Graduate Program

    Degree Offered

    • Master of Arts in Elementary Education (M.A.)

    The Master of Arts in Elementary Education may be taken with a concentration in Early Childhood Education*.

    *Please note: the Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education is not currently accepting applications for students seeking the concentration in Early Childhood Education.


    Student Information
    Contact program office at Simpson Hall, (505) 277-4535.

    Application Deadlines
    M.A. (initial screening)
    Summer session: March 1
    Fall semester: March 1
    Spring semester: October 1


    Applications received by these initial screening dates are given highest consideration for admission. Applications continue to be received after the initial screening dates until the final deadlines listed below; these admission applications are considered on a space available basis only.

    Final Application Deadlines                           
    Summer session: March 31
    Fall semester: April 25
    Spring semester: October 30

    Program of Studies

    Concentration in Early Childhood Education 

    Plan I: 26 credit hours + 6 credit hours of thesis + Final Oral Examination

    Plan II: 32 credit hours including EDUC 591

       Master of Arts in Elementary Education Core Requirements:
    EDUC 500 or EDPY 500 Research Applied to Education
    ECME 574 Early Childhood Curriculum
    ECME 579 Seminar in Early Childhood Education
    LLSS 583 Education Across Cultures of the Southwest
    EDUC 591 Problems in Early Childhood Education
    (Note: Problems course must be taken with an ECME faculty)
    Concentration Specific Course Requirements:
    In addition to ECME 574, 579 and 591 above, at least two courses must be chosen from:
    ECME 576 Learning Through Play
    ECME/LLSS 514 Young Children Moving Into Literacy
    ECME 575 Early Childhood Language Development and Curriculum
    SPCD 550 Introduction to Early Childhood Special Education
       Remaining courses to be selected from the following:
    ARTE 520 Art Education in Early Childhood
    FS 501 Parent Education
    FS 502 Development in Early Childhood
    FS 512 Working with Children and Families
    FS 546 Family Systems Theory
    FS 514 Fatherhood
    EDPY 503 Principles of Human Development
    EDPY 510 Principles of Classroom Learning
    EDPY 520 Motivation Theory and Practice
    EDPY 524 Computers in the Educational Process
    EDPY 572 Classroom Assessment
    LLSS 544 Children's Literature
    LLSS 556 First and Second Language Development
    LLSS 558 Literacy Across Cultures
    LLSS 582 Curriculum Development in Multicultural Education
    OR OTHER COURSES APPROVED BY ECME ADVISOR

    Courses

    NONE 101. Child Growth, Development, and Learning. (3)



    NONE 103. Health, Safety, and Nutrition. (2)



    NONE 111. Family and Community Collaboration I. (3)



    NONE 115. Guiding Young Children. (3)



    NONE 117. Curriculum and Implementation I. (3)



    NONE 117L. Curriculum and Implementation Practicum I. (2)



    NONE 202. Introduction to Reading and Literacy Development. (3)



    NONE 217. Curriculum Development and Implementation - Age 3 (PreK) through Grade 3 [Curriculum and Implementation II]. (3)



    NONE 217L. Curriculum and Implementation Practicum II. (2)



    NONE 220. Assessment of Children and Evaluation of Programs I. (3)



    NONE 230. Professionalism. (2)



    NONE 305. Research and Evaluation in Early Childhood. (3)



    NONE 311. Family and Community Collaboration II. (2)



    NONE 315. Public Policy, Leadership, Ethics and Reform in ECE. (3)



    NONE 317. Integrated Early Childhood Curriculum. (3)



    NONE 317L. Integrated Early Childhood Curriculum Practicum. (2)



    NONE 320. Assessment of Childhood and Evaluation of Programs II. (3)



    NONE 325. The Social, Political and Cultural Contexts of Children and Families. (3)



    NONE 401. Research in Child Growth, Development and Learning. (3)



    NONE 402. Teaching Reading and Writing. (3)



    NONE 402L. Teaching Reading and Writing Practicum. (1)



    NONE 417. Methods and Materials for the Early Primary Grades. (3)



    NONE 417L. Methods and Materials for the Early Primary Grades Practicum. (2)



    NONE 440L. Student Teaching in Early Childhood Education. (12)



    NONE 493. Topics in Early Childhood Education. (1-6, no limit Δ)



    NONE 497. Reading and Research in Honors I. (2)



    NONE 499. Honors Thesis. (2)



    NONE 514. Young Children Moving Into Literacy. (3)



    NONE 574. Curriculum for Early Childhood. (3)



    NONE 576. Teaching and Learning Through Play. (3)



    NONE 579. Seminar in Early Childhood Education. (3-12 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



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    Office of the Registrar

    MSC11 6325
    1 University of New Mexico
    Albuquerque, NM 87131

    Phone: (505) 277-8900
    Fax: (505) 277-6809