Master of Education in Early Childhood Education Leadership

As a result of engaging in the graduate program, individuals will:

• Utilize evidence-based approaches for organizing, leading, and advocating for quality early childhood curriculum and environments designed to promote children’s success;
• Shape early childhood programs, implement quality practices, and engage diverse families to address critical issues in the early childhood field;
• Assume leadership roles in program development across educational venues;
• Implement pedagogical innovations and best practices, which holistically address positive child developmental outcomes in all domains;
• Enhance practice, refine skills, and deepened content knowledge in the areas of programming, supervising, assessing, regulating, and collaborating.

The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education Leadership will employ a cohort model and a hybrid instructional strategy. The cohort will comprise a minimum of 15 students and a maximum of 30 students. A requirement of six (6) credits per semester must be maintained, including summers. The anticipated program length is 2 years.

Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (any major) from a regionally accredited college or university with an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher.

ECE 5150 – Research on Child Development
ECE 5200 – Evidence-Based Practices
ECE 5250 – Data-Driven Decision-Making
ECE 5300 – Multiple Perspectives of Play and Learning
ECE 6150 – Policies, Standards, and Regulatory Systems
ECE 6200 – Legal and Advocacy Issues
ECE 6250 – Early Childhood Program Evaluation
ECE 6300 – Managing Fiscal and Human Resources in Early Childhood Education
ECE 6350 – Grant Writing for the Discipline
ECE 6400 – Strengths-Based Family Partnerships

Keystone College accepts applicants for the Early Childhood Education Leadership program for fall and spring terms. In addition to the application materials required for all master’s applicants, applicants to the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education Leadership program must also provide official GRE scores as follows:

• Quantitative -153 (after August 1, 2011)
• Verbal – 158 (after August 1, 2011)
• Quantitative 500 (prior to July 2011)
• Verbal 500 (prior to July 2011)

In addition, the following current clearances are required:

• PA DPW Child Abuse Clearance
• PA State Police Criminal History
• FBI
• Health appraisal with negative TB test results

Applicants who do not meet all admissions criteria may be granted provisional admission based on experience and notable achievements in the field. Satisfactory completion of provisional admission coursework will be required within one semester.

Provisional admissions coursework will be the first two courses of the course sequence:

• ECE 5150
• ECE 5200

Students can take these courses as non-matriculating students and if a 3.00 GPA is achieved, be accepted to the program.

The cohort program will operate on a six-credit per semester schedule. Classes will meet twice per course for a full day (Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.). The rest of the class time will be online.