Department of Literacy and Early Education
M.A. in Education,
Early Childhood Education OptionDr. Glenn DeVoogd, Department Chair
Dr. Susan Macy, Graduate Program Coordinator
"The Early Childhood Education graduate program is built on the premise that if you instill a love of learning in children when they are young, this will make a difference in their entire educational career."
Making a Difference in a Diverse Society
In the graduate education programs at California State University, Fresno, students prepare to effect change within a culturally diverse society. The Kremen School of Education and Human Development is committed to being one of the best education schools in the nation. To that end, the faculty has developed and approved a vision statement accompanied by the theme "Making a Difference in a Diverse Society." Standing behind this ideal, we are committed to making a real difference in the development of human potential through education and to improving the quality of practice in our schools. All program delivery is based on the school's commitment to develop reflective, collaborative leaders.
The Master of Arts degree in Education with an option in Early Childhood offers specialized preparation for a variety of positions in educational settings with children from birth through the primary grades. The program is designed to meet individual needs of candidates with different experiential and educational backgrounds and varied career objectives.
The M.A. in Education-Early Childhood option features a series of courses that build on students' understanding of how children learn and how to provide advocacy for young children and their families. The classes are organized so that the students not only build a knowledge base, but also become qualified leaders in their field, sharing information with their colleagues and with other community leaders.
Because the Joyce M. Huggins Early Education Center, an early childhood education, research, and training center, is housed in the Education Building, our students have unique opportunities to work with children and families as well as other academic disciplines across the university.
The Master of Arts degree in Education with an option in Early Childhood is a 30-unit program. Within these 30 units are 18 units of Early Childhood Core Studies, 10 units in the research core, and 2 units of electives. Activities and assignments within the core courses are flexible enough to allow for specialization in an individual field of interest. Research topics are chosen by the individual student with approval of the program coordinator.
The Early Childhood Specialist Credential is a 30- unit program which includes 18 units of Early Childhood Core Courses, 12 units of approved electives. Two years of successful early childhood teaching experience are requisite. If the candidate successfully completes the courses required for the Master of Arts in Education with an option in Early Childhood and has two years of successful early childhood teaching, the Specialist Credential requirements are satisfied.
The Four Program Dimensions
The faculty in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development have designated four dimensions around which all programs in graduate education revolve.
Philosophical and Ideological Dimension
In the Early Childhood program, students learn historical and contemporary philosophies of early childhood education. Our students learn how young children learn and become thinkers. They review language acquisition, reading and language arts, curriculum and assessment strategies, and concept development theory. The relationships among cognitive, environmental and social factors in shaping the child's experiences are emphasized.
Cognitive and Reflective Dimension
Thoughtful planning and decision making are fundamental aspects of the Early Childhood Program. An emphasis on active learning and how to implement it in developmentally appropriate ways is woven throughout the program. Reflection and critical thinking is fostered through assignments such as simulations, case studies, action research, and building portfolios and rubrics.
Integration and Application of Knowledge Dimension
In every course of the Early Childhood program, students translate theory into practice. The Huggins Early Education Center on campus is used for an observation, field placement, and research site. Action research is translated into innovative curriculum. All candidates participate in oral presentations which prepare them to become leaders in the field by sharing their knowledge with other educators. Graduate students frequently make joint presentations with faculty at professional conferences.
Diversity Dimension
Diversity is apparent both in the students who participate in the Early Childhood Program and in the field settings chosen and the focus of the coursework. Fostering collaboration and reflection among early childhood leaders and preparing candidates to celebrate diversity and foster ethnic pride in young children is a major component in all the courses offered in this option. Classes foster an understanding of cross-cultural perspective and typically comprise candidates who are representative of the diverse multicultural populations of the region.
The implementation of the principles of these four dimensions, along with an early childhood network established by credential and graduate students, has proven a tremendous source of ideological and professional support for our students.
We believe our program to be one of the most competitive and innovative of any in the nation. The completion of the Education Building in 1994 is a reflection of our dedication to offering the best graduate and credential programs. This facility offers our students advanced resources and technology necessary to our mission: Making a Difference in a Diverse Society: Leadership for a New Millennium.
Making a Difference in a Diverse Society | The Four Program Dimensions | Faculty | Quick Facts