MS - Early Childhood Unified
DO MORE WITH YOUR DEGREE
MS - Early Childhood Unified
Our graduate program in Early Childhood Unified is designed to prepare:
- teachers to work effectively with young children in early childhood settings that are inclusive and/or noninclusive
- teachers working with young children in early childhood special education settings
- teachers to meet the challenges of the present and the future
Our 30-hour online program can lead licensed teachers to an advanced teaching license in ECU Birth-Kindergarten or Birth-Grade Three. This is an inclusive program focused on teaching young children with and without special needs.
While our coursework is offered entirely online, assignments require observing and various experiences in early childhood programs and home-based programs, working with children and families, which is why we consider it a "hands-on" online program. All of our courses require face-to-face interactions, observations, or collaborations with early childhood educators, families, young children, related-service providers, and possibly others.
Students may begin working on this degree while teaching in the field. The majority of students in our program are employed while completing their master’s degree. We can tailor the program to your needs - you can take one to two classes per semester, more in the summer, or none for a semester - as long as you complete the program within seven years.
For questions regarding the ECU program please contact Dr. Sandra Bequette via email at sbequett@emporia.edu.
Early Childhood Unified Program Handbook
The information you need is in the Handbook for our Early Childhood Unified Program.pdf.
Additional information
- Admission Requirements
Apply to the Graduate School
Government-issued ID
Submit official transcripts demonstrating a minimum of 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours.
Copy of Teaching License-if applicable
- Graduation requirements
DEGREE CANDIDACY
Degree candidacy is the formal approval for pursuit of a graduate degree after it is determined that all specified preliminary requirements have been met. Requirements for degree candidacy are as follows:
The candidate must have met the admission requirements.
The advisor must have filed the candidate’s degree plan with the Graduate School.
The candidate must have completed at least six hours of coursework on the graduate program.
When all steps above are completed, the advisor will inform the Graduate School, and the candidate will be removed from probation and admitted to degree candidacy.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
In order to receive a master's degree in Early Childhood Unified, candidates must accomplish the following:
Complete the program of study.
A grade of B or better must be earned in all courses required by the Early Childhood Unified programs. This includes prerequisite courses, in order to move forward in the program.
Maintain at least 3.00 overall grade point average.
Demonstrate dispositions of professional/ethical standards throughout the program.
- Licensure
The program offers a master's of science degree in Early Childhood Unified. The candidate must have a teaching license, be renewing a license, or be close to finishing an initial license program as an admission requirement for the Early Childhood Unified program. Learn more about the licensure programs. For questions regarding licensing procedures please contact ESU's Licensure Officer Andra Baldwin at 620-341-5412 or abaldwin@emporia.edu.
Why ESU?
Our early childhood program has been available online for nearly 20 years. We offer courses to fully prepare people to enter their teaching career ready to teach young children through the hands-on focus of all courses in the program, including two separate clinical experiences.
Take action
How To Contact Us
Inquiries
Phone fas fa-phone-alt 620-341-5028
Email fas fa-envelope Eric True, Graduate Advisor
Questions
Have questions? Contact fas fa-envelope Dr. Beth Dobler.
MAILING ADDRESS
Department of Elementary Education / Early Childhood / Special Education
Emporia State University
1 Kellogg Circle
Campus Box 4036
Emporia, KS 66801
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
Department of
Elementary Education / Early Childhood / Special Education
(on the ESU main campus)
1701 Morse Road
Visser Hall, 2nd Floor
Main Office, Rm 241