Early Childhood Education

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The University of North Dakotas online Master of Science (MS) in Early Childhood Education prepares professional teachers and leaders to address the educational needs of young children, ages 3 to 8, in a variety of settings:

* public and private schools (PreK-Grade 3)
* Head Start programs
* child development and child care centers
* other programs related to the education of young children

Through online courses and a teaching practicum, you will learn educational methods that emphasize young children in the context of their:

* family
* gender
* culture
* community

The online MS in Early Childhood Education program combines theory and research with practical experience. You will begin with the belief that the child is a born learner. Therefore, as a teacher, you must be a careful and open-minded observer who develops early learning curriculum and programs with the child in mind. The child is at the center of the online ECE program.

As a graduate of the online masters program, you will have advanced skills and knowledge to:
* encourage the childs natural curiosity and exploration of the environment.
* develop an understanding of human diversity and recognize its value in a community of learners.
* become reflective in your approach to teaching and leadership.
* create supportive and productive learning environments for children, teachers, parents, and support staff.
* integrate knowledge about children with special needs into curriculum and program development.
* be reflective in your approach to teaching and leadership.

Courses include:

* Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs
* Play in Development & Early Childhood Education
* Curricular Foundations in Early Childhood Education
* Language Development & Cognition in Children
* Foundations of Reading Instruction
* Collaborative Relationships: Home, School, & Community
* Practicum: Early Childhood Education
* Scholarly Project
* Independent Study
* Introduction to Educational Research
* Action Research
* IEP Development
* Identification: Assessment of Young Children with Special Needs
* Foundations of Educational Thoughts

* Bachelors degree from a regionally accredited institution in: * early childhood education * child development * elementary education * a related field * An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 overall or a GPA of 3.00 in the last 2 years of your undergraduate program. * Submission of a personal statement essay, to include career history and highlights, honors and achievements, skills relevant to the profession, and personal/professional goals. If you do not meet these admission standards, you may be admitted on a provisional basis with continued enrollment contingent on successful completion of prerequisite coursework and/or successful performance in the program. Please note that UND reserves the right to prioritize admissions based the applicant's education and/or experiences within the ECE field. Applicants with a degree and/or experience in ECE will be given first priority. In some instances, applicants without an education or experience in ECE will be encouraged to pursue this, and then reapply to the ECE program. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 76 Technological Requirements Although specific technical requirements may vary by online course or program, the following general technical requirements are required for all online courses. Active E-mail Account Current Operating System: Windows or Macintosh Internet Connection: DSL/Cable (recommended) Note: A wireless or satellite connection should not be used for taking exams/quizzes and is not recommended for "Live" Web classes. Current Internet Browser: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari Word Processing Software: Microsoft Word (recommended) Additional Free Software Downloads (as necessary) IMPORTANT! For more specific information about technical requirements, refer to the UND Center for Instructional & Learning Technologies (CILT), your course syllabus (available approximately 1 week prior to your course start date), or contact your instructor.

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Financial Aid
Semester-based, online courses are eligible for most federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.

Semester-based, online courses are NOT eligible for any tuition waiver programs at the University of North Dakota (i.e. Cultural Diversity, International, Employee, Graduate), except as required by statute.

In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be:

* fully admitted in a degree or approved graduate certificate program.
* registered for at least 6 credits in each term you apply the aid towards.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the only application UND requires to determine eligibility for all federal and state financial aid. Refer to the UND Student Financial Aid Office for more information.

Employer-Provided Tuition Assistance
UND accepts company payments for employer-provided tuition assistance programs. Contact your human resource department to find out how you can qualify for tuition assistance.

Military & Veterans Tuition Assistance
UND is approved to offer college credit courses through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program.

The University of North Dakota accepts military and veterans tuition assistance. Contact your military education or veterans administration office to find out how you can qualify for tuition assistance.

NOTE: Service members and veterans taking 100% of their courses online and who are enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill may also be eligible for a monthly housing allowance. Refer to the US Department of Veterans Affairs for details.

Scholarship
If you are completing a UND degree program through online courses, you may apply for the Ben & Ruth Gustafson Continuing Education Endowment at UND provided by UND Online & Distance Education for non-traditional, distance students.

Accreditation

NCATE Accreditation
The UND College of Education & Human Development is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Through the process of professional accreditation of schools, colleges, and departments of education, NCATE works to make a difference in the quality of teaching, teachers, school specialists, and administrators. NCATE believes every student deserves a caring, competent, and highly-qualified teacher.

Regional Accreditation
The University of North Dakota as a whole is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. UND has been accredited since 1913, when the Association was first organized.

Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation assures the quality of higher education institutions and programs. In the United States, accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental, peer-review process that determines if established quality standards are being met.

* Accreditation is a major way for students, families, employers, government officials, and the media to know that an institution or program provides a quality education.
* Accreditation helps students choose quality college programs that qualify for federal financial aid.
* Accreditation enables employers to recruit graduates they know are well-prepared. Many employers will only provide tuition assistance to employees for accredited programs.
* Accreditation is used by registration, licensure, and certification boards to screen applicants.
* Accreditation gives colleges and universities a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve the quality of their programs.