Montclair State University

Apply Now

Student Toolbox
Academic Programs:<br /> Master of Education Program in <br />Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Department Home   •  About   •  Academic Programs   •  Faculty & Staff   •  Student Advisement   •  Special Projects   •  P3 Modified Alternate Route   •  Literacy Enrichment Center   •  Links   •  FAQs

Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education

Academic Programs: Graduate
Master of Education in
Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Coordinator: Dr. Nancy Lauter
Office: University Hall, Room 3187
Phone: (973) 655-5407
Email: lautern@mail.montclair.edu

Admission Information:

Applications are not currently being accepted for this program.

Overview:

The Master of Education degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education is designed for experienced practitioners who are seeking leadership roles to undertake in a school setting.

This 36 credit M.Ed. program aims for the following three goals:

•  Our M.Ed. students will become researchers of their own practice in the classroom. One distinct strand of the    program focuses on methods of inquiry and classroom based research. A clearly sequenced series of courses    enables students to learn both theory and strategies that enable them to cary out research in their own    classrooms.

•  Our M.Ed. students will pursue a range of choices in content/certification areas that meets their individual     interest and needs as early childhood and elementary professionals.

•  Our program will support and foster students interactions with each other and dedicated faculty as part of         community of learners. A strand of courses is designated as cohort courses, and all students accepted in a     particular year enroll in these courses as a group. The opportunities to work closely with peers and faculty     promote a sense professional community and high quality exchanges as a professional community.

When applicable, students may apply to designated second certification programs (Supervisor's Certification, English as a Second Language Certification, Teacher of Students with Disabilities Certification with either a P-3 or K-5 focus, Elementary Subject Matter Specialization in Mathematics, or the New Literacies, Digital Technologies, and Learning MSU Graduate Certificate Program. To apply for one of these certification programs concurrently, please visit www.montclair.edu/graduate and complete a second application for that certification program.

Applicants to this program must have a bachelor's degree. Prerequisites include 2 semesters of child development. Applicants must hold a valid teaching license (P-3, K-5, N-8, or equivalent), demonstrate a minimum of three years teaching experience, complete the Graduate School Application, and meet Graduate School requirements, including submission of GRE scores.

Students who have not taken the prerequisite courses as part of their certification or undergraduate/graduate education are responsible for taking these courses as part of their work programs.

Course Requirements:

The course requirements listed below apply to those students admitted on or after Fall 2008. Anyone admitted prior to this term should refer to their Analysis of Academic Progress on WESS or see your academic advisor for your official program of study.

I. Core Courses

Complete 3 requirements for 15 semester hours.

A. Observation & Research
Complete 3 courses for 9 semester hours.
Number Name Hours
ECEL 505 Observation and Inquiry in Early Childhood and Elementary Settings 3
ECEL 532 Research Seminar: Current Topics in Early Childhood and Elementary Education 3
ELRS 504 Action Research 3
OR
ECSE 520 Research in Inclusive Early Childhood Education 3
 
B. Family Community and Diversity
Complete 1 course for 3 semester hours from the following list.
Number Name Hours
ECEL 518 Families, Communities, and Schools: Diversity, Culture and Democracy 3
ECSE 508 Strengthening Partnerships with Families of Children with Disabilities 3
EDFD 531 Foundations of Education for Language Minority Students 3
 
C. Literacy
Complete 1 course for 3 semester hours from the following list. Consult with advisor.
Number Name Hours
READ 500 The Nature of Reading 3
READ 503 Literature for Adolescents 3
READ 508 Critical Thinking and Literacy 3
READ 510 Field Experience in Reading 3
READ 524 Teaching Multiethnic Literature in P-8 Classrooms 3
READ 600 Workshop in Contemporary Issues in Reading 3

II. Focus Areas (Complete 1 Area of Focus)

A. Curriculum Development
Complete 5 courses for 15 semester hours from the following.
Number Name Hours
ECSE 502 Sociocultural Context of Inclusive Education 3
ECSE 509 Principles and Practices of Inclusive Early Childhood Education 3
ECSE 511 Advanced Curriculum and Methods+ 3
READ 519 Language and Early Literacy Development 3
READ 525 Literacies, Digital Technology and Learning 3
MATH 577 Mathematics Education in the Elementary School 3
CURR 681 Leadership in Content and Instruction* 3
CURR 682 Leadership in Curriculum* 3
CURR 683 Field Exp in Content, Instruction and Curriculum* 2
*Must be taken concurrently. Offered summers.
+Course requires a pre-requisite.
 
B. Early Childhood Programs, Practice, and Policy
Complete 3 of the following courses for 9 credits.
Number Name Hours
ECSE 502 Sociocultural Context of Inclusive Education 3
OR
ECSE 509 Principles and Practices in Inclusive Early Childhood Education 3
ECSE 511 Advanced Curriculum and Methods: Inclusive Early Childhood Education 3
ECEL 610 Infant and Toddler Mental Health 3
ECEL 660 Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy 3
 
Choose two 3-credit courses from the following:
Number Name Hours
FCST 620 Social Policy and the Family 3
FCST 640 Family Theories 3
CHAD 501 Introduction to Child Advocacy 3
CHAD 502 Child Abuse and Neglect 3
CHAD 503 Current Social Issues in Child Advocacy 3
SPED 579 Special Education for Students with Disabilities 3
 
C. Literacy
Complete 5 courses for 15 semester hours from the following list.
Number Name Hours
READ 503 Literature for Adolescents 3
READ 508 Critical Thinking and Literacy 3
READ 510 Field Experience in Reading 3
READ 519 Language and Early Literacy Development 3
READ 522 History of Literacy and Media 3
READ 524 Teaching Multiethnic Literature in P-8 Classrooms 3
READ 525 Literacies, Digital Technology and Learning 3
READ 600 Workshop in Contemporary Issues in Reading 3
 
D. New Literacies, Digital Technologies, and Learning
Students may choose to apply to the Graduate School for the MSU Graduate New Literacies, Digital Technologies, and Learning Certificate Program, complete all requirements, and obtain a MSU Graduate Certificate in New Literacies, Digital Technologies, and Learning.
 
