Early childhood education

University of Missouri-Columbia
Master of education in learning, teaching and curriculum
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Overview

The online master’s degree in early childhood education from MU can help you better design, implement and evaluate educational services for children from birth through age 8, especially those with special needs and those with challenging behaviors. If you want to advance or recharge your teaching career, this may be the degree for you.

This program does not provide early childhood certification, nor does it provide the initial certification required to become a teacher.

Top-ranked programs

Mizzou's online master's in education programs ranked among the nation's finest in U.S. News & World Report 2024.

Quick facts

Official name

Master of education in learning, teaching and curriculum with an emphasis in early childhood education

Campus

University of Missouri-Columbia

Program type

Master's degree

Academic home

College of Education & Human Development | Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum

Delivery mode

100% online

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission, Teacher Education Accreditation Council

Credit hours

30

Estimated cost

$16,050.00

*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.

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Career prospects

This degree has potential benefits for

  • Child-care center staff workers
  • Early childhood practitioners
  • Early childhood special education teachers
  • Head Start teachers
  • Kindergarten or primary-grade teachers
  • Preschool teachers
Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
10.9%
Employment growth
Burning Glass Technologies. 2021. Salary numbers and employment growth numbers are based on models that consider advertised job posting salary, Bureau of Labor Statistics data and other proprietary and public sources of information for multiple occupations.
$68,000
median salary

Program structure

Delivery of this program is 100 percent online: no campus visits are required.

Courses are semester-based. Students typically take one or two classes each semester and finish in two years.

This program emphasizes

  • Working with diverse groups of children and families
  • Working with children with disabilities, including autism
  • Implementing appropriate assessment methods
  • Creating inclusive classrooms
  • Promoting and enhancing language and early literacy development
  • Positive approaches to addressing children's social and emotional development

Delivery

100% online

Calendar system

Semester-based

Typical program length

2 years

Typical course load

1 or 2 classes each semester

Accreditation

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States. The College of Education and Human Development is a member of the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.

Learn more about this program

This program is administered by the Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum