M.Ed. Early Childhood Special Ed

Early Childhood Special Education

Mostly Online Degree Program

Header Image, Master of Education -- Early Childhood Special Education

This mostly online Master of Education with an Early Childhood Special Education emphasis focuses upon educating competent, ethical, and caring professionals who are committed to helping students with special needs meet their individual potential.

The ETSU Clemmer College of Education partners through research, scholarships, human service organizations, and regional school systems in order to foster exceptional teaching for exceptional students. "Mostly Online" means that all coursework for this program will be completed online with two face-to-face meetings at our Sevierville and/or Strawberry Plains locations per semester.

Program of Study

The Early Childhood Special Education area of emphasis is designed to prepare individuals to teach young children (birth - 8 years) with disabilities and to work effectively with their families. This concentration prepares candidates for Tennessee licensure in early childhood special education..

More information about the program requirements and curriculum can be found in the ETSU Catalog listing for the Special Education, M.Ed. (Early Childhood Special Education) program.

Admission Requirements

ETSU School of Graduate Studies Admission Requirements

Admission Standards: Applicants who meet the following criteria may be admitted unconditionally. Those who do not meet the criteria may be admitted unconditionally with provisions with deficiencies to be met as stipulated by the program faculty.

Completion of all requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.

Achieve a minimum test score on the GRE: 151 on Verbal Reasoning and 153 on Quantitative Reasoning.

You may request a waiver of the GRE requirement to the Graduate Coordinator and the School of Graduate Studies if you meet or exceed minimum score requirements on one of the following state mandated tests:

a. ACT: 22 composite score, ACT 21 composite score will be considered; OR
b. SAT: Reading 543 and Math 533; SAT combined score of 1020 will be considered; OR
c. PRAXIS CORE: Reading 168 and Math, 162; PRAXIS CORE Reading 156 and Math 150 will be considered.

Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Submission of a 2-page essay outlining past experience with individuals with disabilities and goals for acquiring an advanced degree in Special Education.

Initial Licensure in Special Education

Those persons seeking initial licensure in special education who have a baccalaureate degree but are not currently eligible for teacher licensure will follow the program of study designed to meet the state of Tennessee’s teacher licensure requirements within the special education high incidence concentration, low incidence concentration or early childhood special education concentration (ECSE). Students admitted to the graduate program must successfully complete all applicable tests including the Praxis I and Praxis II.

Deficiency coursework may be required, and may be taken at either the graduate or undergraduate level. Admission to the College of Education must be completed prior to student teaching. Students who have a Tennessee state teaching license and are entering the graduate program are admitted to the College of Education as part of their admission to the School of Graduate Studies. Deficiency coursework may not be applied toward requirements for completion of a master’s degree.

All students pursuing an initial licensure will student teach for 15 weeks.

Tuition, Fee, and Financial Assistance

Tuition

ETSU Tuition and Fees

ETSU eRate (for out-of-state students taking ALL course work online in any semester)

Border County Information: Students residing in select bordering counties in North Carolina and Virginia may attend ETSU at the in-state tuition rate. Please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@etsu.edu or 423-439-4213 with questions.