Early Childhood Education, M.Ed.

OSRHE Program Code: 117
CIP Code: 131210

Major Code: 3400

(35 Semester Hours)

Purpose

This program is designed to develop highly competent teachers and others who are dedicated to providing educational leadership in the field of early childhood. Effective instruction, curriculum development and assessment within an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Early Childhood, Reading and Special Education are emphasized. Courses are established to encourage candidates to use current theory and research to make decisions about effective practice.

Specialty Accreditation

NSU’s educator preparation programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), www.caepnet.org, (1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023, 202-223-0077), and the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (840 Research Parkway, Suite 455, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, 405-522-5399), www.ok.gov/oeqa

Credential Requirements

Courses included in the Master of Education in Early Childhood do not represent all courses needed for an Early Childhood teaching certificate for the State of Oklahoma.  Candidates seeking certification should contact NSU’s Teacher Certification office for individual advisement on courses needed based on previous college credits.

Admission to the Program

The applicant for the Early Childhood Education program must meet the following admission criteria:

1. An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university;
2. Scores no more than five years old on the general examination of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT);
3. An approved Application for Graduate Admission;
4. Two official transcripts of all previous college coursework. The transcripts must be sent directly from the schools attended to the Graduate College Office;
5. A grade average of 3.0 in the undergraduate major (may be conditionally admitted on a grade average of 2.75 in the undergraduate major. Conditional admission requires a student to maintain a 3.0 grade average in the first 12 hours of graduate coursework with no grade below a “C”.);
6. A score at or above the 30th percentile of college graduates nationally on the Miller Analogies Test or the equivalent on the verbal and quantitative ability portion of the Graduate Record Examination. Students who are admitted with less than the minimum score requirement on the GRE or MAT must maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA for the first 12 hours of graduate coursework stipulated on the student’s degree plan. If the 3.5 is not met, additional courses approved by the advisor will be required;
7. Courses in the Master of Education in Early Childhood do not include all courses needed for an Early Childhood Teaching Certificate for the State of Oklahoma.  Candidates seeking certification will be individually advised on courses needed based on previous college credits.

An applicant who has not met admission requirements may be admitted for one semester only on a tentative (temporary) basis. An applicant may continue in the program, beyond the first enrollment, only if admission requirements are met. Otherwise, any coursework completed may not apply in the program.

Advisement

An advisor in the Early Childhood Education program is assigned to the candidate by the Graduate College when the candidate is admitted to graduate studies. It is the candidate’s responsibility to make an appointment with the advisor prior to enrollment to discuss policies and procedures relevant to the degree program. The advisor develops the plan of study in conference with the candidate, assists in the selection of classes each semester, and counsels the student.