COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Early Childhood Education is a comprehensive program designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than education and wish to pursue Ohio licensure to teach children from pre-kindergarten through grade five. The program emphasizes a blend of theoretical knowledge, practical application, and extensive field experiences to prepare educators who can meet the needs of diverse student populations. Coursework covers foundational and advanced topics in early childhood and elementary education, including intercultural dimensions of teaching and learning, professional practice inquiry, and critical inquiry using the International Baccalaureate framework. Students gain subject-specific instructional skills in teaching social studies, mathematics, science, reading, and writing in elementary classrooms, as well as the development of pedagogical strategies for upper elementary and preschool education. The curriculum also addresses contemporary themes such as STEM foundations, sociomoral environments, and the application of theoretical principles to child development, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to foster holistic learning and development. Integral to the program are supervised clinical experiences and practicum opportunities, which provide immersive, hands-on practice in primary classrooms, allowing students to apply instructional methods, manage classrooms, and develop professional competencies in real-world settings. Additional courses focus on family-school-community partnerships, emphasizing collaboration and engagement in diverse educational contexts. The program spans a total of 64 credit hours, culminating in an eight-credit practicum and internship in early childhood education, ensuring that students complete the degree with substantial, practical teaching experience. Graduates emerge as skilled, reflective, and adaptable educators capable of creating inclusive, effective, and developmentally appropriate learning environments for young children in a range of educational settings, equipped both for immediate classroom teaching and ongoing professional growth in the field of early childhood education.