Early Childhood Special Education (Teacher Certification), MEd
Pair advanced graduate study with hands-on teacher preparation in this program. You finish ready to lead a classroom, backed by an institutional recommendation for certification.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Program description
If you hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education field, the Master of Education program in early childhood special education with a concentration in teacher certification is designed for you. The program prepares you to work with young children with disabilities and those at risk for developmental or learning challenges. You earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification.
You develop foundational knowledge of child development, including child development theories and best practices, including how to:
- assess, monitor and report the progress of young children
- build effective practices for engaging families
- create enriched, inclusive learning environments
- design coherent instruction
- plan and facilitate learning
As a graduate, you are eligible to earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Early Childhood Special Education, birth through grade 3, from the Arizona Department of Education. To teach in an Arizona public school, you must pass the appropriate Arizona educator exams: National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.
Why earn your master's in early childhood special education (teacher certification) at ASU?
You can tap into every resource ASU offers, while also connecting with the more intimate Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation community of peers who share your passions and professional interests.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
38 credit hours including the required applied project course (ECS 593) - Alternative Certification Pathway, or
38 credit hours including the required applied project course (ECS 593) - Traditional Certification Pathway
Required Core (9 credit hours) Concentration (6 credit hours) Traditional Certification Pathway Other Requirements (17 credit hours) SEI Endorsement (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Students on the traditional path must take at least one internship course (ECS 556 or ECS 567) before student teaching (ECS 596). For their third professional experience course, students must complete a professional experience in a new setting. For example, if they selected ECS 556 and then took ECS 596, they must take ECS 567 or ECS 574 for their third course. This way they have at least two experiences in different settings. Students on the alternative path for certification must complete at least two apprentice teaching courses. Like the traditional path, students must have at least two experiences in different settings. For example, students can take ECS 574 and ECS 596 and then take ECS 556 or ECS 571 for their third experience because it is in a new professional experience setting.
EED 532 Literacy Methods of Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Learners (3)
TEL 517 Creating Equitable Learning Environment: Decision Making and Action (3)
TEL 531 Foundations of Literacy: The Science of Reading (3)
Alternative Certification Pathway
ECS 571 Birth to Preschool Apprentice Teaching (2)
ECS 574 Pre-Kindergarten to Grade Three Apprentice Teaching (2)
ECS 579 Early Childhood Special Education Apprentice Teaching Capstone (2)
ECS 556 Birth to Preschool Internship (2)
ECS 567 Pre-Kindergarten to Grade Three Internship (2)
ECS 596 Early Childhood Special Education Student Teaching (2)
ECD 527 Mathematics in Early Childhood Education (3)
ECD 565 Inclusive Instructional Methodologies for Young Children (3)
ECS 520 Evaluation and Intervention Strategies for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers with Disabilities (3)
ECS 549 Foundations of Typical and Atypical Child Growth and Development (3)
SPE 502 Language and Communications Methods and Assessment (2)
SPE 558 Special Education Foundations: Law, IEPs, Assessment and Ethical Practice (3)
ELL 515 Structured English Immersion (SEI) Methods (3)
ECS 593 Applied Project (3)
All certification students must complete at least three professional experience courses and an experience in each special education setting (birth through preschool, and preschool through grade 3). Students can select the traditional or alternative pathway for certification. This determines what professional experience courses they take for the concentration.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Execute an instructional cycle using research-based pedagogical practices and theories appropriate for a range of learners
- Create learning experiences that address the content disciplines to engage learners in accessible, relevant, and meaningful content to ensure critical thinking and mastery of the content.
- Create and maintain inclusive, equitable learning environments that support individual and collaborative learning experiences, utilize high leverage practices, and foster critical thinking, active engagement, and well-being for all learners
- Use multiple methods of assessment and sources of data to evaluate various aspects of learners
- Apply strategies for teaming to meet students’ needs
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate strategies to promote habits of mind
- Build and implement a professional growth plan using evidence and reflective practices
- Advocate for students, families, and communities with an understanding of the historical, social, local, or global context
- Self-reflect and assess personal contributions for shaping and supporting the mission of a school/organization's culture
- Apply expectations of the profession
- Analyze key ethical issues present in a prominent social or cultural problem in education, including the ways different ethical perspectives influence decision making related to the issue
- Examine previous understandings and assumptions and articulate the impact of the local/cultural context, personal histories, and relevant experiences on problem(s) of practice
- Engage in iterative cycles of inquiry in collaborative educational contexts and systems to imagine new concepts, catalyze ideas, and form new solutions, guided by principles and research that create positive change for learners.
- Analyze a relevant problem of practice in an educational context and system informed by major theories, theorists, and/or frameworks
- Implement an applied project, synthesize the findings and defend the significance and implications of the study as relevant to social and global context
- Utilize research findings to improve their own practice
- Apply relevant interdisciplinary perspectives and methods to current practices as an educator
Execute an instructional cycle using research-based pedagogical practices and theories appropriate for a range of learners Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applicants are required to submit: Additional Application Information The personal statement should describe the personal and professional goals that motivated the applicant to apply to the program, and explain what led the applicant to this career path and how they will excel as an educator. The admission committee pays particular attention to the quality of writing and ideas expressed in the personal statement. The professional resume should be one to two pages and include relevant personal, professional, educational and community activities. The personal statement and professional resume should be prepared in one of the following file formats: MS Word (.doc), rich text (.rtf), Portable Document Format (.pdf) or text (.txt). The letters of recommendation should be from individuals who can speak to the applicant's potential for success in a graduate program.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 08/31 | Final* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 01/31 | Final* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 07/15 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this early childhood special education (teacher certification) program prepares you for
Graduates are prepared to work in schools, nonprofit organizations, early intervention programs, government agencies, health care organizations and private practices. Career opportunities include:
- kindergarten through grade 3 teacher
- preschool teacher
- program coordinator
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Division for Advancing Educator Preparation
|
ED 118
graduateeducation@asu.edu
480-965-5555
Admission deadlines
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
