Master of Education in Early Childhood Education Online

Gain valuable skills and expertise to work with young children.

Apply by: 1/10/25
Start Class: 1/27/25
APPLY NOW

Program Overview

Discover what Worcester State's online master's in early childhood education offers you

$13,906 Tuition
As few as 14 months Program Duration
34 Credit Hours

The Master of Education in Early Childhood Education online program from Worcester State is designed to provide the skills for teaching young children during this formative part of their lives. Upon completion of the program, you will be able to create a positive social context for learning and employ effective strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners.

Prepare to be taught by experienced faculty practitioners who will ensure you understand both theory and practical applications in the classroom. You will also create a portfolio of work to demonstrate your proficiencies.

This affordable online early childhood education degree is designed for working professionals, with 100% online coursework and pay-by-the-course tuition. While this education program does not lead to initial licensure, with an initial license in Massachusetts, you may use this degree to self-petition for professional licensure in Massachusetts. Neither a teaching degree nor teaching experience is required if you are not planning to petition for licensure. Students entering this program, however, should have some work experience in formal or informal learning environments.

Have questions or need more information about online programs?

Worcester State University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

In this M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education online program you will learn how to:

  • Design, implement and evaluate curriculum and instruction and assessment that promote children's development and learning
  • Identify, apply, and critique developmentally appropriate technology and interactive media that promote learning and development for individual children
  • Establish a positive social context for learning, provide appropriate behavioral supports; and employ effective instructional strategies, to meet the needs of diverse learners
  • Articulate how children and families differ in their perspectives and approaches to learning and create effective means of partnering with families
  • Engage in reflective practice and continually evaluate and improve how their actions affect children, parents, and other professionals in the learning community; and apply reflective practice to the role of practitioner-researcher in action research

  • Design, implement and evaluate curriculum and instruction and assessment that promote children's development and learning
  • Identify, apply, and critique developmentally appropriate technology and interactive media that promote learning and development for individual children
  • Establish a positive social context for learning, provide appropriate behavioral supports; and employ effective instructional strategies, to meet the needs of diverse learners
  • Articulate how children and families differ in their perspectives and approaches to learning and create effective means of partnering with families
  • Engage in reflective practice and continually evaluate and improve how their actions affect children, parents, and other professionals in the learning community; and apply reflective practice to the role of practitioner-researcher in action research

Early childhood education career outcomes:

  • Early Childhood Program Specialist
  • Teacher in a private preschool or childcare center
  • Leadership role in a public agency, such as Head Start
  • Leadership role in a private preschool or child care center

  • Early Childhood Program Specialist
  • Teacher in a private preschool or childcare center
  • Leadership role in a public agency, such as Head Start
  • Leadership role in a private preschool or child care center

In this M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education online program you will learn how to:

  • Design, implement and evaluate curriculum and instruction and assessment that promote children's development and learning
  • Identify, apply, and critique developmentally appropriate technology and interactive media that promote learning and development for individual children
  • Establish a positive social context for learning, provide appropriate behavioral supports; and employ effective instructional strategies, to meet the needs of diverse learners
  • Articulate how children and families differ in their perspectives and approaches to learning and create effective means of partnering with families
  • Engage in reflective practice and continually evaluate and improve how their actions affect children, parents, and other professionals in the learning community; and apply reflective practice to the role of practitioner-researcher in action research

  • Design, implement and evaluate curriculum and instruction and assessment that promote children's development and learning
  • Identify, apply, and critique developmentally appropriate technology and interactive media that promote learning and development for individual children
  • Establish a positive social context for learning, provide appropriate behavioral supports; and employ effective instructional strategies, to meet the needs of diverse learners
  • Articulate how children and families differ in their perspectives and approaches to learning and create effective means of partnering with families
  • Engage in reflective practice and continually evaluate and improve how their actions affect children, parents, and other professionals in the learning community; and apply reflective practice to the role of practitioner-researcher in action research

Early childhood education career outcomes:

  • Early Childhood Program Specialist
  • Teacher in a private preschool or childcare center
  • Leadership role in a public agency, such as Head Start
  • Leadership role in a private preschool or child care center

  • Early Childhood Program Specialist
  • Teacher in a private preschool or childcare center
  • Leadership role in a public agency, such as Head Start
  • Leadership role in a private preschool or child care center
Have questions or need more information about online programs?

Online M.Ed. degrees also available:

Worcester State University offers a variety of quality education degree programs online. Explore all our online education programs.

