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

Prepare to effectively teach young children with and without exceptional needs in inclusive early childhood settings through the flexible, CAEP-accredited, 100% online Master of Science in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3) program.

Apply By: 1/2/25
Start Class: 1/13/25 Apply Now

Program Overview

A look at the online Master of Science in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3) program

In the Master of Science in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3) online program from Emporia State University, you will be prepared to help all children up to age eight thrive in early childhood settings, or you can ready for a dual role as a general education and special education teacher.

This program is designed by teachers for teachers, led by an experienced faculty dedicated to your success through mentorship and personalized attention. Coursework is 100% online, and assignments may require firsthand observation and various hands-on experiences working with children and families in early childhood and home-based programs.

With fully online, asynchronous courses and flexible scheduling, this degree is an affordable and accelerated path to career advancement in early childhood programs as a teacher, administrator, or coordinator.

Core courses include: Characteristics of Inclusive Early Childhood Education; Observation, Assessment and Screening in Early Childhood with Inclusive Kindergarten Classroom; Working With Infants & Toddlers with and Without Special Needs & Their Families; Clinical Experience: Inclusive Early Childhood Home Based (Birth to 3 years); Collaborating with Families, Schools, Service Agencies, and Community Partners; and more.

Please note this program does not lead to obtaining a teaching license.

In this master’s early childhood unified program, you will:

  • Gain the skillset to become an in-demand early childhood educator in inclusive settings for children with and without exceptionalities
  • Engage in theory-based effective practice and decision-making
  • Respond to uncertainty and change caused by the different needs of students and a changing world
  • Rely on self-reflection to evaluate, synthesize information, and make decisions about how to modify teaching practices and appropriately assess student learning
  • Gain the skillset to become an in-demand early childhood educator in inclusive settings for children with and without exceptionalities
  • Engage in theory-based effective practice and decision-making
  • Respond to uncertainty and change caused by the different needs of students and a changing world
  • Rely on self-reflection to evaluate, synthesize information, and make decisions about how to modify teaching practices and appropriately assess student learning

This online master’s early childhood unified program prepares you for roles such as:

  • Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
  • Early Childhood Special Education Administrator
  • Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
  • Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
  • Early Childhood Special Education Administrator
  • Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator

Also available:

Emporia State offers a wide range of graduate education degree programs in a convenient online format. Explore all of our online education programs.

$9,960* Total Tuition
As few as 12 months Duration
30 Credit Hours

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

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.

Apply Now

Request Information

Call 800-721-2248

Call 800-721-2248

Tuition

Our MS in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3) is affordable

Tuition for the MS in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3) online degree program is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.

Tuition breakdown:

$9,960* Total Tuition
$332 Per Credit Hour

Calendar

Make note of these important dates and deadlines

The MS in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3) is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year. Choose the start date that's best for you.

7 week coursesProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Due
Spring 2025, Session I1/13/251/2/251/2/251/6/251/9/25
Spring 2025, Session II3/10/252/24/252/27/253/3/253/6/25
Summer 2025, Session I5/12/254/28/255/1/255/5/255/8/25
Summer 2025, Session II6/30/256/16/256/19/256/23/256/26/25

Now enrolling:

1/2/25 Apply Date
1/13/25 Class Starts

Have questions or need more information about Emporia State online programs?

Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Emporia State?

Admissions

View requirements for enrollment into the MS in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3)

Your journey begins here! The admission process is the first step toward earning your degree. Be sure to get familiar with these requirements to enroll in the master's in early childhood unified (birth-grade 3) online program.

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Minimum GPA of 2.75

MS in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3) Online Admission Requirements

  • Graduate school application
  • Copy of teaching license
  • Government-issued ID
  • Official transcripts from all attended colleges and universities from regionally accredited institutions with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher
    • Students must submit official bachelor's degree transcripts containing a cumulative or last 60 semester hours of study GPA of 2.75 or higher or a completed master's degree with at least a GPA of 3.0 Any additional transcripts from college credits accumulated after the bachelor’s degree MUST be submitted if you will be using these credits for transfer credit.

Official transcripts from all institutions attended can be submitted via a secure electronic service offered by the issuing institution to [email protected] or by selecting Emporia State University on the transcript request form, mailed (or overnighted) to:

Emporia State University
Graduate School
Room 313 Plumb Hall
1 Kellogg Circle
Emporia, KS 66801

Students who have obtained a degree from a foreign university/college must have a transcript evaluation from a recommended external source that is a member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services). Students will not be allowed to enroll until the evaluation has been received in the Graduate School.

