ColumbiaUniversityEarly Childhood Education
http://www.tc.columbia.edu/C&T/Child-Ed/detail.asp?Id=Program+Information&Info=About+the+Program
Program Information
About the Program
Initial Certification Programs — Master of Arts
There are three initial certification programs in Early Childhood Education.
The course of study for the M.A. in Early Childhood Education (ECED-INIT) leads to initial certification in Early Childhood Education (birth-8 years). The course of study for the M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE-INIT) leads to initial certification as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities, Early Childhood (birth-8 years).
Students with backgrounds in elementary education or with no previous coursework in education must complete at least 40 points in order to obtain the Master of Arts degree and the department's recommendation for initial certification.
The course of study in Dual Certification: Early Childhood Education/Special Education (ECSE-DUAL) leads to initial certification as both an Early Childhood Education teacher and a Teacher of Students with Disabilities in Early Childhood (birth-8 years). Students must complete at least 48 points in order to obtain the Master of Arts degree and the department's recommendation for initial dual certification.
Students in these programs are prepared to teach in diverse and inclusive environments, including homes, schools, and other community settings, which serve children from birth to age 8 and their families. Child-centered and culturally sensitive practices are emphasized throughout the program, focusing on the need for multiple methods of instruction to accommodate a broad range of learners. Through a curriculum that integrates general and special early childhood education content, we aim to enable our initial certification students to become outstanding early childhood teachers, decision makers, and intellectual and ethical leaders. Honoring the importance of understanding children's development and learning in context, the Master of Arts program emphasizes collaboration with families and other professionals and considers policies that affect families' access to desirable services, especially in urban settings. Our students participate in several field experiences, which serve as the foundation from which theories about development, learning, and curriculum come to life and through which teachers begin to construct their professional practice.
Early Childhood Education Policy — Master of Education, Doctor of Education
TheDoctor of Education (Ed.D.) program prepares candidates for leadership positions, college teaching, and research in early childhood policy. Combining rigorous methodological, conceptual, and practical interdisciplinary experiences, the program is designed for those interested in shaping the policy agenda for young children and their families. It is predicated on the principle that undergirding all policy work, candidates must have thorough understandings of both substantive content (early childhood practices, pedagogy, and theory) and research skills. While the focus of this program is on US early childhood policy, there will be opportunity for international and comparative work.
Course Requirements for the degree include 90 credit hours. Of these credits, 12 are required as a part of the departmental core, 15 are required as a part of the research core, and 12 are required as a part of the early childhood policy concentration core, totaling 39 credits. The remaining 51 credits must be selected from the early childhood policy concentration options listed below. Of these 90 credits, no more than 35 will be accepted from another institution.