The Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum & Instruction with a specialization in Early Childhood Education (ECE) is designed to advance the knowledge base of certified teachers working in early care environments, including preschool, kindergarten, and primary school settings. While pursuing a Master of Education (MEd), students will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of child development, evidenced-based interventions and pedagogy specific to young children, and research and evaluation skills necessary for evaluating the effectiveness of instruction.<br><br>Coursework for a MEd in the College of Human Sciences & Education requires 36 hours of credit at the graduate level, which includes curriculum studies (3 hours), research (3 hours), humanistic and behavioral studies (3 hours), as well as content in early childhood education (15 hours) and electives outside of the School of Education (6 hours).<br><br>Research and field experience are key components to any graduate program. In a research course, students might study the effectiveness of interventions for young children. Within field experiences, graduate students will observe classroom environments and reflect on literature in the field as it relates to observed practice. Students enroll for thesis hours (6 hours) when working on their thesis research.