Early Childhood Education, M.Ed.
An early childhood education degree can help you instill a love for learning and lay the foundation for a child's lifelong success.
About the Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education is offered both online and residential.
The Early Childhood Education program prepares teachers to:
- Develop and engage in appropriate teaching strategies by studying, interacting, practicing, and reflecting
- Collaborate to identify and meet the broad range of goals for which schools are responsible today
- Model and encourage students to lead, problem-solve, and pursue lifelong learning
- Respect and serve culturally diverse populations and communities
Read on to learn about how the Master in Early Childhood Education at Ole Miss can prepare you to shape tomorrow's leaders.
What's the difference between an online and residential M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education?
Students can choose between an online or residential M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education. Depending on your schedule and day-to-day responsibilities, one may fit your life better than the other.
The choice is entirely up to you. Either way, you're getting the same quality education and the same degree. But, before you make your decision, there are a few things you should consider first.
Online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education
The online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is ranked in the Top 15% of online programs by U.S. News & World Report. Our online program can give you the flexibility you need to pursue a graduate degree. Online students still have the same amount access to professors and academic resources that on campus students enjoy, only that it's all done virtually.
- Students take asynchronous online classes. In other words, students can take classes whenever they find the time in their busy schedules.
Residential M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education
The residential M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education takes place on the University of Mississippi's Oxford campus. Students attend class in person, which can allow them to interact directly with professors and other members of their cohort.
- Residential classes can offer the student a more structured environment with immediate, physical access to resources such as libraries and other academic resources—not to mention UM's vibrant campus life.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education
Emphases
N/A
Required Credit Hours
30
Program Type
Master's Program
School
Duration
2 years
Explore Everything the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education has to Offer
- An undergraduate degree with a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of their coursework.
- A teaching license OR the results from a national standardized achievement/aptitude test predictive of the ability to complete a graduate program successfully.
- These may include but aren't limited to: a passing score on the Praxis II Content Field or on the Praxis II PLT, or a competitive GRE score (all sections), or a valid teaching license.
There are two tracks for the Master of Education in Early Childhood Education:
Track 1: Requires a valid teaching license for admission into the program, and program completion can lead to advanced licensure. Candidates admitted to Track 1 will complete field experience requirements, which will enable them to add early childhood education to their license as a content area.
Track 2: Does not require a teaching license or field experience requirements. While program completion can lead to advanced licensure, candidates admitted to Track 2 will NOT be able to add early childhood education to their license as a content area.
We have a number of Graduate Assistantship opportunities within the School of Education. Being a GA is a great way to more fully experience the School of Education.
Find Courses in Early Childhood Education
Meet the Graduate Program Coordinator
Meet the graduate program coordinator for the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, your guide to a flexible, high-quality program offered online or on campus. Whether you seek structure or convenience, this nationally ranked program prepares future educators to lead, collaborate, and inspire diverse learners in a constantly evolving educational landscape.
If you have any questions about the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, don't hesitate to reach out!
Burhanettin Keskin
Professor of Early Childhood Education
Accelerate Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education
Undergraduate students at UM that are interested in graduate study in Early Childhood Education can get a head start through the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program.
Undergraduate students that would like to qualify for the Accelerated Master's Degree Program must meet the following requirements:
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- 90 completed credit hours as an undergraduate
Number of credit hours a student can earn towards the graduate degree while completing their undergraduate studies:
- 15 credit hours
Courses undergraduate students in the Accelerated Master's Degree Program can take to earn credit towards the graduate degree:
- EDEC 600 Child Development: Pre-Birth to Age 8
- EDEC 601 Language and Literacy Development in Young Children
- EDEC 602 Theoretical Foundations of Early Childhood Curriculum
- EDEC 603 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in ECE
- EDEC 604 Function and Theory of Play in Early Childhood
- EDEC 605 Integrating the Arts in Early Childhood Education
- EDEC 606 Social Contexts in Early Childhood
- EDEC 607 Issues and Trends in Early Childhood Education
- EDEC 608 Diverse Needs in Early Childhood Education
- EDRS 605 Educational Research 1
Remember: Students who fail to reserve 500-level courses for graduate credit at the time they take the course will not receive graduate credit for the course (graduate level work must be completed to earn graduate credit).
- Reserving graduate credit with 500-level courses is required to ensure the Graduate School and instructor know the student must complete graduate credit requirements for the course.
- Students cannot later claim graduate credit for 500-level courses if they did not take the appropriate steps to notify the Graduate School prior to taking the course.
Students must be accepted into the Accelerated Master's Degree Program and complete the requisite Accelerated Master's Degree Program Course Enrollment Form for this degree. The form must be received by the Graduate School.
- Students must download and complete the participating program’s specific enrollment form each term. The form must be completed prior to the start of the term.
- The form requires approval from the Undergraduate Advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator.
- By signing the form to approve the enrollment for the semester, the Graduate Program Coordinator is agreeing that the student has been admitted to their Accelerated Master's Degree Program opportunity.
After the Graduate School receives the first approved program-specific enrollment form, the student will be identified as enrolled in the Accelerated Master's Degree Program for that degree.
- Each subsequent term for which the student wishes to earn credit towards the graduate degree while still completing their undergraduate studies, they must submit a registration form prior to the start of the semester.
- Failure to submit the required form on time will mean that the student does not earn graduate credit.
The Accelerated Master's Degree Program Course Enrollment Form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the Graduate Program Coordinator. Until the Graduate School receives the required form, the student is not officially registered for graduate coursework for that term.
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