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.
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 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.
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
Required Courses (15 credits)
Electives (15 credits)
Choose 15 credits from graduate ECED-prefix courses approved by an academic advisor.
Total: 30 credit
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.
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.
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.