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M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education

Earn your master’s in one year or less!

TOTAL COST

$9,109*
NEXT START DATE

Jan 12, 2026
COMPLETION TIME

12 Months^†
AVG. SALARY PREMIUM
SEMESTER CREDITS

31

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Grow Your Knowledge, Empower Early Childhood Education

Shape the future of education with advanced knowledge in early childhood learning. The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education at ACE is designed for educators who want to create meaningful learning experiences for young children. This program goes beyond theory, equipping you with evidence-based teaching, innovative curriculum design and educational technology strategies that support developmental growth.

You’ll also gain practical leadership, communication and conflict-resolution skills to effectively collaborate with families, educators and administrators. Whether you’re looking to advance in your current role or take on leadership opportunities, this program positions you to make a lasting impact on the next generation of learners.

Why ACE?

Low-Cost, High Quality

You deserve a great return on your educational investment, and we deliver master’s degrees at a total average cost of $10,000. We also award over $1.2M in scholarships and grants each year.

Quality You Expect

We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our faculty work in the industries where you work and are committed to your success, contributing to our 85% graduation rate.¹ Our curriculum equips you with practical strategies you can apply right away, as well as skills to help you advance your career.

Flexibility You Need

Our virtual campus and convenient start dates provide you the flexibility you need to achieve your goals at a time and place that works with your busy schedule. Our student support services are available 24/7 and tutoring is included at no additional cost.

¹Source: Student Right to Know

Explore ACE Support Services

View Our Accreditations

Tuition

We believe in full transparency with our total cost of attendance. No hidden fees. No surprises along the way.

Total Cost M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education

Total Tuition

31 semester credits x $235 per credit

$7,285

Fees

$50 Application Fee
$100 Conferral Fee
$1674 Technology and Library Fee
(31 Semester Credits X $54 per Credit)

$1,824

Total Program Cost

$9,109*

Find a plan that fits your budget.

View Payment Options

When We Say Low Cost, We Mean It

$9,109

Walden University

Western Governors University

University of Phoenix

Purdue Global

Grand Canyon University

Southern New Hampshire University

Source: Internal Research Completed on March 2025

Program Details

The M.Ed in Early Childhood Education program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective provider for young children, engaging them in learning experiences which influence future educational opportunities. In this program, students will explore research that establishes the frameworks for creating supportive environments, selecting age-appropriate strategies, and building relationships between school and families. The coursework emphasizes how developmental standards guide assessments and instructional practices for young children.

Majors

Focus of Study

Program Outcomes

Design curriculum and instructional practices to promote growth and development across physical, cognitive, social, and emotional domains of development. (AO1)
Apply developmental theory, standards, frameworks, and concepts to design curriculum that meets the individual developmental needs of children across content areas. (AO1)
Establish a developmentally appropriate learning environment by using evidenced-based practices, resources, and technology to support learning needs through intellectual processes and social interaction. (AO4)
Construct a framework for establishing and maintaining communicative, collaborative partnerships between the school, family, and community by advocating a consistent learning environment for young children. (AO2)
Conduct research to understand the issues facing young children and early childhood programs by analyzing and evaluating instructional practices and data from local, national, and international contexts. (AO3)
Support continuous learning while fostering leadership skills through intentionally designed opportunities to engage in professional development. (AO5)

College Catalog

Start Dates

With flexible start dates, you can begin your program when it’s best for you.

January 12, 2026 Term

Jan 09, 2026

Application Due

Jan 09, 2026

Payment Due

Jan 12, 2026

Term Start

Jan 16, 2026

Unregister/Cancel Deadline

Feb 15, 2026

Term End

February 02, 2026 Term

February 23, 2026 Term

April 13, 2026 Term

May 25, 2026 Term

June 15, 2026 Term

July 13, 2026 Term

August 24, 2026 Term

September 14, 2026 Term

October 05, 2026 Term

November 16, 2026 Term

Courses

Here are just some of the courses you’ll take when working towards this program. Visit the College Catalog to see all courses.

EC5403	Foundations of Child Development	3 Semester Credits
Focused on development, this course will explore classic theories of child development while investigating emerging theories in the field. This course establishes an understanding of current practices and concerns relating how they influence a child’s environment and future learning experiences.
EC5413	Child Growth and Development	3 Semester Credits
This course will address the traditional stages of development from infancy through early childhood. Concepts will address developmental milestones, domains of thought, and related theories of growth.
EC5423	Curriculum Development: Methods and Strategies	3 Semester Credits
This content will focus on curriculum design using learning expectations across different standards and the developmental needs of children. Curriculum design methods, developmentally appropriate practices, and application methods will be explored by relating distinctive age-appropriate ideas.
EC5433	Curriculum Development: Content Specific	3 Semester Credits
Addressing content-specific curriculum development, strategies will be introduced to promote development across specific areas of learning. Selected activities will be investigated to promote literacy, social and emotional growth, logical reasoning, and physical development. Pre-Req: EC5423
EC5443	Trends in Early Childhood Education	3 Semester Credits
This course explores current trends in early childhood education by examining public policy, research, professional development relevant to classroom practices, and program management. Creating a connection between theory and current information will help to maintain relevance for the profession.
ED5403	The Exceptional Child	3 Semester Credits
Exploring developmental and learning needs of children with exceptional learning abilities, the content will address the needs of the gifted, students with exceptional needs, and children with learning disabilities. Strategies will be established to support a variety of learning needs while working with families to foster a consistent learning environment.
ED5413	Observation and Assessment	3 Semester Credits
Content in this course will include observation strategies and assessment tools used to design curriculum and identify developmental needs of children in the classroom. Methods utilizing assessment and providing guidance for classroom curriculum designed to support the identification of individual learning needs will be considered. Strategies will be aligned to the ongoing development of student portfolios as a form of observation.
ED5423	Family, School, and Community	3 Semester Credits
This course will address how to establish and support partnerships with families and the community around the school. Content will address how to meet the needs of families, establish connections in the community, and serve as an advocate for early childhood.
ED5433	Child Guidance	3 Semester Credits
Research-based guidance strategies for classroom management are considered. The identification, selection, and support for a variety of methods will be acquired to guide the development of an individualized plan dependent upon the assessed needs of a child.

Admission Requirements

ACE General Admission Requirements

Program Admission Requirements

International Transcript Requirements

English as a Second Language Applicants

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