Program Overview

Early Childhood Education

The Early Childhood Education program at Adelphi University is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a positive impact on the lives of young children and their families. The program offers a master's degree or graduate certificate in early childhood education, with the option to pursue a dual certificate in early childhood and early childhood special education.

Degrees Granted

• Advanced Certificate
• MS

Degree Levels

• Graduate
• Certificate

Location

The program is located in Garden City, New York.

School

The program is part of the Ruth S. Ammon College of Education & Health Sciences.

Why Earn Your Master's Degree or Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Education?

The early years of a child's life, from birth to age 8, are crucial in terms of intellectual, social, and emotional development. As an early childhood educator, you will play a key role in helping your students develop and setting them up for success in the classroom and throughout their lives. Adelphi's master's in early childhood education is offered as a single certificate or can be completed as part of a dual certificate in early childhood and early childhood special education.

Why Earn Your Master's or Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood and/or Early Childhood Special Education at Adelphi?

• You will learn to teach by teaching through strong partnerships with local school districts in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and New York City.
• You will learn to help children adapt to changing circumstances and appreciate and respect people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• You can earn your master's degree in early childhood and early childhood special education at a pace that works for you, with options for full- and part-time enrollment and convenient evening classes.

How Can a Master's Degree in Early Childhood and/or Early Childhood Special Education Help Your Career?

The early childhood education master's program will prepare you with the skills to teach younger children to age 8 with confidence. You will learn to teach by teaching through strong partnerships with local school districts in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and New York City. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in early childhood education are projected to grow at a strong 18 percent by 2030. You will be ready for a career as a preschool teacher or other teacher of children aged birth through second grade or many other careers involving working with children and teaching young children.

Early Childhood Education Advanced Certification Opportunities

Successful graduates of this program are certified to teach birth to second grade. After completing the early childhood graduate program, you may choose to pursue additional advanced certifications in:

• TESOL
• Literacy Education (Birth-Grade 6)
• Autism and Severe or Multiple Disabilities

Exceptional Hands-On Learning

Student teaching is a central component of Adelphi's master's in early childhood education. Because of partnerships with Pre-K–12 schools in Nassau County, Suffolk County, and New York City, the program offers fieldwork in many different school districts and learning institutions, such as the Alice Brown Early Learning Center.

Program Info

The program includes various courses and requirements, which can be found in the University Bulletin (catalog).

Application Requirements

Applicants for this program must have a completed Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and should submit the following application requirements:

• Online application form
• Online survey completed by two recommenders
• Personal essay (500 words)
• Official college transcripts
• Course-by-course evaluation: All graduate applicants with undergraduate-level work completed outside of the United States will be required to send a course-by-course evaluation of their academic work prepared by a NACES member organization.

Understanding Your Costs and Ways You Can Save

Learn about the costs you can expect, and discover how scholarships, grants, and financial aid packages can put an Adelphi education within reach.

Related Programs

• Childhood Education (MA)
• Special Education (MS, Advanced Certificate)
• Adolescent/Childhood Education - STEP Accelerated 5-Year Program (BA/BS + MA)

Frequently Asked Questions About our Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education

What is Early Childhood Education?

Early childhood education encompasses the early years to age 8, which are crucial in terms of a child's intellectual, social, and emotional development. The focus is on learning language and interacting with other children through conversation, reading, and play.

Why is Early Childhood Education Important?

Because the early childhood years to age 8 are so crucial in terms of a child's intellectual, social, and emotional development, early childhood educators play a key role in helping students develop and setting them up for success.

What Can You Do With an Early Childhood Education Master's Degree?

An early childhood education master's degree will prepare you for a career as a preschool director, instructional coordinator, child life specialist, or an early childhood education advocate. Other career sectors include children's publishing, children's museums, and community-based educational programming. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in early childhood education are projected to grow at a strong 18 percent by 2030.