Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education Emphasizing Leadership

What you will study

The online graduate courses you’ll take as part of the master’s in Early Childhood Education - Leadership program address real-world issues related to leading and managing early childhood education programs. These include fiscal management and budgeting, the impact of laws and policies on children and families and the role of technology in the classroom. You’ll also take courses on how to provide developmentally appropriate instruction and facilitate positive and healthy learning environments. Choose from courses such as:

• An Ecological Perspective of Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education
• Early Childhood Business and Legal Issues

 

Unique learning opportunities in leadership for early childhood education

Our graduate students stand out from other job candidates because of the theoretical, practical and real experiences they apply right within their current setting. You’ll have a variety of ways to learn and lead while preparing for advanced career opportunities:

• Customize your degree to reach your goals: Work with an advisor to develop a specialized plan with relevant classes and experiential learning opportunities that will fulfill both your teacher certification and graduate degree requirements.
• Complete coursework that prepares you for increased credentials: The Leadership program coursework is designed to meet the requirements for the MOAEYC Early Childhood Director Credential. It also qualifies you to meet Missouri’s requirements for leading and managing center-based and group home programs serving young children, birth through age five.
• Become a leader in your own school: If you already have these credentials or are otherwise not focused on pursuing certification, the Early Childhood Education master’s in Leadership still offers valuable insights, strategies and experience you can apply to teaching practice, policy and research in your own classroom or school.

 

What can you do with a master’s in Early Childhood Education focused on Leadership from UCM?

As the early childhood education field continues to sharpen its focus on curriculum, policy and best management practices, the demand for early childhood educators who can help guide this important work is growing. While earning your degree online, you’ll build upon your prior teaching expertise and prepare for diverse management jobs in early childhood education.

The Leadership option in UCM’s master’s degree in Early Childhood Education specifically prepares you to lead early childhood educators in inclusive settings such as:

• Large center-based programs
• Child care programs 
• Group homes
• Other preschool settings 

Leadership jobs you can get with a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from UCM

Earning a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, with a focus on Leadership, can help further your career and increase your salary potential. Explore leadership opportunities for early childhood educators using the interactive tool below.

 

 

Financial assistance options for your Early Childhood Education master’s in Leadership

A UCM degree is a valuable investment in your future, particularly if you’re looking to advance into leadership jobs in early childhood education. Recognized as a top-ranked university for low student debt by LendEDU, UCM offers a variety of resources to help you finance your graduate degree in Early Childhood Education.

At UCM, several scholarships are available to graduate students, including those enrolled in UCM’s master’s in Early Childhood Education - Leadership degree program. You may also qualify for scholarships from the College of Education.

Use the UCM Scholarship Finder to help you identify and apply for scholarships.

Student Learning Outcomes

With a Master of Science in Education degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), you will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to achieve the following professional skills:

• Demonstrate and apply understandings of early childhood development, including theoretical perspectives on how children learn through play collaborating with a diverse population of peers to create meaning in today’s society.
• Acquire fundamental knowledge of a play-based curriculum for support and advocacy in implementation in the early childhood setting.
• Develop a strong sense of ethical conduct within early childhood teaching, learning, and business.
• Identify significant issues specific to early childhood education in research and address through practice.
• Better understand the impact of pedagogy and exposure to diversity for teaching in an increasingly complex and diverse society.

 

Admission Requirements

To be accepted into the Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School and Physical Education (EEMP) degree program, in the College of Education, you must: (a) have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75; (b) submit proof of teacher certification or professional endorsement from any of the 50 states or territories and have graduated from a CAEP or regionally accredited university; (c) submit a copy of your last summative teaching evaluation, or a letter from a school superintendent, principal, director, or professor attesting to teaching skills and/or graduate studies potential.