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Program at a Glance

Program
Master
College(s)
College of Community Innovation and Education
Department(s)
Teacher Education, Schl of
U.S. News & World Report Best Grad Schools Education Badge

The Early Childhood Development and Education Master of Science program at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ is your opportunity to lead the way in transforming learning outcomes for young children during their most critical years of development. Designed for working professionals and caregivers who have an undergraduate degree in a related area, this program combines flexibility with specialized preparation to equip you with the expertise to support children from birth through Pre-K — strengthening families, classrooms and communities along the way.

Complete advanced coursework at a pace that fits your schedule as you dive into child development theory, evidence-based instructional practices, assessment strategies and play-based interventions. You’ll study how children grow cognitively, socially and emotionally as you learn to design developmentally appropriate curricula promoting school readiness and long-term success. Along with gaining a strong foundation in early childhood development, you’ll customize your degree by choosing a specialization area — such as child life, curriculum and programming, human services, language development and disorders, or even legal studies with a court mediation focus — that best aligns with your professional aspirations.

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½’s Master of Science in Early Childhood Development and Education is also the only child life master’s program in the State of Florida with courses pre-approved by the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), offering a unique pathway to developing skills for supporting children and families through healthcare experiences in hospitals, pediatric care settings and child-focused support services. No matter your chosen specialization area, you’ll gain the experience and skills needed to become a leader, advocate and practitioner serving children and families in settings ranging from education and healthcare to human services and nonprofit leadership.

Highlights

Available fully online.
Offers courses pre-approved by the Association of Child Life Professionals as well as established partnerships with children's hospitals.
GRE is not required for admission.

Application Deadlines

Fall
July 1
Fall
January 15

Application deadlines subject to change, see the for up-to-date deadlines.

Ready to get started?

The Early Childhood Development and Education master’s program combines flexibility, specialization and distinctive coursework to prepare graduates for meaningful, high-impact careers working with children and families.”

Sara Michael-Luna Associate Professor, Early Childhood Development and Education

Career Opportunities

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ prepares you for life beyond the classroom. Here, you’ll experience a wide range of opportunity, like learning diverse skills from world-renowned faculty to networking with top employers across Central Florida to gaining first-hand experience in internships nearby. Achieve your degree and more as a Knight.
  • Child Advocate
  • Child Life Specialist
  • Child Welfare Specialist
  • Childcare Center Administrator
  • Early Childhood Education Consultant
  • Early Childhood Program Evaluator
  • Early Intervention Specialist

ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Colleges