View our EdD Early Childhood specialization completion requirements
Minimum degree requirements:
60 quarter credits
- Core courses (50 cr.)
- Capstone (10 cr.)
Curriculum and Completion Requirements
Curriculum
The Tempo Learning® degree completion option1 is ideal for busy working professionals like you. Your progress is measured by the mastery or demonstration of skills, abilities, and knowledge in a particular area of expertise (AoE).
Each competency has been carefully designed by expert faculty with input from employers, with your education and future employment in mind.
Degree Completion Requirements
- 33 semester credits
- Core courses (21 sem. cr.)
- Specialization courses (9 sem. cr.)
- Capstone Seminar (Capstone (3 sem. cr.)
View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN.
Time to completion will vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 1-866-492-5336.
Admissions
Work one-on-one with an Enrollment Specialist who’ll guide you through every step—from choosing the right program to paying for your education.
Streamlined Admissions Process
Pursuing your MS in Early Childhood Studies degree online is a major step forward in your education journey. To help you get started, we’ve streamlined the admissions process with:
No application fee
Easy credit transfer
No essay
View Admission Criteria
Program Admission Considerations: A bachelor's degree or higher.
General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts. Please note that the materials you are required to submit may vary depending on the academic program to which you apply. More information for international applicants.
With Tempo Learning, you may be able to complete your MS in Early Childhood Studies degree in 11 months for under $11,000.*
* Represents Tempo Learning® format, Believe & Achieve Scholarship, and the fastest pace of our top 25% transfer students in this program in the Tempo Learning® format. Your actual total program time and costs may vary. Tuition and fees are subject to change. See Tuition and Fees section and Scholarship Details for more information.
Tuition Breakdown
Walden offers tuition savings options that can make your goals more attainable. Discover savings opportunities by exploring our scholarships and grants, for those who apply and qualify.
Believe & Achieve Scholarship®
Walden grants
Federal and state grants
Stay Inspired. Stay on Track. Save Money.
Discover progress-based savings that inspire you to stay on track to graduation.
Progress at Your Pace. Control Your Cost.
Walden’s Tempo Learning® programs follow a subscription-based pricing format. Students are billed a flat-rate for each 3-month subscription term. All pricing is represented in U.S. dollars and is subject to change.
| Program | Subscription Period Tuition | Subscription Period PROGRAM Fee | Subscription Period Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Early Childhood Studies | $2,450 | $180 | 3-month subscription period |
| You may be able to complete your MS in Early Childhood Studies degree in 11 months for under $11,000.* | |||
Effective 3/2/26
| Program | Subscription Period Tuition | Subscription Period PROGRAM Fee | Subscription Period Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Early Childhood Studies | $3,000 | $185 | 3-month subscription period |
| You may be able to complete your MS in Early Childhood Studies degree in 11 months for under $13,000.* | |||
*Represents Tempo Learning® format, Believe & Achieve Scholarship, and the fastest pace of our top 25% transfer students in this program in the Tempo Learning® format. Your actual total program time and costs will depend on your individual pace and transfer credits. A student’s pace is usually determined by their experience, ability to work independently, and availability. Believe & Achieve Scholarship savings based on current tuition. See Scholarship Details for more information.
Master the Mechanics of Teaching and Learning
In Walden’s master’s in early childhood education program, you’ll explore how children’s brains develop and how early experiences affect learning and social emotional development. Gain strategies to advocate for the infusion of play and creativity into early childhood teaching and learning. Apply your skills in field experiences in varied areas of expertise, from infants and toddlers to children in grades P–3.
Learning Outcomes
The online MS in Early Childhood Studies – Teaching and Learning in Early Childhood Settings (Tempo Learning®) specialization helps prepare its graduates to:
Demonstrate deep knowledge of child development, learning, and effective programs and practices.
Critically examine issues, trends, and current research.
Understand foundational theories of research and practice evidence-based research and decision making.
Have deep knowledge of issues related to equity and inclusion; address inequities and advocate for social change.
Be skillful communicators, team members, relationship-builders, and collaborators with family members, colleagues, and agencies related to the field of early childhood.
Be critical and self-reflective of their own values, beliefs, and biases and use this understanding to improve their own work.