"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
Core Courses (15 credits)
Electives (15 credits)
Select 15 credits from graduate ECED courses or courses approved by an academic advisor.
Field Experience
Field experience may be required throughout the program
Total: 30 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 15 |
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. Please review the FAQ page for more information.
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. The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs. The university, at its discretion, may additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, and/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study when evaluating the GPA requirement.
- International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
| 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** per credit |
$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
Forms
Current students should visit MyMason for important forms and documents.
Bweikia Steen
Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Undergraduate)
Colleen Vesely
Academic Program Co-Coordinator (Graduate)
Christan Coogle
Daniel Ferguson
Carley Fisher-Maltese
Julie Kidd
Leslie La Croix
Heather Walter
Deborah Stone