/16/249/16/249/25/2410/16/2410/20/24

*Please visit https://www.emich.edu/registrar/index.php for Registration and Records part of term deadlines

**Please refer to the Student Business Services website for detailed information regarding payment due dates

***Payment due date is based upon the specific date registered, please visit https://www.emich.edu/sbs/ for more information

Now Enrolling:

4/6/24 Next Application Due Date
5/6/24 Start Classes

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online?

Admissions

Requirements for the M.A. in Early Childhood Education Program


We've streamlined the admission process for the M.A. in Early Childhood Education online program. Be sure to review all admission requirements, noting any additional materials you should send and where you need to send them.

  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Undergrad GPA of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale
  • Teaching Certificate or extensive experience in early childhood education

Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education Online Admission Requirements

  • Complete an application online and pay application fee
  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, with an undergraduate GPA of 2.7
  • Teaching Certificate. Please note: This requirement may be waived by the graduate coordinator on a case-by-case basis depending on the applicant’s experiences, expertise, and professional goals.
  • Official transcript(s) sent from the registrar of the college/university attended
    • Note: Effective July 1, 2022, the Graduate School will require only the official transcript from the degree-granting institution for admission consideration. Additional transcripts may be required by the program. Please note: International students are required to submit all transcripts along with a third-party transcript evaluation for admissions consideration.

If you need to submit official documents by mail, send them to:

Office of Admissions
Eastern Michigan University
P.O. Box 970
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Documentation can be sent via email to: [email protected].

Have a question? Call us at 844-351-9389.

Courses

Expand Your Knowledge in These Online Master of Arts Classes


In order to earn the Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education online, students must complete 10 courses (30 credit hours), including 9 core courses (27 credit hours) and 1 research course (3 credit hours). Students also have the option to choose 1 elective (3 credit hours) with advisor approval. As an online student you will take all your classes with EMU instructors, just like you would if you were here on campus.

Elective Courses (optional)

If chosen, students may enroll in an elective course with advisor approval. Students may choose from ECE 590/591: Special Topics Courses; ECE 690, 691, or 692: Thesis Credit; ECE 697: Independent Study; or another course with approval from advisor.

Students must complete the following core courses.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the history of early childhood education in the United States covering historical, philosophical, and sociological frameworks from the early 1800s until today. Program approaches, philosophies, and curricular models are considered in relation to research implications and societal needs. A focus on traditionally marginalized groups or topics in early childhood will be emphasized.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will explore leadership, staff development, supervision and advocacy in early childhood programs.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Children's physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development during early childhood will be explored. Theories, principles, and strategies will be discussed, as well as adult roles and special problems of children's behavior. Students will conduct observations of children.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Explores early educational interventions and resilience, understanding families; diversity of families, models of family, school, and community involvement; and communication strategies creating supportive educational partnerships will be explored.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This class provides an in-depth examination for establishing a developmentally appropriate learning environment and then developing curriculum using standards in early childhood education. Materials from national early childhood and subject area organizations will be analyzed. Appropriate environments and curriculum for children from birth through eight years, including those with special needs and from diverse cultures, will be investigated.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Examination of assessment practices and strategies applicable to the development and learning of the young child. Authentic assessment practices, standardized tests, and developmental screenings will be emphasized.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course prepares early childhood teachers to teach young children with exceptional needs in early childhood or early childhood special education classrooms. It addresses Special Education history, theory, models and laws pertaining to young children as well as inclusive curricular, assessment, and family approaches, teaming and collaboration and managing challenging behavior.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is a required State of Michigan supervised field experience occurring in an inclusive preschool classroom. The accompanying colloquium will link theory and practice.
Duration: 15 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Systematic analysis of critical issues and research areas in early childhood education. Serves as the capstone experience in the Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. Students complete a research project or literature review on a chosen topic.
Students must complete one of the following research courses
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines basic concepts in understanding and evaluating contemporary educational research, addressing both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The focus is on critical understanding of, rather than production of, research.
Duration: 7.5 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Course provides graduate students with a general understanding of different research paradigms, key research concepts, and ethical issues in research. The major emphasis of the course is on qualitative data-gathering methods, narrative inquiry and interpretive analysis; including ethnography, phenomenology, action research, feminist research, case studies, grounded theory and archival research.

Ranked among the "Best Online Graduate Education Programs" by U.S. News & World Report (2017)

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