EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
MATER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CONCENTRATION
The Early Childhood Education Concentration is designed to prepare professionals to work with children in preschools and community-based programs that serve children from birth to eight years old, and to take leadership roles in the field of early childhood education. Required coursework focuses on working with diverse families and young children and advanced study of cognitive, language, social, emotional, and moral development. Improvement of classroom curriculum and assessment from infancy through the primary grades is another emphasis of the program. Candidates need not possess a teaching credential; they may prepare for leadership and advocacy positions in a variety of settings. However, a basic course in child development and at least one year of experience working with children in educational settings are prerequisites to admission to the program. Details are available from the Early Childhood Education Program Advisor.
The M.A. in Early Childhood Education will help you to expand your understanding of the characteristics of learning and development of children ages 0 to 8, and your expertise in teaching young children and working with their families. With a growing emphasis at federal and state levels on the importance of high quality education during the preschool and primary years, leaders in early childhood education are sought by schools and agencies throughout California.
Graduate credits may count as professional development units for salary advancement in your school district and for credential renewal.
The
M.A. in Early Childhood Education also enables candidates to obtain advanced
levels of the the California Child Development Permit.
The Master of Arts program at Sonoma State University emphasize the importance of understanding the links between child development and the practice of teaching and care giving in classrooms for young children from infancy through grade three. This developmental perspective is explored through a variety of cultural and theoretical "lenses" as candidates ground their ideas from readings and discussion in their day to day work with young children. The importance of continuity of experience from home to school and across levels of education are emphasized in coursework and individualized research projects. Coursework and special projects also support teachers in their roles as agents of change related to documents pertinent to educational reform such as Universal Preschool, First Class: A Guide for Early Primary Education, and Desired Results for Preschool Programs and California State Standards for the primary grades.
Our courses cover a wide range of topics including:
* the development of language and literacy in first and second languages
* the role of play in learning and development
* the social nature of learning at home and at school
* communication between early childhood educator and families
* environments that support optimal learning
* authentic assessment, including child study an the use of portfolios
* techniques for organizing and implementing staff development and parent and family education
There are 12 units (4 courses) of required program courses for the MA in Early Childhood Education. The program also allows you to take 6 elective units (2 courses) from the menu of Early Childhood Education courses or in other approved areas such as curriculum, special education, reading and language.
.
PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING TO:
CREDENTIALS OFFICE, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
STEVENSON HALL ROOM 1078
SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
1801 E. COTATI AVENUE
ROHNERT PARK, CA 94928
1. One official transcript from each college or university you have attended.
Grade point average requirement: cumulative upper division / graduate 3.0; Education 3.0
2. A completed application form, AVAILABLE IN THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
3. Two (2) recent letters of reference (not more than one year old). Among other topics the letters should address the following:
For how long they have known you and in what capacity
Your academic potential for graduate work
Your curiosity and passion to learn about children and education
Your commitment to promoting the quality of early education
4. A photocopy of a valid California teaching credential or permit, if appropriate. No teaching credential is required for the M.A. degree. Required: B.A. or B.S. degree.
5. Course work in Child Development (at least one course dealing with theories of development and developmental changes birth through middle childhood)
6. A narrative statement of approximately 600-700 words, in which you answer the following questions:
- In your opinion, what are the most important issues in Early Childhood Education today?
- What are your career goals? How do you hope to use an M.A. degree to improve the lives of your children?
Your response will be evaluated on the organization and clarity of your ideas, conventional grammatical structure, and appropriate use of English.
7. Documentation of University Admission or Application
8. At least one year of teaching experience in an Early Childhood Education setting.
ECE M.A. Program Coursework: 30- 36 units
The total number of units of the program varies from 30 to 36 semester units, depending on the Culminating Path selected by the students. The following is a list of the courses ECE M.A. candidates take.
Education Core (6 units in EDUC courses)
EDUC 570 Reflective Educator (3)
EDUC 571 Research Paradigms in Education (3)
Masters Degree Culminating Paths (6-12 units)
Students select one of the following three paths
1. Thesis (6 units)
a. EDUC 598 Developing a Thesis Project (3)
b. EDUC 599 Supervised Research for the Thesis/Project (3)
2. Individualized exam (9 units)
a. EDUC 573 Supervised Study for the
Individualized Examination (3)
b. Two other courses
3. Cognate (12 units – may include Specialist Credential coursework)
a. EDUC 572 Supervised Study for the Cognate (3)
b. Three other courses
Required ECE Core Courses in Concentration (12 units)
EDEC 531 (3) The Role of Play in Development and Learning (offered Fall of odd numbered years, 2007)
EDEC 532 (3) Social-Moral Development in Childhood (offered Fall of even numbered years, 2008) (It will be taught in the framework of Action Research)
EDEC 537 (3) Authentic Assessment in Preschool and Primary Programs (offered Spring of odd numbered years, 2007)
EDEC 538 (3) The Development of Language and Thinking in Infancy through Middle Childhood (offered Spring of even numbered years, 2006)
PLUS
Electives (6 units)
At least two courses in the areas of Special Education, Curriculum Teaching and Learning, Reading and Language, and/or special topics ECE-MA courses as offered will be chosen in consultation with the ECE Advisor and the Graduate Advisors of the above mentioned areas.
Some examples of course options are:
Special Education:
EDSP 422 Collaborative Partnerships in Special Education
EDSP 423A Assessment, Curriculum and Instructional Strategies
EDSP 432 Designing Inclusive Environments in Early Childhood Education
Curriculum Teaching and Learning:
EDCT 585 Curriculum Development: Theory, Practice and Evaluation
EDCT 586 Teaching and Learning: Research and Application in the Classroom
Reading and Language
EDRL 507 Research in Language and Literacy
EDRL 521A Language Development in First and Second Languages
EDRL 524 Literature and Literacy