COURSE CURRICULUM

Toronto Metropolitan University’s Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies MRP stream offers a comprehensive program that combines research and theory with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. Students are required to complete a Master’s Research Paper on a topic related to early childhood studies, which involves conducting independent research, writing a scholarly paper, and defending it orally before a committee. The program includes two core courses: one on research design, where students learn about various research methods and develop a proposal for a small-scale project, and another on theoretical frameworks that introduces major perspectives such as feminism, queer theory, critical theory, and anti-racism, exploring their relevance to early childhood research and practice. In addition, students select five elective courses from a wide range of topics including pedagogy and curriculum, social justice, leadership in educational change, inclusion and assessment, resilience, minority-language children, children’s rights, Indigenous early learning, and more. These courses deepen students’ understanding of contemporary issues affecting children and families and prepare them to engage critically with educational practices, policies, and research. The program emphasizes reflective practice, social justice, and transformative approaches to early childhood education, equipping graduates with the knowledge and skills to become leaders and advocates in the field and to positively impact the lives of young children and their communities.