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Early Childhood Education Master’s Programs

Level Up Your Teaching Career at É«ÏãÊÓƵ through Early Childhood Education Master’s Programs

Whether you’re a teacher who’s interested in continuing your education or you dream of becoming a teacher, we have early childhood education master’s programs and other graduate programs to suit your needs at É«ÏãÊÓƵ.

From teacher licensure programs to early childhood education master’s programs, our Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education has the education graduate programs to help you gain advanced skills in teaching children up to age 8.

For more than 180 years, educators like you have honed their teaching and leadership skills at É«ÏãÊÓƵ. Join our successful alumni and take the next step in your academic and professional life by applying to one of our early childhood education master’s programs.

Early Childhood Education Master’s Program Highlights

É«ÏãÊÓƵ TESOL student teacher smiling while holding up a drawing of Abraham Lincoln with a sentence under it in front of an elementary age student with her hand raised

Observe and do

As you work toward an MEd in early childhood education, you’ll complete pre-practicum and practicum experiences for licensure. Observe other teachers and apply what you learn while student teaching.

Dr. Susan Eliason teaches an Elementary Education class. She and the students sit at desks set up in a hollow square.

Small class sizes, big rewards

At É«ÏãÊÓƵ, you’ll learn in classrooms with a maximum of 25 students earning their graduate degree in early childhood education. This will give you more face time with instructors and the chance to collaborate and network with your fellow graduate students.

Education professor with students wearing Teacher Bootcamp t-shirts using ipads and small robots

A graduate degree in early childhood education with flexibility

As you complete your master’s in early childhood education, your courses will be offered in a variety of formats. You may take classes in person, online or a combination of the two.

Focus your master’s degree to align with your goals

Should you choose to pursue one of our professional licensure master’s programs in early childhood education, you may focus your degree in an area that aligns with your goals. Choose to concentrate in STEM or applying technology in elementary schools.

Program of Study for Early Childhood Education Graduate Students

No matter which of our early childhood education master’s programs you choose at É«ÏãÊÓƵ, each program meets Massachusetts’ Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s requirements to help you become a licensed elementary school teacher.

Our master’s programs in early childhood education include:

  • Early Childhood, (PreK–2) (Initial Licensure), Postbaccalaureate Licensure, designed for students with a bachelor’s degree who are seeking initial licensure.
  • Early Childhood Education (Non-Licensure), MEd, designed for educators with a standard or professional license.
  • Early Childhood Education (Professional Licensure), MEd, designed for people seeking professional licensure in Massachusetts.
  • Early Childhood Education (Professional Licensure), Applications of Technology in Elementary Classroom Concentration, MEd, designed for students who wish to concentrate in technology.
  • Early Childhood Education (Professional Licensure), STEM Education Concentration, MEd, designed for educators who wish to focus on STEM topics.

Admission Requirements and Program Details

Click any link below to reveal each program's admission requirements and program description.

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Program details from 2024-2025 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Gia Renaud

Programs Related to the Master’s in Early Childhood Education

In addition to our master’s programs in early childhood education, É«ÏãÊÓƵ offers a range of elementary and secondary education graduate programs, including:

Elementary Education, MEd
PreK–12 Education (Non-Licensure), MEd
Reading, Language, Literacy and Culture Concentration, MEd
Educational Leadership (Non-Licensure), EdS
Urban Education Graduate Certificate
Teaching in a Virtual/Online Setting Graduate Certificate
Higher Education Administration, MEd

Careers in Early Childhood Education

Whether you’re just beginning your career as an educator or you’re adding expertise to your wheelhouse, you’ll find the program for you at É«ÏãÊÓƵ. Our early childhood education master’s programs will help you develop the credentials you need to succeed in a rewarding teaching job.

A graduate degree in early childhood education may also help you earn more as an educator. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), preschool and kindergarten teachers with master’s degrees can earn 43% more than teachers with bachelor’s degrees alone.

Elementary school teachers in general may earn 28% more with master’s degrees than bachelor’s degrees alone, too, according to BLS data.

If you’ve been thinking of earning a master’s degree in early childhood education, now is an excellent time to take that step. The need for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is expected to increase 7% through 2030, according to the BLS, totaling an estimated 124,300 job openings each year.

The annual median salary for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is about

$60,700

according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — and potentially higher for teachers who have a master’s degree in early childhood education.

Graduate Funding Opportunities

The College of Graduate Studies provides various opportunities for graduate students to receive funding while working towards their degrees. Appointments are competitive and are determined by undergraduate and/or graduate grade point averages, pertinent experience, educational preparation and interviews. For information on assistantships, fellowships and conference funding awards, please visit our Graduate Funding Opportunities page.

Early Childhood Education is eligible for unsubsidized student loans and applicants are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For more specific questions, please visit the Financial Aid Office website or contact them directly at finaid@bridgew.edu.

É«ÏãÊÓƵ Graduate Studies Overview Brochure Cover

Graduate Viewbook

View this PDF for an overview of the College of Graduate Studies.

Counselor Education classroom 2020

Cost of Attending

Bridgewater offers competitive tuition and fees for graduate students both in and out of state.

View our graduate events page to RSVP to information sessions, workshops and seminars.

Grad students in a classroom

Apply Now

Create an account to start your application to a graduate program today!