Educational Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy in Early Childhood Specialization, M.Ed.

Graduate Coordinators: Dr. Susan Catapano

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) program includes a specialization in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy specifically in the area of early childhood. This specialization is an interdisciplinary program designed for people who work or wish to work as a leader in the field of family and child advocacy. Information in this degree supports the development of leadership skills to serve in positions within community, state, and national agencies, in both the public and private sector that focus on supporting the healthy development, growth, and education of families and children. This program provides a grounding in social, historical, philosophical, developmental, educational, and international perspectives of family and child advocacy. The program supports the Watson College of Education Conceptual Framework for developing highly competent professionals to serve in educational leadership roles.

Admission Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree completed before graduate study begins in early childhood or related field (documentation of experience in the field of early childhood or related field (documentation of experience in the field of early childhood is required if bachelor’s degree is in another field).
2. Official copies of transcripts of college work (graduate and undergraduate).
3. Three recommendations from individuals who can attest to the qualifications of the applicant for admission to this program.
4. A personal statement describing one’s interest in family and child advocacy and any prior leadership experience.
5. Requirements may be substituted depending on a student’s background and experience. Consultation with a faculty advisor is required to determine if a substitution is appropriate.
6. Application and supplemental documents must be submitted by the published deadline.

Degree Requirements (36 total credit hours)

Core Requirements (15 credit hours)

EDN 512 - Historical and Contemporary Issues and Trends in Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
EDL 509 - Public Policy and Advocacy for Children and Families Credits: 3
EDL 554 - Leadership Theory and Behavior Credits: 3 *
EDN 521 - Diverse Families and Children in Communities Credits: 3
EDL 510 - Internship in Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy Credits: 3

Research Courses (6 credit hours)

EDL 598 - Thesis I Credits: 3 **
OR
EDL 596 - Culminating Project I Credits: 3
and
EDL 599 - Thesis II Credits: 3 OR
EDL 597 - Culminating Project II Credits: 3

Electives (up to 15 credit hours)

Courses from any of the following designations with guidance from an advisor: EDN, EDL*, PLS (Public Administration), SWK (Social Work), and other courses approved by the advisor.

Students participating in scholarship programs may have other requirements. Check with the program advisor for other requirments.

Students without an undergraduate course in the introduction to early childhood education may be required to take EDN 503 . A faculty advisor will review transcripts to determine if this is required.

* Only EDL 509 and EDL 510 are specifically offered for students in this program. Other EDL courses are identified for students in this program by a notation in the schedule of classes. If there is no notation the course will be offered to studetns in all graduate programs and may focus primarily on the K-12 programs. Verify all courses, other than those required, with the program advisor.

** Students electing to take EDL 598 and EDL 599 , may also take EDL 523 ,as an elective, to prepare to complete a thesis.

Exit Requirement:

During the final term in the program, students will complete a project that maybe in the form of a thesis or action research project that focuses on a specific area of family and child advocacy. A faculty advisor will be assigned to determine final approval for the project.