Tuition

Pay for your early childhood education master’s degree by the course

Worcester State tuition is extremely affordable. Plus, you can pay by the course—making it easy to budget. Worcester State is committed to offering a high-quality education that is accessible to students at all levels of financial need.

$409 Per Credit Hour
$13,906* Tuition
Program Per Credit Hour Per Program
M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education $409 $13,906

Additional Fees

Application: $50

*Tuition and fees as of Fall 2024. Worcester State reserves the right to change tuition and fees at any time. Accelerated online programs are not eligible for tuition remission benefits, waivers and vouchers.

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office at Worcester State is here to assist you with the guidelines and process of financing your education. We will work with you to ensure that you have a clear understanding of your financial aid options while attending Worcester State.

Worcester State online programs are eligible for financial aid, which is available for those who apply and qualify. The first step in applying for financial aid is to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Worcester State's Federal School Code is 002190.

Contact the financial aid office at:

Financial Aid Office
Shaughnessy Administration Building
Academic Mall, 1st floor
Office 150
508-929-8056
508-929-8194 (fax)
[email protected]

Calendar

Explore the milestones that guide your student journey

It's always a good time to earn your degree from Worcester State University online. We offer six start dates during the year so you can begin your program when it's most convenient. Check out the chart below for important dates.

Now enrolling:

1/10/25 Next Application Due Date
1/27/25 Next Class Start Date
SessionStart DateApplication DeadlineRegistration DeadlineDocument DeadlineTuition DeadlineLast Class Day
Fall 211/4/2410/18/2410/30/2410/25/2410/30/2412/22/24
Spring I1/27/251/10/251/22/251/17/251/22/253/16/25
Spring 23/24/253/7/253/19/253/14/253/19/255/11/25
Summer 15/18/255/2/255/14/255/9/255/14/257/6/25
Summer 27/14/256/27/257/9/257/4/257/9/258/31/25
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Worcester State University?

Admissions

How to apply for our online early childhood education degree

The admission process is the first step toward earning your degree at Worcester State! Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.

Work Experience in Formal or Informal Learning Environments
Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited (or equivalent) institution
Minimum 2.75 GPA
  • Complete online application for admission
  • Pay $50 application fee
  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited (or equivalent) institution with a minimum 2.75 overall GPA
  • Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework from regionally accredited institutions
  • Some work experience in formal or informal learning environments (submit two academic or professional references)
  • If applicants do not have an undergraduate degree or minor in Education, it is recommended that students have the following coursework completed on the undergraduate level:

    • a course in Child Growth and Development (or a CLEP Human Growth and Development score of 50 or higher)
    • a Curriculum course in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Childhood
    • Education course in Reading Foundations

Official transcripts may be mailed or emailed directly from the granting institution(s) to:

Mailing Address:
Graduate Admissions Office
Worcester State University
486 Chandler Street
Worcester, MA 01602

Email: [email protected]

Courses

Take a look at the online early childhood education classes

For this master’s in early childhood education online, you are required to take 12 courses for a total of 34 credit hours.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course explores historical, philosophical, psychological, legal, and cultural foundations for education and school practices.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course examines different research methods and designs, including writing hypothesis, reviewing literature, gathering data and preparing research proposals.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course focuses on educational issues. Students will conduct a formal study that seeks to investigate teaching and learning in the student's content strand of concentration.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course addresses advanced study of how differences in home experience, background knowledge and language proficiency impact school experience. Considers services provided by state and local agencies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course adapts programs, material, practices, environments for individuals. Implements theories integrating special needs children into regular classroom and early intervention strategies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course examines the key components of balanced literacy in the K-8 school classrooms with a focus on the integration of educational technology as a tool for instruction, student centered learning, assessment, as well as family-school engagement.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course presents meaningful theory and related teaching strategies to aid pupils in reading and learning from their content area textbooks.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course uses Massachusetts Frameworks to develop and assess activities that foster learning and discovery, connect science with literacy, mathematics, and social studies.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course explores topics from Massachusetts history and Social Studies Curriculum Frameworks. Addresses design, implementation, assessment of integrated, developmentally appropriate Social studies programs.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course presents mathematical concepts, methods and materials to facilitate learning. Emphasis is also placed on supporting students with mild to moderate disabilities learn and understand mathematic contents.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course focuses on research and evaluation methods and designs; includes gathering and analyzing data, writing research, and making evaluation reports.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 1
(Note: This course is to be taken last in the M.Ed. in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education programs) The course documents the student's learning and provides a basis for evaluation of student's performance and mastery of the certification standards. (All required certification courses/mastery of program standards must be completed.) Prerequisites: ED 981 and ED 982.

Course rotation:

View Course Rotation

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