Master’s Degrees | Education | M.Ed. Early Childhood Education

Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education

Children absorb everything around them—the lessons taught in your classroom, the encouraging environment built in creative play, and the relationships they develop with peers. Many associate preparation for the future with the academics of middle and high school, but Pre-K and the elementary years lay down the foundation. A positive educational experience ends up directing the path of each student’s life—toward curiosity, exploration, and a rewarding livelihood.

The University of Mississippi’s online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Early Childhood Education helps you transform into that force of change. You’re the one designing engaging curricula and fostering an inclusive environment all for students to thrive to their fullest. This flexible, fully online degree builds upon the skills you gained during your bachelor’s degree program and in your classroom experience and, if you already hold a Mississippi teaching license, allows you to expand your credentials with a Pre-K endorsement.

Program Info

Based on this scope and satisfaction from 96 percent of program alumni, US News and World Report has listed our degree among its Best Online Master’s in Education Programs.

ON THIS PAGE:
About
Tracks
Curriculum
Careers
Admissions

Quick Facts

FORMAT
Fully Online

CREDITS
30

COURSES
10

ADMISSION TERMS
Summer, Fall, Spring

About the Online Master’s in Early Childhood Education Degree

The School of Education aims to graduate early childhood instructors who do more than teach. With a broader understanding of cognitive, social, and emotional development for the early childhood age group, you’ll be ready to apply research-based theories to shape lesson plans, incorporate creativity and play into the preschool or elementary classroom, and empower your students with the latest teaching strategies.

Taught by our school’s esteemed faculty members, all courses for the online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education use an asynchronous format, providing a greater degree of flexibility and adapting to your schedule as a full-time educator looking to deepen your knowledge.

During this 10-course, 30-credit program, you’ll:

grow your classroom skills with a stronger understanding of pedagogy, collaboration, administration, policy analysis, and advocacy involving children from infancy through age 8,
learn to engage a wide spectrum of students through influential learning experiences designed to spark an interest in STEM and creative subject areas,
acquire the skills to design age-specific, dynamic curricula and learning environments,
discover new approaches for incorporating play and creativity into the classroom, ideally for building connections, and
explore current methodology and research while finding new ways to serve all students.

Choose a pathway

Through this program, you’ll have a choice of two tracks, based on goals and existing licensure:

Track 1:

Requires a valid teaching license for admission into the program, and program completion can lead to advanced licensure. Candidates admitted to Track 1 will complete field experience requirements, which will enable them to add early childhood education to their license as a content area.

Track 2:

Does not require a teaching license or field experience requirements. While program completion can lead to advanced licensure, candidates admitted to Track 2 will NOT be able to add early childhood education to their license as a content area.

Online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education Curriculum

The typical online Master’s in Early Childhood Education candidate takes two courses totaling to six credits per semester and wraps up the program in under two years. This course of study will:

introduce you to the research methods used to analyze the classroom’s educational and psychological factors,
provide a more detailed understanding of development during the prenatal to early childhood years, with emphasis on cognitive, physical, social, and emotional perspectives,
cover techniques for introducing your students to emergent language theory,
go over the skills for introducing and developing lesson plans on STEM and creative content areas,
deliver a more nuanced perspective of play theory, examining its theoretical framework and modern research involving differences, development, environments, and adult involvement,
examine the role of social skills in the classroom, including building relationships between students and cultivating strong connections among home, school, and family, and
delve into emerging trends in early childhood development, with emphasis on the multicultural classroom and meeting the needs of diverse student populations.

Review the full course listing and program structure

Careers in Early Childhood Education

A bachelor’s in early childhood education opens the door to a rewarding career. Many professionals find that upon spending more time in the classroom, they wish to grow their knowledge and discover new techniques to nurture students and foster success within school culture. Others envision themselves in a leadership role, often having greater input in program and curriculum selection.

As schools see an influx of pupils over the next decade, demand for early childhood professionals remains steady. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of preschool teachers to grow 3% from 2022-2032, with about 56,300 openings each year over the decade.

The Ole Miss online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education degree considers these divergent paths and the increasing need for skilled professionals interested in elevating Pre-K and elementary students. This degree program equips you to advance or transition to a role in:

educating the youngest learners,
overseeing early childhood programs as an administrator, director, or manager,
developing curricula for Pre-K or elementary classrooms or for instructional purposes at the college level,
professional development,
early intervention,
child and family policy development, or
early childhood development research and consulting.

Admission Requirements

Interested in impacting and shaping the youngest group of learners? Applicants to the online Master of Education in Early Childhood Education must meet the following requirements:

a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework,
Results from a national standardized achievement/aptitude test predictive of the ability to complete a graduate program successfully. These include but are not limited to: Passing Score on Praxis II Content Field, or Passing Score on Praxis II PLT, or competitive Graduate Record Examination scores (GRE: all sections) or a teaching license.
two (2) Graduate Reference Forms, and
an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.

For scholarships, contact our Graduate Studies Office for in-depth information. Teachers and administrators in districts which host UM student teachers may also qualify for bank hours to pay tuition.

Apply Now

APPLICATION DEADLINES
April 1: Summer Admission
May 1: Fall Admission
November 1: Spring Admission

Learn More About the Online M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Ole Miss

Expand your knowledge and add value to your classroom with an online Master’s in Early Childhood Education degree from Ole Miss. Have any questions before submitting an application?

Contact Program Coordinator Burhanettin Keskin via email at bkeskin@olemiss.edu or by phone (662) 915-5891.