Degree – Master of Science in Elementary Education, MSEd
Concentrations: Early Childhood Education

Description of Program

The Master of Science in Elementary Education (MSEd) in Early Childhood Education degree program is designed to meet all criteria of the State Department of Education and to allow students to explore issues, design curriculum, and learn new strategies and techniques that will enable them to become more effective educators, through the application of theory and new research to their educational practice. The Concentration is structured to utilize the educational experience of the students in the program.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply the central concepts, tools of inquiry, structures, contemporary theories, and paradigms in education that develop a classroom climate to enhance the social, emotional, physical and psychological aspects of students.
  • Create and deliver lesson segments that reflect theory and practice.
  • Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing when interacting with pupils, parents, teachers, and other school personnel.
  • Design performance-based assessments and implement assessment, instruction, evaluation, and intervention plans.
  • Use media and technology as tools for professional development and to promote student learning.
  • Model professionalism and high ethical standards in the classroom, and develop appropriate strategies for self-evaluation as a means of assessing one’s own professionalism and teaching effectiveness.

Admission Requirements:

Students applying for entrance to the Master of Science in Elementary Education are required to submit an application for admission, Apply Online (www.alcorn.edu/academics/graduate-studies).

  • Educator License
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Official transcript from an accredited school (if a student has attended more than one school, transcripts must be submitted from all schools attended). At least one transcript must document the student has a bachelor’s degree.
  • Immunization Record

Decisions are made only after receipt of all credentials by the Department of Education and Psychology admission committee. The department uses an admission formula to accept students. The entire application packet, including all supporting materials, must be submitted to the Graduate School.

Credentials:

A Standard Educator License in a teaching area is required for admission to programs in the Master of Science in Elementary Education in Early Childhood Education.

Degree Requirements:

The curriculum requires 33 credit hours of coursework: 12 hours of Core courses, 15 hours of Required Courses, and six hours of Electives. The Early Childhood option is only applicable to educators holding certification in K-3 or K-6 endorsement areas.

Graduation expectations require the following:

  • A minimum of 27 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed in residence at Alcorn State University
  • Earn no more than two Cs in coursework
  • Successfully pass the Core and Area Exams
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credits accepted by the University

Academic advisors are allowed to accept up to six semester credit hours earned at an accredited university with a grade of “B” or higher for graduate coursework completed. Substitutions of coursework are allowed with the approval of an advisor and department administrators up to nine hours if the substitution(s) meet curriculum requirements.

See Transfer of Credits Policy for additional information.
See the Substitution of Courses Policy for additional information.

Academic Track: Exit Exams

Students pursuing a Master of Science in Elementary Education must pass a Core Examination and Area Examination to exit.

Master Degree Audit:

Before candidacy for graduation can be confirmed, each student progression to degree completion will be evaluated to determine if student has met all academic requirements for course work and other aspects of the student’s course of study and Graduate School requirements. When these requirements are met, the student is cleared for graduation.

Time to Degree Completion

Alcorn’s time to degree completion policy allows 6 years to complete the master’s program. Degree completion depends on the pace a student completes the curriculum. If the time exceeds six years, the student must petition the Graduate School to consider an appeal for more time to degree completion.

See the Student Academic Appeals Policy for Expiration of Timeline for additional requirements

Degree Plan and Course Sequence

Core Education Courses (12 Hours)
ED 512 Foundations of American Education
ED 514 Methods of Educational Research
ED 533 Curriculum Development
PH 513 Advanced Educational Psychology

Required Endorsement Field Courses (15 Hours)
ED 538 Reading and Language Arts Experiences in ECE
ED 539 Mathematics Concepts and Experiences in ECE
ED 541 Behavior Factors and Experiences in ECE
ED 543 Theory and Historical Developments in ECE
ED 545 Seminar in ECE

Approved Electives (6 Hours)
ED 535 Models of Teaching in ECE
ED 536 Assessing the Young Child
ED 542 Practicum in ECE
ED 546 Director of Early Childhood Education
ED 548 Child Welfare
ED 549 Parenting in a Pluralistic Society
ED 550 Thesis in ECE

For More Information Contact:
Dr. Tabitha Smith ▪ 601.877.4097 ▪ [email protected]