Department of Applied Human Sciences

Master's Degree Program

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Required M.S. Courses:

The master's degree program in early childhood education prepares individuals to be master teachers, administrators of early childhood programs, and leaders in the development of child care policy. Early childhood education licensure is a prerequisite for full admission. Students interested in entering the program without prior licensure must complete prerequisite courses concurrently with degree requirements. By completing additional coursework, students are also eligible for licensure in early childhood unified, birth through kindergarten.

  • LSHD 810 - Child Development (3)
  • LSHD 815 - Infant Behavior and Development (3)
  • LSHD 820 - Theories of Human Development (3)
  • ECED 830 - Advanced Program Development (3)
  • HDFS 850 - Family Science (3)
    or
    HDFS 852 - Theories of Human Development and Family Science (3)
    or
    HDFS 670 - Working with Parents (3)
  • HDFS 888 - Research Methods in Human Development and Family Science (3)
    or
    EDCEP 816 - Research Methods in Education (3)

Recommended Courses:

  • ECED 710 - Child Care: Components and Issues (3)
  • ECED 728 - Assessment of Young Children (3)
  • ECED 730 - Early Childhood Program Administration (3)
  • ECED 740 - Play Facilitation (3)
  • ECED 883 - Practicum in Early Childhood Education (1-18)
  • ECED 884 - Practicum in Parent Education (1-18)
  • LSHD 892 - Practicum in Human Development Research (1-18)
  • HDFS 809 - Qualitative Research Methods in HDFS (3)
  • HDFS 899 - MS Research in Human Development and Family Science (1-8)

To complete the program, the master's candidate must have:

  1. Thirty (30) graduate hours of coursework approved by her/his committee.
  2. Experience working with children. The candidate can fulfill this requirement by satisfactory performance as a graduate assistant in one of the FSHS child care centers or with coursework in one of the following:
    • Practicum in Early Childhood Education (ECED 883) (1 - 18)
    • Practicum in Parent Education (ECED 884) (1 - 18)
    • Practicum in Human Development Research (LSHD 892) (1 - 18)
    • Research in HDFS (Thesis) (HDFS 899) (1 - 18)
    Performance of the graduate assistants in the university child care centers will be evaluated by the Director of Child Care Programs for consideration by each student's advisory committee.
  3. A comprehensive examination or a written document which may take one of three forms:
    • Thesis - an empirical study with a comprehensive review of the literature and conforming to specifications set by the university.
    • An article prepared for submission to a scholarly journal (research or expository).
    • Report, e.g., curriculum teacher guide, survey, parent handbook, assessment instruments.
  4. The candidate must have an oral defense of the document or of the comprehensive examination.

The candidate must select his/her major professor and one other member of his/her committee from the Early Childhood Education area. The committee will be responsible for the development of a course of study with the candidate and for approving a choice of practicum and the preparation of the written report.

The academic performance of the student in the Early Childhood Education specialization will be reviewed by the student's committee after he/she has completed at least twelve (12) hours of graduate study. The committee will file its evaluation in the student's folder. The evaluation will be presented and discussed with the student.