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School of Education - George Mason University

Early childhood special educators have the opportunity to influence children's academic futures, helping them learn and develop in ways that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

Providing intervention for students at an early age increases improvement in areas such as social skills, motor skills, language, and speech. We prepare our students to do so with knowledge and tools that will also promote a love of learning in those they teach.

The non-licensure concentration is ideal for teachers who are already licensed and want to grow their expertise in early childhood special education or those who want to work in settings that do not require teacher licensure.

Field Experience

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.

Internship

Early Childhood Special 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.

Careers in Early Childhood

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

Additional Opportunities