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Early Childhood Education Programs Online

Make an impact at the beginning of a child’s education journey

Develop your ability to help children up to age eight thrive within and outside the classroom. Designed by teachers for teachers, the early childhood education programs from ESU will prepare you for in-demand roles as an educator, administrator or program coordinator, or to serve in a dual role as a general education and special education teacher. CAEP-accredited and 100% online, these master’s and licensure programs offer you an affordable and accelerated path to career advancement in early childhood education.

Why choose an online education program from ESU?

  • Value and convenience: Benefit from affordable pay-as-you-go tuition and multiple start dates per year and start studying online on a flexible schedule
  • Supportive, engaged faculty: Our accomplished faculty members focus on preparing you for opportunities by combining academic learning with real-world, practical experience
  • Asynchronous coursework: Your courses are accessible anytime, anywhere, so you can complete your program at your own pace
  • Generous credit transfer policy: To minimize time to completion and tuition costs, you may transfer in nine or more credit hours

Which online program is right for you?

GRADUATE DEGREE

Master of Science in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3)

As few as 12 months Duration
30 Credit Hours
$10,290* Total Tuition

Prepare to help all children up to age eight thrive in early childhood settings, or be ready to work in a dual role as a general education and special education teacher. This CAEP-accredited program is designed by teachers for teachers and offers practical experience and real-world knowledge in an accelerated, convenient, and affordable online format for working educators. Assignments may require firsthand observation and various hands-on experiences working with children and families.

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GRADUATE DEGREE

Early Childhood Unified Licensure (Birth-Grade 3)

As few as 6 months Duration
21 Credit Hours
$7,203* Total Tuition

This CAEP accredited online program meets the requirements for licensure. Be prepared to help all children up to age eight thrive in early childhood special education settings, or get ready to work in a dual role as a general education and special education teacher, in less time than it takes to complete a master’s degree program. An affordable and accelerated path to career advancement as teacher, administrator, or coordinator in early childhood programs, this program offers practical experience and real-world insights from experienced educators.

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*Tuition is subject to change on an annual basis.

The Teachers College at Emporia State is accredited under the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation standards through the CAEP accreditation system, for a period of seven years.

Gifted, Talented, and Creative Licensure

Duration: 6 months Credit Hours: 15 Tuition: $343 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 9/30/25 Start class: 10/14/25

Nurture the educational and social development of gifted learners when you complete your Gifted, Talented, and Creative Licensure online program. In this CAEP-accredited program, you will prepare to instruct, encourage, and challenge students with exceptional creative and academic abilities. Highly qualified faculty will enhance your ability to identify high-performing students, develop their capabilities, and maintain their advancements through curriculum and assessments adapted to their individual strengths and weaknesses.

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Master of Science in Special Education – High Incidence

Duration: 12 months Credit Hours: 30 Tuition: $343 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 9/30/25 Start class: 10/14/25

The MS in SPED – High Incidence online program is ideal for working teachers who want to support students in special education with high-incidence disabilities. Highly experienced faculty will provide you with the instructional strategies and classroom management techniques necessary to create engaging learning experiences for students with diverse learning and behavioral needs.

This CAEP-accredited program curriculum meets the endorsement standards for both early childhood through late childhood (grades K through 6) and early adolescence through late adolescence (grades 6 through 12).

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Master of Science in Special Education – Gifted, Talented, and Creative

Duration: 12 months Credit Hours: 30 Tuition: $343 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 9/30/25 Start class: 10/14/25

Help highly capable students achieve their maximum potential with an MS in Special Education – Gifted, Talented, and Creative. In this CAEP-accredited online program, you will develop methods and procedures for educating gifted learners, including proactive and preventative approaches for common behavior management and sensory issues. Plus, as a recognized teachers college, Emporia State University prides itself on its outstanding instructors: You will learn how to identify, instruct, and assess gifted learners from the same qualified faculty who teach on campus.

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High Incidence Licensure

Duration: 6 months Credit Hours: 21 Tuition: $343 {tuition_specification_type_per_course}*

Apply by: 9/30/25 Start class: 10/14/25

Complete the coursework requirements for licensure while preparing to help students with special needs thrive. Learn proven programming and strategies to set up primary and secondary students with mild and moderate disabilities for success, and earn your endorsement in less time than it would take to complete a master’s degree program. This CAEP-accredited program offers supervised practical experience with special learners as an observer and in a variety of co-teaching and consulting roles.

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Submit this form, and a representative will contact you to answer any questions!

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  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
or call 800-721-2248 800-721-2248

By submitting this form, I am providing my digital signature agreeing that Emporia State University (ESU) and its agent, Risepoint, may email me or contact me regarding educational services by telephone and/or text message utilizing automated technology or a pre-recorded message at the telephone number(s) provided above. I understand this consent is not a condition to attend ESU or to purchase any other goods or services. Privacy Policy. SMS Terms.