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Early Childhood Special Education

The M.S. in Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Special Education focuses on assessment, intervention, and instructional strategies for young children with disabilities, with a strong emphasis on language and literacy development.

Who Should Apply

  • Practicing Florida early childhood educators and exceptional education teachers who wish to obtain a graduate degree and increase their expertise in their current field.
  • Individuals with bachelor's degrees who wish to obtain a graduate degree and increase their knowledge and skills in early childhood special education.
  • Completed admission application packet, including a $50 nonrefundable application fee made payable to Nova Southeastern University.
  • Official transcript indicating conferral of a bachelor’s degree by a regionally accredited institution (2.5 minimum cumulative grade-point average required).
  • Official transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary institutions.

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
EDU 5000 Orientation to the Graduate Teacher Education Program 0
CUR 526 Educational Research for Practitioners 3
EC 620 Research Issues in Child Development 3
EC 501 Language Acquisition and Development 3
EC 519 Health and Safety Issues in Early Early Intervention Track Childhood Classrooms (Birth through Age 8) 3
EC 518 Developmentally Appropriate Curricular Practices in Multicultural Settings 3
EP 5265 Assessing the Needs of Young Children with Disabilities 3
EP 5270 Nature and Needs of Young Children with Disabilities 3
EP 5275 Intervention Strategies and Classroom Behavior Management of Young Children with Disabilities 3

Choose one of the following tracks (9 credits)

PRESCHOOL TRACK (Ages 3-5)

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
EC 579 Foundations of Emergent Literacy 3
EC 522 Planning the Play-Based Curriculum: Arts and Movement for Children Ages Birth through Age 8 3
EP 5280 Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities and the Community 3

EARLY INTERVENTION TRACK

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
EC 586 Early Intervention Trends and Issues 3
EC 502 Program Development for Children: Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers (Birth-Age 5) 3
EC 517 Seminar on Family Systems for Early Childhood Educators 3

FAMILY SPECIALIST TRACK

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
EP 5280 Working with Families of Young Children with Disabilities and the Community 3
EC 517 Seminar on Family Systems for Early Childhood Educators 3
EC 514 Family and School Collaboration in Early Childhood Programs 3

CAPSTONE

Course Number Course Title and Description Credits
ECSE 699 Applied Professional Experience in Early Childhood Special Education 3

TOTAL CREDITS: 36

The applied professional experience is one of many practical applications included in the early literacy education specialization. It is the final step in the completion of the M.S.Ed. program. Conducted in an appropriate educational setting, candidates will maintain reflective journals and create files of samples of their students’ work and the assessment instruments used to demonstrate achievement of the state professional and content standards. All applied professional experiences are accompanied by portfolios detailing the rationale, process, and evaluation of the project.

Coursework for a master’s degree with specialization in Early Childhood Special Education is available online and at many of the NSU Campuses throughout the state of Florida. The M.S.Ed. program’s online delivery option allows students to receive and submit coursework and interact with participants and professors via the Internet. The site-based delivery option allows students to take classes in the evenings or on weekends in a location near their homes. The distance delivery option allows busy professionals to complete their graduate degree in literacy education without having to leave their jobs or travel long distances.

Faculty members for the master of science in education are scholars and educators from Nova Southeastern University and other major universities and institutions throughout the country. In addition many are also highly respected professional practitioners, who are carefully selected on the basis of their subject expertise, teaching abilities, and professional involvement. Most importantly, they are united in their desire to not only educate, but to inspire students to use what they learn to motivate others.

Students are advised to contact their state department of education or an Enrollment Services Representative (Academic Advisor) to determine if this program is suitable for certification/licensure and their career goals.

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