Prepare young learners with the skills, confidence, and motivation they need to excel in school and beyond through our MS in Early Childhood Studies program.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

There are few professions as rewarding as those that involve nurturing the developmental needs of children. Our master’s in early childhood development non-licensure degree program empowers you to deepen your understanding of child development and learning, expand your knowledge of effective programs and services, and enhance your ability to link issues of equity and inclusion to how students learn and grow.

You already have the desire to make a difference. With our master’s-level early childhood development degree, you can gain the knowledge and professional competencies that prepare you for leadership roles, in and out of the classroom.

After the first course, you can take one course at a time, earn your degree faster by taking two courses at once, or choose a combination of the two throughout the program to fit your changing needs.

And Walden now offers two ways to earn your degree. With Tempo Learning® by Walden, you have the option to choose your learning experience depending on your learning style and preferences. Whether you want to study alongside classmates in a traditional course-based program or earn your degree at your pace, there’s an option for you to achieve your dreams.

Career Impact

Expand Your Career Options

Prepare for a variety of roles in the early childhood field, including:

  • Child and family advocate
  • Public policy coordinator
  • Child development instructor
  • Professional development facilitator
  • Lecturer in early childhood studies
  • Child care administrator
  • Assistant director of a child care center
  • Director of a child care center or program
  • Owner of a child care center
  • Preschool director
  • Program administrator for early childhood programs

Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.

Career Outlook

As the development of high-quality programs and services for young children increasingly becomes a priority, career options in the early childhood field are predicted to grow.

  • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of education administrator positions in preschool and childcare will grow by 17% through 2022.1
  • The number of childcare workers is predicted to increase by 14% through 2022.1
  • Employment of preschool teachers is expected to grow by 17% through 2022—faster than the average for all occupations.1

Download our PDF for more information about Early Childhood careers.

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A New Way to Earn Your MS in Early Childhood Studies

Tempo Learning - Master of Early Childhood Studies Degree
Transcript
You've spent hours creating lesson plans, days setting up your classroom, and years growing in your profession. What if you could apply the skills you've gained in those hours, days, and years to your early childhood studies degree? Tempo Learning is a new way to learn where you set the pace and leverage your real world experiences toward earning a degree that can take you further faster. Tempo Learning by Walden University-- it's time for a change.

Walden University now offers Tempo Learning® by Walden, a custom-paced degree program that puts you in charge.

  • Go Your Own Pace. Tempo adapts to your speed and your style.
  • Learn on Your Schedule. No weekly deadlines; you create your own start and end dates.
  • Control Your Cost. Subscription-based pricing minimizes your tuition cost with an all-you-can-learn model.
Learn more about Tempo

Why earn your early childhood development degree from Walden?

NCATE logo

  • Study with a respected institution. Our MS in Early Childhood Studies is in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University. Walden is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) for a period of 7 years, from April 24, 2012, to June 30, 2019. NCATE accreditation is a nationally recognized standard of excellence in professional education for the preparation of teachers, administrators, and other P–12 school professionals and indicates that a university has met rigorous standards set by the profession and members of the public.

    In 2013, NCATE merged with the Teacher Education Accreditation Council to form the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CAEP is the single specialized accreditor for educator preparation and administers NCATE accreditation. Walden University is eligible for and will seek accreditation based on CAEP standards beginning in fall 2018.

  • Learn from coursework developed to reflect professional guidelines set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
  • Improve your ability to work with children in diverse learning environments by critically examining trends, applying research to relevant problems, and making informed decisions.
  • Develop as a leader in the early childhood field through specialization options in management, public policy and advocacy, instructional strategies, and diversity.
  • Put your newfound knowledge to work in a final capstone course that allows you to integrate and apply learning to real-world situations, issues, or problems. With our master’s in early childhood development, you can choose from four specializations to focus your learning in an area that matches your career goals. We also offer two learning models: course-based and competency-based:

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the MS in Early Childhood Studies program will be prepared to:

  1. Demonstrate deep knowledge of child development, learning, and effective programs and practices.
  2. Critically examine issues, trends, and current research.
  3. Understand foundational theories of research and practice evidence-based research and decision making.
  4. Have deep knowledge of issues related to equity and inclusion; address inequities and advocate for social change.
  5. Be skillful communicators, team members, relationship-builders, and collaborators with family members, colleagues, and agencies related to the field of early childhood.
  6. Be critical and self-reflective of their own values, beliefs, and biases and use this understanding to improve their own work.

Find detailed information for the Administration, Management, and Leadership specialization of this program, or all other specializations of this program, including possible occupations, completion rate, program costs, and median student loan debt.

Two Ways to Learn

Walden now offers two ways to learn. You can choose to earn your degree through a competency-based format or a course-based format, delivered through Tempo Learning™ by Walden.

With Tempo Learning, you can build on your existing skills, knowledge and experience to customize your learning and earn your degree on your schedule, at your pace. Which option is right for you?

COURSE-BASED

Preset course start and end dates help you manage your schedule over time. Knowing these dates makes it easier to plan ahead in completing your program.

The course-based approach exposes you to new material as well as reinforces and updates your knowledge in areas you’ve already mastered.

Your fellow students will be learning the same material at the same time, so if you find yourself struggling, you can connect with them for additional support.

COMPETENCY-BASED

Complete competencies at your own pace, based on your ability to demonstrate understanding of their content. At the beginning of each term, you will map out your learning goals in partnership with your Academic Coach.

You can use what you already know to accelerate your progress, potentially saving you time and money.

If you find materials challenging, you can slow down and spend additional time with them. You can also raise your hand to get support directly from our Faculty Subject Matter Experts.

Compare highlights of the Tempo Learning™ and course-based formats to decide which best suits your career goals and learning style.

*Cost and time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress. For information on estimating your time to degree completion with Tempo Learning, call an enrollment advisor at 1-855-598-3427.

Related Articles

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What's the Importance of Early Childhood Education?

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Note on Teacher Licensure or Certification
This program does not lead to teacher licensure or certification. Teachers are advised to contact their individual school districts as to whether this program may qualify for salary advancement.

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014–2015 Edition, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco (viewed online January 30, 2015).

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Questions about our MS in Early Childhood Studies program?
Questions about our MS in Early Childhood Studies program?
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