Complete the following required courses for a total of 12 credits.
Number Name Hours
READ 525 Literacies, Digital Technology and Learning 3
MEDI 503 Critical Basics of Media and Technology Productions 3
MEDI 506 Evaluation and Selection of Educational Media 3
MEDI 521 Design of Innovative Curriculum Resources (culminating crs) 3
 
Complete one elective course from the following for a total of 3 credits.
Number Name Hours
MEDI 500 Media Tech/Learning in Curriculum 3
MEDI 520 Production of Materials for Media Technology 3
READ 522 History of Literacy and Media 3
READ 524 Teaching Multiethnic Literature in P-8 Classrooms 3
READ 503 Literature for Adolescents 3
MUED 518 Technology for Music Teachers 3
MEDI 523 Integrating Technology Across the Elementary Curriculum 3
SPED 585 Technology for the Inclusive Classroom 3
ECEL 517 Integrating Science and Technology in Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms 3
 
E. Inclusion
Complete 5 courses for 15 semester hours from the following list. Students may choose to apply to the Graduate School for a TSD certification program, complete all mandated requirements, and receive a TSD certification in either the P-3 OR K-5 range.
 
Number Name Hours
ECSE 502 Sociocultural Context of Disability and Inclusive Education 3
ECSE 505 Early Learning and Development in Young Children With and Without Disabilities 3
ECSE 506 Observation and Assessment of Young Children with Disabilities: Birth to Age 8 3
ECSE 509 Principles and Practices in Inclusive Early Childhood Education 3
ECSE 510 Supervised Practicum and Seminar in Inclusive Early Childhood 3
ECSE 519 Language and Early Literacy Development 3
SPED 579 Special Education for Students with Disabilities 3
SPED 566 Language Based Instructional Strategies in Inclusive Settings 3
SPED 567 Instructional Planning for Students with Disabilities 3
SPED 584 Assessment and Evaluation in Inclusive Settings 3
SPED 585 Technology for the Inclusive Classroom 3
SPED 586 Transition Strategies for Students with Disabilities 3
OR
ECSE 508 Strengthening Partnerships with Families with Children with Disabilities 3
SPED 588 Promoting Prosocial Behavior in Inclusive Settings 3
SPED 597 Practicum/Seminar: Teaching Students with Disabilities 3
 
F. Teacher of English as a Second Language
Students may choose to apply to the Graduate School for the Teacher of English as a Second Language Certification program (18 crs), complete all requirements, and obtain a TESL certification. The elective course may be used here.
 
Complete 5 of the following courses for a total of 15 credits.
Number Name Hours
APLN 500 Language and Linguistics 3
APLN 524 Advanced Structure of American English 3
APLN 532 Language and Culture 3
OR
APLN 534 Language in Contact 3
OR
APLN 536 Languages of the U.S.A. 3
APLN 520 Current Theories of Second Language Learning 3
APLN 525 Methods of Teaching ESL 3
APLN 529 TESL Practicum 3
 
G. Leadership, Supervision, and Policy in Early Childhood/Elementary Education
Students may choose to apply to the Graduate School for the Supervisor's Certificate program, complete all requirements, and obtain a supervisor's certificate.
 
Complete the following required courses for a total of 9 credits.
Number Name Hours
ELAD 540 Differentiated Supervision 3
ELAD 543 Administrative Aspects of Management and Supervision 3
ELAD 680 Leading Curriculum Change in Diverse Settings 3
 
Complete 2 of the following courses for 6 credits.
Number Name Hours
ECEL 660 Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy 3
ECSE 509 Principles and Practices in Inclusive Early Childhood Education 3
ECSE 511 Advanced Curriculum and Methods: Inclusive Early Childhood Education+ 3
CURR 530 Principles of Curriculum Development 3
 
H. Mathematics Education: Elementary Subject Matter Specialist
Students may choose to apply to the Graduate School for the Middle School Mathematics Education program, complete all necessary requirements, and obtain an elementary content specialist endorsement.
 
Complete 5-6 of the following for 15-18 credits.
Number Name Hours
MTHM 505 Number and Operations in the Middle Grades 3
MTHM 506 Algebra and Algebraic Thinking in the Middle Grades Algebra and Algebraic Thinking in the Middle Grades 3
MTHM 507 Geometry for Middle Grade Teachers 3
MTHM 508 Data Analysis and Probability in the Middle Grades 3
MTHM 509 Measurement in the Middle Grades 3
MATH 611 Leadership Development in Mathematics Education+ 3
+Pre-requisites MTHM 505, 506, 507, 508, 509, and 2 additional courses

III. Electives

Complete 3 semester hours of electives. Elective must be approved by your advisor.

IV. Culminating Experience

1. Complete:

Number Name Hours
ECEL 698  Master's Thesis 3
 
2. Submit the complete Master's thesis original and one copy to the Graduate Office. See Thesis Guidelines for details.
 
PROGRAM TOTAL: 36 credits
 
For the Master's Thesis, each student will be required to assemble a portfolio, including a research thesis. Students will present portfolios to a panel of reviewers.

Additional Student Responsibilities:

  • Students are responsible for seeking advisement from their academic advisor for registration and completion of degree requirements.
  • It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with all policies designated in the graduate catalog.