Have a question? Call us at 800-721-2248.

Courses

Peruse our curriculum for this online education master’s program

Students in the MS Early Childhood Unified (Birth-Grade 3) online degree must complete 30 credit hours for this program.

Students must complete the following courses, totalling 30 credit hours.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The focus of this course is to provide candidates with the background knowledge, current research, and instructional design that make up a literacy program. The course content will cover the critical elements of language and literacy; identifies and uses evidence-based interventions to meet the instructional needs specific to reading, writing, math and other content areas; and includes the principles of universal design for learning and the use of technology to support literacy and to make databased decisions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This is an introductory graduate-level course in research methodology designed to allow the student to function as a knowledgeable and critical consumer of scholarly research in his/her field. The course will also emphasize the use of action research for program improvement.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will focus on creativity and artistic creativity of children birth to age eight. This elective would be for Early Childhood & Master Teacher graduate credit. Psychology, Rehabilitation/Counseling and Art Therapy graduate students might be interested. This would also work well for recertification credits.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of early childhood special education, including historical perspectives; rationale; normal and exceptional development (including learning disabilities; attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder; emotional and behavior disorders; intellectual and developmental disabilities; speech and language disorders; deafness and hearing loss; visual impairments; autism spectrum disorders; physical and health disabilities; severe and multiple disabilities; gifted and talented); etiology; identification and assessment; characteristics; service delivery approaches; educational considerations/accommodations/modifications; program models; teaming; working with families, including culturally diverse populations; research; and current issues in ECSE and ECU. Working with infants and toddlers with special needs and their families (Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - IDEA); Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP), as well as Individual Education Plans (IEP), and on preschoolers age 3-5 with special needs (Part B, Section 619 of the IDEA), the course also includes information on children age 6-8 with disabilities (Part B for children and youth 6- 21). This is due to the fact that early childhood encompasses a huge developmental spread--from birth to age eight, yet part B of IDEA covers age 3 – 21.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to implement developmentally appropriate screening and assessment for young children in home- and center-based programs and K-3 classrooms. Data collection using a variety of methods will be emphasized. A practicum experience provides opportunities to administer assessments and analyze data within a classroom setting.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course emphasizes methods and materials for working with young children (birth to 3rd grade) with special needs and their families. Topics include IEP, instructional strategies, current service delivery approaches, program models, curriculum development, and transition. A practicum experience provides opportunities to plan and teach lesson to young learners within classroom settings.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will discuss how to implement effective family- centered services for infants and toddlers with special needs and their families. Major emphasis will be on the IFSP process, case management, planning activities for infants and toddlers, implementing home-based programs and family-focused intervention.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides the opportunity for the student to work with families who have young children (birth to three) with disabilities or are at risk for disabilities. This field experience provides the opportunity to demonstrate competency in IFSP/IEP writing, selection and utilization of curriculum materials, instructional techniques, working with families and the ability to serve as a member of a multi-disciplinary team. A course fee of $300 will be charged to support mentor teachers. Pre-req: CD 843
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on skills that foster communication, cooperation, and collaboration between families, schools, service agencies, and inclusive early childhood programs. Recognizing the family as a system and supporting families with sensitivity to family culture/diversity will be emphasized. Topics include communication skills; diversity, equity, and inclusion; teaming; problem solving; co-teaching approaches; working with paraeducators; models for collaboration with regular educators; engaging and empowering families and community in the education of the learner; and the use of technology for collaborative communication.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an extended practicum experience in an early childhood inclusive setting for children between three years and third grade. Activities will include administering assessments, using assessment information to guide instruction, teaching lessons, participating in collaboration activities with families and colleagues, and reflecting on these experiences. A capstone project will be developed to synthesize this clinical experience and ECU program content and other field-based experiences. A course fee of $300 will be charged to support mentor teachers. This course should be completed toward the end of the program. Pre-req: CD 838

*Tuition is subject to change on an annual basis.

Request Information

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

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Or call 800-721-2248

Take the Next Step

Start your application today!

or call 800-721-2248 800-721-2248
for help with any questions you may have.