Early Childhood Education/Special Education, M.A.

Master of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education/Special Education (ECSE)

• Early Childhood Education/Special Education Nursery – Grade 3
• Early Childhood Education/Special Education Nursery – Grade 3 with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Program Outcomes for the Master of Arts in Early Childhood/Special Education

Students will:

• Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers who are concerned with the social, emotional, and intellectual issues of young children in the contemporary educational setting.
• Apply advanced pedagogy in child development, curriculum, instruction, and assessment to engage young students in reaching their potential as individuals and as learners.
• Develop the capacity to influence and advance positive change for young children and the profession of early childhood education in a complex global society.
• Encourage development of collaborative relationships among all adults and agencies responsible for the appropriate emotional, social and cognitive development of young children.

Acceptance Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

1. Graduate admission application and nonrefundable admission fee
2. A conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
3. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5; cumulative GPA of 2.67 for teacher licensure
4. Two sealed official transcripts of all undergraduate work and any prior graduate work
5. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the candidate’s suitability as a prospective teacher or to work with children and families accompanied by the School of Graduate and Professional Studies cover form available on the University of Saint Joseph website. Note: recommendations must be obtained from individuals who are not family members, personal friends, or members of the School of Education at the University of Saint Joseph.
6. Immunization record using the the University of Saint Joseph Health Service form available on the University website
7. A planned program of study developed by the candidate and the faculty advisor, approved by the Dean of the School of Education

Continuation Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

Completion of the first six graduate credits with a grade of B or better is required for continuation in a program in the School of Education. Only courses with a B or better at any point in the program will be accepted as graduate work. After the first six credits, a course with less than a B may be repeated only one time.

There are additional requirements for the acceptance into a Graduate Teacher Licensure  Program.

Exit Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree

Eligible candidates for the Master of Arts degree take a comprehensive exam in February or July. The application for the Comprehensive Exam is available from the School of Education and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain his/her faculty advisor’s signature and to submit the application to the office manager of the School of Education by the indicated due date.

Program Coursework

Master of Arts Degree in Education: Early Childhood Education/Special Education (ECSE)

The ECSE master’s degree planned program is created in consultation with program faculty and offers two areas of concentration:

1. Nursery-Grade 3
2. Nursery-Grade 3 with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders