MA in Education, Leadership in Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education (ECE) refers to the formal and informal early learning programs, care, and practices that support young children's development from birth to age eight. ECE is a critical period in a children’s development as the brain experiences rapid growth enabling the acquisition of foundational skills, attitudes, and knowledge that will shape their lifelong learning, health, and well-being.

Early childhood education encompasses a range of settings, including nurseries, preschools, kindergartens, and early elementary grades. It can be offered as a full-day, part-day, home-based program, or co-op setting. ECE programs aim to support children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth.

An early childhood education degree can prepare you for various careers working with young children in different capacities. One of the most common paths is becoming a preschool teacher in a typical program serving birth to five-year-olds. You could also pursue a career as an elementary or special education teacher. Other potential job opportunities include becoming a family childcare provider, a child development specialist, a curriculum developer, an adjunct instructor, a program director, a regional manager, a parent educator, or an educational consultant. With an early childhood education degree, you will have the skills, knowledge, and disposition to work with young children in diverse settings, helping them learn and grow during their formative years.

The length of time it takes to become a qualified early childhood education teacher can vary depending on several factors, such as the level of education required for the position, the program's structure and format, and the individual's prior education and experience. Depending on the program's design and intensity, a certificate or diploma can take a few months to a year to complete. Assuming full-time enrollment, an associate degree program typically takes two years to complete. A bachelor’s degree program typically takes four years to complete. A graduate degree program, such as a master’s, can take up to two years, and a doctoral program can take one to four years or more to complete, depending on the program’s structure and intensity.

The highest degree in early childhood education is typically a doctoral degree, such as a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Early Childhood Education. These programs are designed for individuals who wish to pursue research, teaching, or administrative positions in early childhood education.

A Master of Arts in Education (MAE) degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree are both graduate-level educational programs but have different focuses and goals.

A Master of Arts in Education degree typically focuses on advancing a teacher's knowledge of educational theory, research, and policy. The program is designed to give teachers a deeper understanding of the broader context of education, including topics such as educational psychology, curriculum development, assessment, and educational leadership. Graduates of MAE programs may go on to pursue careers in education administration, curriculum development, policymaking, or research, as well as teaching positions.

A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is designed to provide students with advanced teaching skills and strategies. The program is often geared toward individuals with bachelor's degrees in a field other than education and who want to become licensed teachers. MAT programs typically focus on practical teaching skills and may cover classroom management, instructional design, assessment, and differentiated instruction.