Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education

The Master of Arts program in Early Childhood Education is designed for educators who hold teacher certification and have teaching experience. This M.A. program is for certified teachers, directors and supervisors, who wish to expand their knowledge base, deepen their understanding and perfect their skills. Emphasis is on current theory and research in child development and application. Graduate candidates may seek initial P-3 teacher certification through the traditional or alternate route. Graduate candidates who wish to pursue P-3 certification should apply for P-3 certification (either traditional or alternate route). These candidates may decide to pursue the Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education.

The traditional initial P-3 certification route is a 30-credit sequence that includes course work, field work and a student teaching internship. The entry requirements for this certification include (1) a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate degree average, (2) a liberal arts undergraduate major or liberal arts credits as determined by Licensing, New Jersey Department of Education, (3) an acceptable essay that is submitted to NJCU Graduate Admissions, (4) matriculation, and (5) any department requirements listed on the advisement sheets. Teacher candidates who successfully complete the 30-credit certification sequence are eligible to take two additional specified courses to complete a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree.

Candidates interested in the alternate route P-3 program must apply for admission and obtain the proper advisement sheet from the Early Childhood Department. The requirements for admission to the specialized alternate route program include a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate
degree average, an acceptable essay that is submitted to NJCU Graduate admissions and a New Jersey Department of Education P-3 certificate of eligibility. Course work is provided by the Early Childhood Department and the Literacy Education Department. Students are responsible for all other requirements by the State of New Jersey Department of Education.

The goals of all of the Early Childhood programs are as follows:
• To provide both pre-service and inservice P-3 teachers and education professionals with content, pedagogical, and professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
• To familiarize early childhood educators with developmentally appropriate curriculum and assessment approaches across the birth-third grade age span.
• To provide opportunities for early childhood educators to model best professional practices in teaching, to assess their own effectiveness, and reflect on ways of growing professionally.
• To support young children’s development and learning by having early childhood educators analyze and collect
data related to their work, reflect on their practice, and use research and technology.
• To demonstrate the importance of supporting families and community involvement.
• To provide both pre-service and inservice P-3 teachers and other education professionals with the skills and understanding necessary for meeting and serving the broad diversity of teaching/learning needs in an urban community.

The graduate Early Childhood programs are based upon the Reflective Urban Practitioner Model that seeks to develop teachers who are effective in current and future urban classrooms and who are adaptable to societal changing demands. The Reflective Urban Practitioner Model brings together the dimensions of theory, practice, community resources and reflective practice. Applicants should be aware that programs may be revised in response to changes in state certification requirements and/or changes in accrediting agency standards. Substitution of courses should only be done with the approval of one’s officially assigned graduate advisor and/or department chair.