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 is an ideal program for students who want to teach in early childhood special education classrooms or work as early interventionists. Graduates of this concentration are eligible to apply for a Virginia teaching license for Early Childhood Special Education, Birth-Age 5.
In addition to completing program courses, students must complete mandated state-required licensure exams and content area coursework prior to their internship application deadline. The most up-to-date information regarding exams can be found on the TeacherTrack@Mason website.
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:
- Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
- Early Interventionist
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.
Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA or BS in any degree area and an MEd in Special Education (Early Childhood Special Education (Non-Licensure) concentration) in an accelerated time frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.
To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following (to be determined by the student and their advisor).
Advanced Standing Courses (up to 12 credits)
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 21 |
Priority*: November 1
Space Available: January 6 |
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. Please review the FAQ page for more information.
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 |
$558.40
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$1,565.25
(includes MSF*) |
CEHD Course Fee
($25/credit with higher per credit or flat course fees for internship and select ATEP, PRLS, and RECR courses) |
$25.00 - $250.00 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$583.40 - $808.40 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$1,590.25 - $1,815.25 |
Undergraduate New Student Fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$350 | $275 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): $150.25
Graduate Tuition
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia Resident |
$709.70
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$909.70
(includes MSF*; discounted from $1,624.25) |
| VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$603.25
(includes MSF*) |
| CEHD Course Fee |
$25.00 - $84.00 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$734.70 - $793.70 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$934.70 - $993.70 |
| Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program* |
$628.25 - $687.25 |
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): $150.25
**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
Christan Coogle
Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Graduate - Early Childhood Special Education)
Bweikia Steen
Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Undergraduate)
Colleen Vesely
Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Graduate - Early Childhood Education)
Daniel Ferguson
Carley Fisher-Maltese
Julie Kidd
Leslie La Croix
Heather Walter
Deborah Stone