teacher with child

Early Childhood Education (M.S.)

Enhance your professional skills in early childhood education through an online master's program ranked among the Top 10 nationwide.

UND's online Master of Science (M.S.) in Early Childhood Education is a non-licensing degree that prepares you to address the educational needs of children under the age of eight, in a variety of settings.

Program Snapshot
Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
2+ years
Credit hours:
32

Why Earn a Master's in Early Childhood Education Online at UND?

The online M.S. in Early Childhood Education combines theory and research with practical experience. You begin with the belief that the child is a born learner and, as a teacher, you must be an open-minded observer who develops early learning curriculum with the child in mind.

The child is always at the center of our online ECE program. Through online courses and a classroom practicum, you will learn educational methods that emphasize young children in the context of their:

  • Family
  • Culture
  • Community

In addition, through a partnership with the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, we offer Aim4Excellence, an online national Director Credential for Early Childhood administrators.

Accreditation by CAEP and NAEYC

Teacher Education programs at UND are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The ECE online program follows the guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Top Online Early Childhood Education Program in the Nation

UND is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report, and many other national rankings, as a best online early childhood master's degree program.

#2 - top 50 master's in early childhood education

#8 - Best Online Master's in Early Education Degree Program

#8 - Best Master's in Child Development

#8 - Top 10 Best Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Degrees

#11 - top 60 online early childhood education degrees

#15 - Best Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Program

#18 - The 30 Best Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs

#21 - U.s. News & World Report Best online graduate education program for veterans

Leaders in Education

Students from across the world are earning their degrees through the online Early Childhood Education Program.

 

M.S. in Early Childhood Education

  • Interact in a virtual classroom with online learning that fits your schedule.

  • Enroll in a program named a Top 10 Best Online Master's Program by the Center for Online Education. 

  • Learn from highly qualified faculty with graduate degrees and extensive experience in teaching graduate-level early childhood education courses.

  • Gain hands-on experience through a UND-approved, 60-hour classroom practicum in your community, which can be completed in your own classroom.

  • Enjoy the affordability of in-state tuition, regardless of where you live. 

Early Childhood Education Careers

7%
Projected growth for kindergarten and elementary school teachers through 2026*
55K
Median annual pay for kindergarten and elementary school teachers*

 

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The online Master's in Early Childhood Education program prepares you to teach and be a leader in:

  • Public and private schools (Pre-K and Kindergarten through third grade)
  • Head Start/Early Head Start programs
  • Child care and education centers
  • Other programs related to the education of young children
  • Administration/Director/Curriculum Specialist
  • Early Intervention
  • Community college teaching

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for preschool, kindergarten and elementary teachers are expected to be favorable.

There is a push to improve early childhood education in many states by offering full-day kindergarten and universal preschool programs. These programs, along with projected higher enrollment growth for preschool age children, will create many new jobs for early childhood teachers and educational directors and administrators.

When You Earn a master's degree in Early Childhood Education

An Early Childhood Education degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • Curriculum Development
  • Lesson Planning
  • Strategic Planning
  • Child Development

Careers in Early Childhood Education

You'll graduate with limitless career opportunities and a solid foundation for working with children ranging in age from 0-8 years old. Students with an early childhood education degree can teach and be a leader in:

  • Public schools (PreK and kindergarten through third grade)
  • Early Head Start
  • Child care and education centers
  • Administration/Director

UND Early Childhood Education Alumni

Early Childhood Education alumni have gone on to a variety of sucessfull careers with:

  • Grand Forks Public Schools
  • Bismarck Public Schools
  • Cartwright School District No. 83
  • Headstart
  • Mount Ayr Community School, Inc.

Online Graduate Courses You Could Take

T&L 553. Collaborative Relationships: Home, School and Community. 3 Credits.

A course appropriate for anyone working with families, early childhood educators, general educators, special educators, related service personnel, administrators and outside agency personnel. Topics covered include: (1) the various models of collaboration and consultation and the stages of each; (2) communication skills; (3) problem-solving; (4) conflict management; (5) diverse perspectives; (6) information collection procedures; (7) supervisory skills; (8) family characteristics and structure across the lifespan; (9) family focused intervention; (10) school choices; and (11) school issues such as poverty, domestic violence, teasing, bullying, and school violence.

T&L 527. Curricular Foundations in Early Childhood Education. 3 Credits.

This course examines the historical, philosophical, cultural, race, class, and gender influences on curriculum in early childhood, including the philosophy and mission of the Department of Teaching and Learning.

SPED 510. Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education. 3 Credits.

An introduction to the field of Early Childhood Special Education, primarily for students interested in entering the field. Issues such as program design, parent involvement, identification, infant education, and effects of disabilities will be covered. F,S,SS.

T&L 530. Foundations of Reading Instruction. 3-4 Credits.

This course focuses on the relationship between reading theory, research, contemporary issues and instructional practice. Emphasis is placed on strategic systems related to effective reading, instructional approaches that support the development of these strategic systems and assessment as collecting evidence of effective reading behaviors.

T&L 529. Language Development & Cognition in Children. 3 Credits.

This course provides foundational information about language and cognitive development in children. The course content will also analyze typical and atypical language and cognitive development. The focus of the course will include children birth to age eight. .

T&L 526. Play in Development and Early Childhood Education. 3 Credits.

This course explores the role of play in cognitive, physical and social-emotional development, and the way in which play is incorporated into educational and other programmatic settings. Students will explore how assessment of play indicates a child's development, and they will use assessment to promote Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) for PreK-Grade 3 (ages 3-8) learners.

Explore More Options

Connect with the education faculty you'll work with at UND or explore other online master's degrees in education.

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