Education (Early Childhood Education Plus Licensure) - Master of Arts (Online)

Master of Arts in Education Plus Licensure in Early Childhood Education Online

The College of Health, Education, Social Tranformation's School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership at New Mexico State University offers a 39-credit Master of Arts in Education Plus Licensure in Early Childhood Education for individuals who have completed a bachelor's degree. The program is designed to meet the professional education course requirements for teacher licensure as a part of a Master of Arts in Education degree program. A full-time student in this program typically completes in 2 years.

Admission requirements include:

  • Completed a bachelor's degree in a closely related field with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.
  • Prerequisites may be required depending on BA degree coursework.
  • Be admitted to the NMSU Graduate School and/or NMSU Global
  • Be admitted to the School of Teacher Preparation, Administration and Leadership
Prefix Title Credits
Program Requirements
Core Courses
EDUC 5120Multicultural Education 13
EDUC 5140Research in Curriculum and Pedagogy 13
ECED Licensure Course Work
ECED 5510Advanced Teaching and Learning of Literacy 2, 33
ECED 5420Science/Math Curriculum 2, 33
ECED 5520Literacy Development in Early Childhood3
ECED 5110Working with Young Children with Special Needs, Ages 3-83
ECED 5410Seminar on Child Development, Assessment and Well-being of Young Children3
ECED 5220Play in the Early Childhood Curriculum3
Early Childhood Electives (6 Credits)6
The Bilingual Preschool Child3
Working with Parents of Young Children3
Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood3
History and Philosophy of Early Childhood Education3
Issues in Early Childhood Education3
Student Teaching Block
ECED 5810Student Teaching/Seminar 43
SPED 5870Early Childhood SPED Student Teaching 46
Total Credits39
1

Prerequisites to apply to TEP. TEP portfolio can be submitted during the semester in which Core Courses are in progress or completed.

2

Courses require 100 hours of practicum in a K-3rd grade classroom. Students must complete a background check and fingerprinting process at the beginning of the semester to obtain district clearance. Information will be posted each semester in O'Donnell Hall.

3

Courses require admission into TEP. 

4

Courses require admission into Student Teaching.

Road Map

Two electives should be selected and taken any time during the program. Some electives are offered only during the fall and others only during the summer. The program can be started at any point. 

The following roadmap outlines coursework for a fall semester start.  

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Semester 1Credits
EDUC 5120 Multicultural Education 1 3
EDUC 5140 Research in Curriculum and Pedagogy 1 3
Consider Fall Elective - ECED 6110 (MS1) or ECED 5310 (MS2) 3
Apply to TEP  
 Credits9
Semester 2
ECED 5520 Literacy Development in Early Childhood (MS1) 3
ECED 5110 Working with Young Children with Special Needs, Ages 3-8 (MS2) 3
 Credits6
Semester 3
ECED 5410 Seminar on Child Development, Assessment and Well-being of Young Children 3
ECED 5220 Play in the Early Childhood Curriculum 3
Consider Summer Elective - BLED 5120, ECED 5130, or ECED 5210 3
 Credits9
Second Year
Semester 1
ECED 5510 Advanced Teaching and Learning of Literacy 2, 3 3
ECED 5420 Science/Math Curriculum 2, 3 3
Consider Fall Elective if still needed  
Apply to Student Teaching - STEP  
 Credits6
Semester 2
ECED 5810 Student Teaching/Seminar 4 3
SPED 5870 Early Childhood SPED Student Teaching 4 6
 Credits9
 Total Credits39
1

Prerequisites to apply to TEP. TEP portfolio can be submitted during the semester in which Core Courses are in progress or completed. 

2

Courses require 100 hours of practicum in a K-3rd grade classroom. Students must complete a background check and fingerprinting process at the beginning of the semester to obtain district clearance. Information will be posted each semester in O'Donnell Hall.

3

Courses require admission into TEP.

4

Courses require admission into Student Teaching.

Accelerated Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Semester 1Credits
This group of courses can also be started during the Fall or Spring semester.  
Mini Semester 1  
EDUC 5120 Multicultural Education 3
BLED 5120 The Bilingual Preschool Child 3
Mini Semester 2  
EDUC 5140 Research in Curriculum and Pedagogy 3
ECED 5310 Issues in Early Childhood Education 3
Consider the Fall electives to meet the elective requirement. 1  
 Credits12
Semester 2
ECED Licensure Course Work (Fall Only)  
ECED 5510 Advanced Teaching and Learning of Literacy 3
ECED 5420 Science/Math Curriculum 3
Consider the Fall electives to meet the electives requirement. 1  
 Credits6
Semester 3
Spring Only  
ECED 5520 Literacy Development in Early Childhood 3
ECED 5110 Working with Young Children with Special Needs, Ages 3-8 3
 Credits6
Second Year
Semester 1
Summer only (5 week courses)  
Mini Semester 1  
ECED 5410 Seminar on Child Development, Assessment and Well-being of Young Children 3
Mini Semester 2  
ECED 5220 Play in the Early Childhood Curriculum 3
Consider the Summer electives to meet the elective requirement.  
 Credits6
Semester 2
Student Teaching Block (Fall or Spring)  
ECED 5810 Student Teaching/Seminar 3
SPED 5870 Early Childhood SPED Student Teaching 6
 Credits9
 Total Credits39
1

Fall Semester Elective Choices: ECED 6110 History and Philosophy; ECED 5310 Issues in Early Childhood.

2

Summer Semester Elective Choices: BLED 5120 Bilingual Preschool Child; ECED 5210 Leadership and Advocacy in ECED; ECED 5130 Working With Parents of Young Children.