Department of Human Development and Child Studies
405B Pawley Hall (map)
(248) 370-3077 • Fax (248) 370-4242
https://www.oakland.edu/hdcs/

Coordinator:
Julie Ricks-Doneen
405D Pawley Hall
(248) 370-4168
ricksdon@oakland.edu

Program description

The program prepares professionals to work with children from birth through age eight in public and private schools and agency settings. It also provides training for the direction and evaluation of early childhood programs and the coordination of community resources for young children and families. The program combines theory with observation and participation in clinical, community, and school practicum settings.

The program emphasizes a broad interdisciplinary view of early childhood education and child development. Also emphasized are multicultural issues concerning young children and their families, and the need for educational programs that respect and respond to children’s developmental variabilities and exceptionalities.

The Master’s in Early Childhood is a totally online program with some synchronous classes.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Apply to the Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review until they are complete.

July 15 for fall semester
November 15 for winter semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department application requirements.

Graduate application requirements
Additional department application requirements

Supplemental Program Form
Recommendation for Graduate Admission form:
One recommendation must be from faculty members or professionals in the field who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant.
Goal statement which includes the reasons for application, the intended focus of graduate study, professional and career goals, and a description of experiences and accomplishments in working with children and their families.
To be admitted to the M.Ed in early childhood education degree program in full standing, the applicant must have an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0, but with an appropriate academic background and strong letters of recommendation, may be considered for admission in limited standing. Students who qualify for this admission classification must complete a maximum of 12 credits of graduate coursework with a grade of 3.4 or above in each course within the first academic year.
Completion of a minimum of 24 credits at the undergraduate or graduate level in education, humanities, social sciences, health, or an appropriate related field (this requirement is carefully weighed by the department’s faculty admissions committee).
Graduate courses taken prior to admission to the degree program may count toward the degree if completed within the six-year time limit allowed for the degree and have not satisfied requirements of another awarded degree.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses, and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Degree requirements

The Master of Education in early childhood education degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 36 credits in an approved program of study.

To fulfill the degree requirements, the student must complete the planned program of 36 credits with a GPA of 3.0 or higher within the six-year time period allowed for the degree.

Course requirements (36 credits)

Level I (24 credits)

Required courses:

course Theories of Child Development and Education (4 credits)
course Family, Child and Learning in Cultural Context (4 credits)
course Applied Developmental Principles (4 credits)
course Adult-Child Interaction: Play and Mediation of Learning (4 credits)
course Observation and Assessment of the Young Child (4 credits)
course Teacher as Child Advocate and Adult Educator (4 credits)

Level II (12 credits)

All courses in Level I must be completed before moving on to Level II.

Required courses:

course Special Problems in Education - Early Childhood (2 to 8 credits)
course Research Project in Early Childhood Education Phase I (4 credits)
course Research Project in Early Childhood Education: Phase II (4 credits)
course Practicum in Early Childhood (2 credits) *
*Note: for students in the MEd.in Early Childhood with ZS endorsement, EC6960 is required for a total of 38 credits.

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in

throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good Academic Standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Early Childhood Education Endorsement (ZS)

Note: The ZS is being phased out by MDE: we will not accept any students into the ZS only after Fall 2024.

Endorsements generally refer to any content areas or specializations that are added to a teaching certificate following successful completion of a planned program for professional certification. Only those individuals who hold an elementary teaching certificate are eligible for an endorsement in early childhood education (ZS).

The rubric for the early childhood endorsement has been changed from ZA to ZS by the State of Michigan. The ZS endorsement program in early childhood education requires 26 credits and includes both coursework and practicum experience. The ZS offered at Oakland University has been approved by the Michigan Department of Education as meeting ZS requirements.

The Early Childhood endorsement (ZS) requires six courses in Level 1 of the M.Ed. plus a 2-credit state-mandated practicum (EC 6960 ). The students in the M.Ed. program may apply for the endorsement upon completion of Level 1 requirements, plus the practicum, and successful completion of the state competency exam. Students may also complete coursework and practicum for the ZS endorsement only independent of the master’s degree.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Apply to the Office of Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Applications will not be sent to departments for admission review until they are complete.

July 15 for fall semester
November 15 for winter semester

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department application requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department application requirements

Supplemental Application Form
Requirements for recommendations:
The two recommendation forms must be from those who can attest to the applicant’s potential for successful graduate study.
Copy of current (or most recent) teaching certificate
Goal statement, which includes the reason for application, the intended focus of graduate study, a description of professional experiences and accomplishments, and professional and career goals

Relationship to the Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

The endorsement is attained through completion of Level 1 courses, plus a 2-credit state-mandated practicum (EC 6960) and the ZS test. Only students who hold an elementary teaching certificate are eligible for the ZS endorsement.

Early Childhood Education

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General

Requirements

Major Dependent Concentration(s)

Major Dependent Concentration Declaration