Birth Through Kindergarten (BK), MAEd

Program Coordinator: Archana Hegde (131 Rivers West Building; 252-328-5712; hegdea@ecu.edu)

The MAEd in birth through kindergarten is designed to prepare individuals for leadership roles as master teachers, consultants, program coordinators, supervisors, and staff development trainers in early childhood education. The program is based on the philosophy, rationale, and competencies established for the initial birth through kindergarten (BK) license. Thus, it is open to persons who are eligible for or hold a license in BK. Individuals who hold a teaching license in another area and wish to obtain advanced licensure in BK must first complete requirements for the BK add-on license prior to applying for admission to the Graduate School for the MAEd in birth through kindergarten program. Information about add-on licensure can be found on the Office of Alternative Licensure Web site at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/alternative_licensure/AddOnLicensure.cfm.

Individuals lacking licensure who hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution must meet requirements for licensure-only in BK before applying to the Graduate School for the MAEd in birth through kindergarten program. Information about licensure-only can be found on the Office of Alternative Licensure Web site at www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/alternative_licensure/Index.cfm. After obtaining initial licensure in BK, individuals can apply to the Graduate School for admission to the MAEd in birth through kindergarten program. Upon acceptance into the BK birth through kindergarten program, the student is assigned an advisor.

Prior to enrolling in action research courses (HDFS 6990  and HDFS 6991 ) or thesis (HDFS 7000 ), MAEd in birth through kindergarten students must have been admitted to candidacy and have completed the following courses with an overall GPA of 3.0: HDFS 6402 , HDFS 6501 , HDFS 6503  and FACS 6990 .

Admission to candidacy will have been met when the following have been completed:

1. Currently holds or is eligible for an initial teaching license in BK
2. Admitted unconditionally to graduate standing
3. Accepted into birth through kindergarten program and assigned an adviser
4. Completed 12 s.h. of graduate credit beyond any entrance deficiencies or conditions

The program requires 39 s.h. consisting of 12 s.h. of core courses, 18 s.h. of professional area courses, and 9 s.h. from a specialty area strand as follows: