Gain the specialized knowledge and training to become an effective early childhood teacher. This program prepares you to pursue an initial license in Early Childhood (PreK-2).
Modality
Early Childhood Teacher Program Overview
Refine your skills and knowledge in early childhood education through the Cambridge College Master's in Early Childhood Teacher program. As an educator specializing in instructing students from pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade, this program can help you foster a reflective mindset and identify ways to address diverse student needs in the classroom and beyond.
The program in early childhood education at Cambridge College offers licensure and non-licensure options and is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Early Childhood Teacher Program Highlights
If you enjoy working with children, becoming an early childhood teacher can be a rewarding career choice. This program in early childhood education will prepare you for the classroom while providing a flexible, affordable pathway to your master’s degree.
- Experienced faculty: Cambridge College faculty bring diverse early childhood research experience to the program and work closely with students as teachers and mentors.
- Flexible hybrid and online program options: Designed to meet the needs of working professionals, the MEd in Early Childhood Teacher program gives you options. The non-licensure program is offered either fully online (asynchronous) or in a hybrid/remote+online format (a blend of Zoom and asynchronous classes). The licensure version of this program is taught as hybrid/remote+online only, although students may opt to take most of their courses online (asynchronously). Remote (Zoom) classes are scheduled on evenings and weekends.
- Convenient location: Attend in-person classes at our Boston campus which is a 5-minute walk from the Orange Line and offers free parking for students.
- Diverse experiences: Ranked as one of the most ethnically diverse colleges in America, Cambridge College gives you the opportunity to work with other adult learners from all over the world, enriching your educational experience in the process.
- Affordable tuition: Our tuition rate is among the country’s most affordable, offering quality education at exceptional value.
Early Childhood Teacher (PreK-2) Learning Outcomes
Through the coursework of this program, you’ll learn how to become a skilled, knowledgeable and creative early childhood teacher who knows how to:
- Create developmentally appropriate lessons and activities for children in PreK-2 settings
- Use inclusive practices appropriate for children with learning disabilities and for diverse students (including English language learners)
- Create a safe and collaborative learning environment that fosters positive socioemotional development
- Set high expectations for all students and establish measurable assessments of learning
- Engage in ongoing reflection on practice
“I particularly liked that the Monday-Friday schedule of classes didn't start until 5 p.m. This gave me the chance to get my children off the bus, feed them, get homework started and spend time with them before the babysitter came. I loved the weekend class schedule as well."
Courses for Licensure vs. Non-Licensure Programs
Required courses are the same for both the Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) non-licensure program and the ECT licensure program. Featured classes include:
- Teaching Literacy
- Adapting Materials for Students with Disabilities in Gen Ed Classrooms
- Inclusion and Classroom Behavior Management
- Development of Young Children
Licensure
Licensure students will take part in a 14-week supervised field experience as well as a supporting practicum seminar based on the Professional Standards for Teachers in Massachusetts. Licensure students can opt to take online (asynchronous) classes from many of their required courses while the practicum courses are offered in remote (Zoom) format only.
Non-Licensure
Non-licensure program classes are offered in both remote and online modalities. ECT non-licensure students must take 4-6 elective credits.
- Non-licensure students enrolled in the hybrid/remote+online program format may choose electives from the full range of Education Division courses in the School of Education and Counseling.
- Non-licensure students enrolled in the fully-online program format may choose their electives from the online, asynchronous courses offered in the Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities Program and the School Nurse Education program.
Early Childhood Teacher Tuition Information
*See curriculum sheet for a breakdown of credits and credit ranges.
Prospective graduate degree students for programs in the School of Education & Counseling must satisfy the following requirements plus any program-specific requirements your program may have.
- Complete and sign the online application.
- Pay the application fee. Pay your $50 ($100 for international students) application fee by the term start date.
- Send official transcripts. Maildirectly to Cambridge College in a sealed, unopened envelope. Learn How to Send Transcripts. Required degrees must be from accredited colleges or universities.
- Master's and most graduate certificate programs require an earned bachelor's degree.
- Post-master's certificates and CAGS require an earned master's degree.
- International transcripts must be translated and evaluated by an approved agency. See all international student requirements
- Send your résumé and work experience. Send your resume that details your education and work experience, including how they pertain to your career goals. If your SEC program has a work experience requirement, it will be listed in the Program-Specific Requirements section below.
- Submit your personal statement. Write a 500-word, typed, double-spaced essay describing your professional experience, goals and objectives for graduate study. How do you expect your graduate studies to enhance your future career?
- Include two professional recommendations (not required for fully online programs). These should address your professional character and ability to perform graduate work. Download Applicant Recommendation Form
- Interview (required for some programs). If your program requires an interview, it will be listed in the Program-Specific Requirements section below.
- Satisfy Health Insurance & Immunization requirements. (Massachusetts only). These are required only for graduate students taking six or more credits per term in Massachusetts through on-campus or hybrid classes. Health insurance may be waived.
Teacher Licensure Program Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed above, our Teacher Licensure Programs have these additional requirements:
- Earned bachelor's degree with 3.0 or higher GPA.
- MA Educator Documentation from the Massachusetts Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website. Keep copies of all documents submitted and, upon admission, post in your electronic portfolio:
- Massachusetts Educator Personnel ID (MEPID number)
- MTEL Communication & Literacy Test, successfully completed.
Required if completed:
- Massachusetts preliminary license, if held
- Sheltered English Instruction requirement
- Fingerprinting and Criminal Offender Record Information
Applicants who do not initially meet all requirements (e.g. GPA of 3.0 or MTEL) for admission into their chosen licensure program must enroll in the corresponding non-licensure degree option. Students who achieve a 3.0 GPA upon completion of the first three SEC courses, pass the MTELs, and now meet all requirements, may request a change of program.
Disclosures: For all Licensure Programs
- Licensure requirements are subject to change per Massachusetts regulations. All Cambridge College licensure programs are based on current regulations.
- All candidates admitted for licensure programs must successfully complete the program in its entirety.
- All requirements at the time of program completion must be finalized prior to seeking Massachusetts endorsement for licensure purposes.
- If you have any licensure questions, please speak to your program chair.
Program-Specific Admission Requirements for Licensure
The following are required for the licensure program.
- 3.0 GPA for earned bachelor's degree
- Massachusetts Educator Personnel ID (MEPID number)
- MTEL Communication & Literacy Test, successfully completed
Required, if completed:
- Massachusetts preliminary license, if held
- Sheltered English Instruction requirement
- Fingerprinting and Criminal Offender Record Information
Applicants who do not initially meet all requirements (e.g., GPA of 3.0 or MTEL) for admission into the licensure program must enroll in the corresponding non-licensure degree option. Students who achieve a 3.0 GPA upon completion of the first three SEC courses, pass the MTELs, and now meet all requirements may request to be changed to the licensure program.
Careers in Early Childhood Teaching
The mean national annual wage for kindergarten teachers in 2022 was $65,120, while in Massachusetts it was $85,240.* The mean annual wage for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Massachusetts was $67,980 in 2022.**
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), enrollment in Pre-K education has increased from 96,000 to over 1 million in the last 30 years.
$85,240
Mean annual wage for kindergarten teachers in Massachusetts, May 2022*
$67,980
Annual mean wage of education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare in Massachusetts, May 2022**
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252012.htm (visited Nov. 21, 2023).
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Annual Mean Wage of Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in Massachusetts, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119031.htm#st (visited Nov. 21, 2023).
Early Childhood Teacher Jobs
Graduates of the licensure option are eligible for initial licensure and will be qualified to teach preschool, kindergarten and other early learning classrooms in grades PreK-2. Non-licensure graduates may be eligible for employment in early childhood education settings that do not require licensure.
Alternative career options for early childhood teacher graduates include working as teaching assistants.
Faculty Spotlight
Janna Murphy
MEd
Faculty Member and Course Instructor
Janna Murphy is a literacy coach and has been in the education field for the past 20 years. Beginning her teaching career in the New York City Public Schools as a second grade teacher, Janna became fascinated by the world of literacy teaching and learning. After her first few years in the classroom, Janna enrolled in the Advanced Literacy Program at Bank Street College where she was able to work alongside many renowned experts and researchers of literacy learning. After completing this...
Christy A. Reynolds
EdD
Assistant Dean of Academic Programs and Program Chair, Early Childhood Teacher and Elementary Teacher Programs
Dr. Christy Reynolds is the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs at Cambridge College. She chairs the Curriculum Committee and actively participates in the School of Education and Counseling’s Leadership Team. She has successfully supported the development of more than 30 courses for the Early Childhood Teacher, Teacher of Moderate Disabilities, and School Nurse Education programs. Dr. Reynolds oversees program development, scheduling, recruitment, and retention efforts as the Program Chair...