"Through this program I have gained confidence and knowledge so that I am better equipped to educate and nurture diverse young learners. Having the ability to have hands on experiences through class, internship, and field work made me an attractive candidate in the field." - Alexa Rawl, MEd Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners, '22
A degree in early childhood education provides the opportunity to learn about specific instructional tools and practices that help young children develop a love of learning that will benefit them the rest of their lives.
By working with young children and their families, our graduates create a path for success for children in the earliest years of their education. Students learn specialized skills to work with children from a diversity of abilities as well as cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
This is an ideal program for students who want to teach in an early elementary classroom. Graduates of this concentration are eligible to apply for a Virginia teaching license for Early/Primary Education PreK-3.
Some courses require field observation within a Northern Virginia regional school. If a course has a field experience requirement it will be noted in PatriotWeb. Our field experience office coordinates with our local schools to assign placements.
Early Childhood Education students engage in a semester-long internship experience off campus. This internship is a capstone experience. It is a full-time obligation in the last semester of the program. The program assists with the placement process. Internships will be either working directly with or on behalf of young children and their families.
Students must submit an internship application in the semester prior to the internship. Please consult with the Early Childhood Education advisor and review the information on this page for more details.
Students completing this licensure program may pursue careers in the following areas:
- Prekindergarten Teachers
- Kindergarten Teachers
- First Through Third Grade Teachers
George Mason University will verify completion of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) state-approved preparation program at the graduate or undergraduate level. Such verification does not guarantee the issuance of a Virginia Collegiate Professional, Postgraduate Professional, or Pupil Personnel license from the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is solely the student's responsibility to comply with all requirements for licensure by the Commonwealth. Under Virginia law, a social security number is required for licensure.
This program has been identified by George Mason University as one that may lead to a career requiring professional licensure/certification. Federal regulations require Mason to disclose information as to whether this program meets/does not meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in your state, or whether such a determination has not been made. Please consult our Licensure Disclosure Tool for the disclosure statement specific to your desired state/program combination.
Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's students may complete up to 12 credits of ECED courses in their senior year. These courses are considered advanced standing for the M.Ed. A minimum grade of B must be earned to be eligible to count as advanced standing. The other two courses are taken as reserve graduate credit and do not apply to the undergraduate degree. Early in their final undergraduate semester, students must submit the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition Form to the CEHD Admissions Office and specify which of the four courses are to be designated as advanced standing and reserve graduate credit.
Reserve Graduate Credit Courses (up to 6 credits)
Fall Semester
(classes starting in August) |
Spring Semester
(classes starting in January) |
Summer Semester
(classes starting in May, June, or July) |
Priority*: April 1
Space Available: August 19 |
Priority*: November 1
Space Available: January 5 |
Applications not accepted for this term |
For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.
* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.
All application materials must be submitted through Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below.
To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:
- Graduate application and fee
- 750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation: Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
- Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts.
- Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and English language proficiency.
Admission to graduate programs at George Mason University is competitive. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic backgrounds, results of standardized exams (if required by the program), work experience, and any additional evidence of potential success in the program. Faculty admissions review is a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.
At a minimum all admitted students must have:
- An earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the graduate admissions policy for more information.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to apply, addressing previous academic challenges and highlighting evidence for future success in their goal statement.
- International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
BAM students can take graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate, depending on the program. Please
meet with an admissions counselor to discuss your program options.
Undergraduate Tuition
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia Resident |
$575.50
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$1,582.50
(includes MSF*) |
CEHD Course Fee
($25/credit with higher per credit or flat course fees for internship and select ATEP, RECR, and RMGT courses) |
$25.00 - $257.00 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$600.50 - $832.50 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$1,607.50 - $1,839.50 |
Undergraduate New Student Fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$360 | $285 for transfer students |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $155.00
Graduate Tuition
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia Resident |
$727.00
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$927.00
(includes MSF*; discounted from $1,641.50) |
| VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$617.95
(includes MSF*) |
| CEHD Course Fee |
$25.00 - $84.00 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$752.00 - $811.00 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$952.00 - $1,011.00 |
| Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program* |
$642.95 - $701.95 |
Graduate New Student Fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$60 |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $155.00
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
Your Academic Advisor is Kayla Turner
Email Address: kturne4@gmu.edu
Phone Number: 703-993-4242
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30-5:00
Office Location: Fairfax Campus, Thompson Hall, Suite 2300
Schedule an appointment
Virginia Testing Resources
Bweikia Steen
Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Undergraduate)
Colleen Vesely
Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Graduate)
Christan Coogle
Daniel Ferguson
Carley Fisher-Maltese
Erin Geiger
Leslie La Croix
Heather Walter
Deborah Stone