Program Overview

Early Childhood Special Education (Teacher Certification), MEd

The Master of Education program in early childhood special education with a concentration in teacher certification is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education field. This program prepares students to work with young children who have a disability or who are at risk of developing one. Graduates earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification.

Program Description

The program equips students to support children with disabilities, refine family engagement skills, and craft inclusive learning environments. Students develop foundational knowledge of child development, including child development theories and best practices, such as assessing, monitoring, and reporting the progress of young children, building effective practices for engaging families, creating enriched, inclusive learning environments, designing coherent instruction, and planning and facilitating learning.

At a Glance

• College/School: Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation
• Location: Online
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Accelerated Program Options

This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

Degree Requirements

• 38 credit hours including the required applied project course (ECS 593) - Alternative Certification Pathway, or
• 38 credit hours including the required applied project course (ECS 593) - Traditional Certification Pathway

Required Core (9 credit hours)

• EED 532 Literacy Methods of Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Learners (3)
• TEL 517 Creating Equitable Learning Environment: Decision Making and Action (3)
• TEL 531 Foundations of Literacy: The Science of Reading (3)

Concentration (6 credit hours)

• Alternative Certification Pathway
  • ECS 571 Birth to Preschool Apprentice Teaching (2)
  • ECS 574 Pre-Kindergarten to Grade Three Apprentice Teaching (2)
  • ECS 579 Early Childhood Special Education Apprentice Teaching Capstone (2)
• Traditional Certification Pathway
  • ECS 556 Birth to Preschool Internship (2)
  • ECS 567 Pre-Kindergarten to Grade Three Internship (2)
  • ECS 596 Early Childhood Special Education Student Teaching (2)

Other Requirements (17 credit hours)

• ECD 527 Mathematics in Early Childhood Education (3)
• ECD 565 Inclusive Instructional Methodologies for Young Children (3)
• ECS 520 Evaluation and Intervention Strategies for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers with Disabilities (3)
• ECS 549 Foundations of Typical and Atypical Child Growth and Development (3)
• SPE 502 Language and Communications Methods and Assessment (2)
• SPE 558 Special Education Foundations: Law, IEPs, Assessment and Ethical Practice (3)

SEI Endorsement (3 credit hours)

• ELL 515 Structured English Immersion (SEI) Methods (3)

Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)

• ECS 593 Applied Project (3)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
• Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program
• Required to submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal statement
  • Professional resume
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Attend Online

ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are prepared to work in schools, nonprofit organizations, early intervention programs, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and private practices. Career opportunities include:

• Kindergarten through grade 3 teacher
• Preschool teacher
• Program coordinator

Professional Licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.