Program Overview

Online Alternative Teaching Certification (MEd) Early Childhood Education

The Online Alternative Teaching Certification in Early Childhood Education is a master's-level program designed for individuals seeking a teaching career or looking to change their teaching area. This program provides students with a Master of Education (MEd) degree and Alabama teaching certification.

Program Overview

To be eligible for this program, students must have at least a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA from a regionally accredited institution, or a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.00 GPA. The program includes a continuum of field experiences in P-12 settings, culminating in an internship during the final semester. Students must also complete at least four seminars and any necessary training sessions, all of which are available fully online with no on-campus time required.

Program Details

• Next Start Date: May 18
• Estimated Program Length: 2 years
• Credit Hours: 48
• Course Length: 8 weeks
• Cost Per Credit: $429
• Alabama Teaching Certification: Yes

Who is this Degree For?

• Individuals seeking a master's-level education and a Master's Level Certificate
• Individuals seeking a teaching career
• Educators seeking a change in their teaching area
• Individuals seeking career advancement in classroom and specialty roles

Program Completion Requirements

The educator candidate shall:

• Maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.25 or better in all courses in the approved program as verified on an official transcript with no grade below 'C.'
• Meet all program requirements
• Have an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution documenting an earned master's degree

Admission Requirements

• Unconditional Admission to the Graduate School and the Educator Preparation Program
• A bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA from a regionally accredited institution, or a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.00 GPA
• A passing score on the appropriate Praxis II exam for the field of study
• Fingerprint Clearance/Background Clearance on file with the Alabama State Department of Education
• All official transcripts from any university or junior colleges that have been attended

Tuition and Financing

• Graduate tuition is $429 per credit hour
• There is a $75 technology fee each semester
• The University of West Alabama is dedicated to keeping education costs affordable and provides students with a full range of grants, scholarships, and loans
• Approximately 80 percent of UWA students receive some type of financial aid to support their studies
• To apply for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Transfer Credit Policy

• UWA may accept up to 9 hours at the Graduate level for matching courses and curriculums for most programs

Course Information

Professional Courses

• ED 500: Foundations of Education (3 credits)
• ED 501: Educational Planning (3 credits)
• ED 504 or ED 506: Techniques of Educational Research or Educational Statistics (3 credits)
• ED 505: Technology and Education (3 credits)
• ED 509: Internship in Teaching: P-12 (3 credits)
• EP 500 or EP 506: Advanced Educational Psychology or Life-Span Development and Learning (3 credits)
• SE 500: Introduction to Special Education (3 credits)

Teaching Field Courses

• CE 510 or CE 512: Current Trends in Early Childhood Education or Planning Programs for Early Education (3 credits)
• EE 504: Corrective and Remedial Reading (3 credits)
• EE 515: Science of Reading (3 credits)
• EE 521: Social Studies, Language Arts, and Literacy in the Elementary School (3 credits)
• EE 523: Mathematics in the Elementary School (3 credits)
• EE 525: Science in the Elementary School (3 credits)

Additional Required Courses

• EE 300: Effective Teaching and Learning (3 credits)
• EE 301: Reading Foundations (3 credits)