Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners Concentration (Non-licensure)

Program Summary

Program: Early Childhood Education

Degree: Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Concentration in Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners Non-licensure

Credential(s): MEd

Credits: 30

100% Online Option: No
On-campus/Blended Option: Yes

Cost per Credit:
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.

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"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 master's degree in Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners provides students with specialized knowledge around working with diverse learners from birth to third grade and their families, preparing graduates to create paths for success for children in the earliest years of their education.

By working with young children and their families, early childhood education 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 concentration ensures that students engage in a well-rounded, cohesive program of studies that prepares them to be high-quality early childhood educators of diverse learners. The non-licensure concentration is ideal for teachers who are already licensed and want to grow their expertise in early childhood education for diverse learners or those who want to work in early childhood education settings that do not require teacher licensure.

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.

Students completing this non-licensure program may pursue careers in the following areas:

Early Childhood Educators in Early Care and Education Settings
Inclusion and Support Professionals
Family Service Specialists
Early Childhood Education and Curriculum Specialists for Museums, Organizations, Community Centers, and Child Care Programs

Students have the opportunity to participate in, engage in, and conduct research alongside faculty across the program.
Students have the opportunity to engage with professional organizations to create connections, learn about advocacy opportunities, and stay informed about current trends and developments in the field. Our professional organizations include Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children (DEC), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and Northern Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (NVAEYC).

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.

ECED 501: Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence (3 credits)
ECED 502: Foundations of Language and Literacy for Diverse Young Learners, Birth-Age 5 (3 credits)
ECED 503: Inclusive Curriculum for Young Learners: Planning Instruction and Guidance (3 credits)
ECED 504: Engaging Families of Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 505: Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education (3 credits)
ECED 506: Medical and Developmental Aspects of Disabilities of Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 512: Language and Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Diverse Primary Grade Learners (3 credits)
ECED 513: Integrating Social Studies Across the Content Areas for Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 515: Mathematics for Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 516: Science for Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 522: Developing Language, Literacy, and Communication of Diverse Infants and Toddlers (3 credits)
ECED 523: Early Intervention for Infants & Toddlers with Disabilities: Collaborative & Consultative Approaches (3 credits)
ECED approved elective

Reserve Graduate Credit Courses (up to 6 credits)

ECED 505: Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education (3 credits)
ECED 506: Medical and Developmental Aspects of Disabilities of Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 511: Assessment of Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 512: Language and Literacy Assessment and Instruction for Diverse Primary Grade Learners (3 credits)
ECED 513: Integrating Social Studies Across the Content Areas for Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 515: Mathematics for Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 516: Science for Diverse Young Learners (3 credits)
ECED 522: Developing Language, Literacy, and Communication of Diverse Infants and Toddlers (3 credits)
ECED 523: Early Intervention for Infants & Toddlers with Disabilities: Collaborative & Consultative Approaches (3 credits)
ECED 597: Special Topics in Early Childhood Education (1 credit)
ECED approved elective

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	Priority*: February 1 Space Available: May 15

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

Priority*: February 1

Space Available: May 15

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:

Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s application
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.
One letter of recommendation from your Mason undergraduate advisor

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:

The College of Education and Human Development offers a number of combined bachelor's and accelerated master's (BAM) degree programs for academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to learning advanced skills in a specialized field of study. Applicants receive a waiver of the graduate application fee, and admitted students may obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree after satisfactory completion of 144 to 150 credits (number of required credits depends on the graduate program).

Students can submit an application to a BAM program once they have earned between 75 and 100 credits. Faculty admissions review includes a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.

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

Forms

Current students should visit MyMason for important forms and documents.

Program Summary

Program: Early Childhood Education

Degree: Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Concentration in Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners Non-licensure

Credential(s): MEd

Credits: 30

100% Online Option: No
On-campus/Blended Option: Yes

Cost per Credit:
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.

Request Information

Apply Now!

Primary Faculty

Bweikia Steen Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Undergraduate)
EdD, University of San Francisco
Colleen Vesely Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Graduate)
PhD, University of Maryland
Daniel Ferguson
EdD, Teachers College, Columbia University
Carley Fisher-Maltese
PhD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Erin Geiger
PhD, George Mason University
Leslie La Croix
PhD, George Mason University
Heather Walter
EdD, George Washington University
Deborah Stone
PhD, University of Denver

Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners Concentration (Non-licensure)

Program Summary

Field Experience

Careers in Early Childhood Education

Additional Opportunities

Application Deadlines

Application Requirements

Admissions Requirements

Tuition (2023-24)

Undergraduate Tuition

Graduate Tuition

Financial Aid

Advising

Resources

Forms

Early Childhood Education

Program Summary

Primary Faculty