Elementary and Early Childhood Education, M.Ed.

Contact: Dr. Lee Diglovanni
Office: KH 2337
Phone: (770) 499-3126
Fax: (770) 420-4346
Email: ldigiova@kennesaw.edu
Web address: http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad/Earlychildhood.htm

The Master of Education in Elementary and Early Childhood Education meets the Georgia Professional Standards Commission standards for the degree and is fully accredited by the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Through a cohort model, the Master of Education program in Elementary and Early Childhood Education prepares early childhood (P-5) teachers to become accomplished classroom instructional leaders. Examples of leadership for the classroom teacher may include the development of exemplary skills teaching content areas for diverse populations, and development of skills in classroom-based research. Outside the classroom, accomplished classroom instructional leaders may share their knowledge and skills through conference presentations, collegial exchanges, published articles, and mentoring. Coursework will address content and pedagogical strategies that represent best practices to enhance student learning including diverse populations, ESOL, and students with disabilities. Topics and collaborative projects will be presented through instructional inquiry that includes exploration of excellence in teaching, and demonstration of instructional leadership. Candidates will be engaged in a variety of classroom projects focused on curriculum decision making to improve student achievement. Many of the processes and explorations in which candidates are involved will provide the groundwork for future development toward applying for National Board Certification.

Montessori Concentration

Contact: Dr. Feland Meadows
Office: TP 4120
Phone: (678) 797-2160 & (678) 797-2161
Fax: (678) 797-2199
Email: fmeadows@kennesaw.edu
Web address:http://www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad/EarlyChildhood%20Montessori.htm

The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education offers a concentration in Montessori Early Childhood Education ages 2.5–6 years old. This concentration prepares candidates to offer children many more opportunities for self-development, within an enriched, scientifically designed prepared learning environment. The Montessori Early Childhood Education ages 2.5–6 years old concentration provides candidates with instruction, modeling and mentoring experiences through which they will acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required to work successfully with young children. Upon completion of the extensive and engaging field work experiences, graduates will be competent to expertly provide young children with developmentally appropriate educational experiences which will significantly increase all levels of student achievement.

 

General Requirements for Admission to M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education

The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is designed for accomplished classroom instructional leaders. The Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Graduate Admission Committee in the Bagwell College of Education determines the eligibility of each person who applies for admission. To be considered for admission to the Master of Education in Early Childhood Education (Grades P-5) a candidate must submit the following:

1. the online graduate application.
2. official transcripts from each college attended, including those institutions where degrees were not earned. Official transcripts are those in a university-sealed envelope. Transcripts should reflect at least a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
3. a copy of your valid teaching certificate P-5 (clear renewable only). You must hold certification in Early Childhood or Elementary Education to be considered for this program or receive permission of the chair.
4. two administrator recommendation forms. These forms and their directions are located in the online graduate application. Please do not submit letters of recommendation. Only the forms located via the graduate application will be accepted. These two forms of recommendation must come from an educational professional who has taught or supervised your work and who can write with authority about your abilities as an educator.
5. a Letter of Commitment.
6. a personal profile.

*International applicants have additional requirements and each case is reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee. See Graduate Admissions section of this catalog.

Admission to a cohort group is competitive and is open to a limited number of candidates. An applicant will not be considered for admission unless all application requirements are met by the specified deadline. Admission decisions are competitive and are made by the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education Graduate Admissions Committee. The decision from the Graduate Admissions Committee is communicated in writing to the applicants. There is no provisional admission status.

Transfer Credit

Candidates enrolled in the M.Ed. for in Early Childhood Education will not be given credit for graduate courses taken at other institutions.

Grades in Graduate Courses

Expectations for satisfactory graduate level student performance are detailed in Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Licensure Requirements

To be considered for this program, you must hold teacher certification in Early Childhood or Elementary Education, or receive permission to waive the requirement that certification be in this field through 1) permission of the department chair or his/her designee, or 2) providing a different (departmentally-approved) teaching credentials or its equivalent.

Non-Degree Candidates

Students classified as non-degree students are not permitted to enroll in the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education. This program will not provide graduate-level course work for certification renewal purposes.

Petition to Graduate

Each M.Ed. candidate must petition to graduate at least one semester prior to completion of program requirements. The Petition to Graduate form can be found online at www.kennesaw.edu/education/grad.

 

Program of Study

The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is designed specifically for Accomplished Classroom Instructional Leaders. The program allows students who are fully certified (P-5) to earn a M.Ed. in four semesters. The program is delivered in an entirely online or mostly face-to-face delivery method; students choose which format they prefer. The program is aligned with principles from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and school improvement plans. The final phase of the program involves the candidates in a culminating, enriching, and rewarding capstone experience. For the culmination of the program, candidates complete their development of a professional portfolio that includes evidence relevant to many of the National Board Certification requirements.

Candidates are strongly urged to contact the program coordinator or cohort coordinator prior to the first semester of study to plan their programs, especially any endorsement courses that they may wish to take.