Bachelor of Arts + Master's Degree in Child Development: Birth to Kindergarten and Special Education 

The Child Development master’s program has two options. Students may elect to complete a focus on early childhood administration and policy, resulting in a master’s degree in early childhood development, with a transcriptable certificate in early childhood policy. The policy focus in the master’s degree is offered via the Interactive Distance Education Alliance (IDEA). IDEA is a consortium of universities, including MSU, offering online graduate programming. Four of the policy focus master’s courses are offered online via IDEA. Alternatively, students may complete a focus on early childhood educational practices, including advanced coursework in early childhood development and practices, resulting in a master’s degree in early childhood development. Read more about the program options below. Most students will be able to complete both the undergraduate and graduate degree in five to five and-a-half years. Academic advisers will work with students to plan a timely dual program. Students earning undergraduate minors or double majors would require greater time.

Early Childhood Leadership, Administration and Policy (30 credits, including the 9 credits shared enrollment credits)

Shared Courses Completed as an Undergraduate Student

• HDFS 473: Administration of Early Childhood Programs (3 credits)
• 6 additional shared enrollment credits, which can include HDFS 449 (3 credits) or another approved 400-level course. Three of the 6 shared credits must be 800-level courses.

Shared Courses Completed as a Graduate Student

• HDFS/ECFP 805: Early Childhood Education and Care: History, child development, and equity (3 credits)
• HDFS/ECFP 806: Early Childhood Education and Care: Examining practices, policies, and key issues (3 credits)
• HDFS/ECFP 807 Early Childhood Education and Care Policy: Theory, analysis, and research (3 credits)
• HDFS/ECFP 808: ECF Policy Course IV: Early childhood education and care policy: Policy leadership and policy advocacy (3 credits)
• HDFS 811: Child Development (3 credits)
• Electives (6 credits) to be determined by student and adviser. Students may also develop independent study graduate experience (variable credits) to address additional topics of interest.

Early Childhood Development and Practices (30 credits, including the 9 shared enrollment credits)

Shared Courses Completed as an Undergraduate Student

• HDFS 473: Administration of Early Childhood Programs (3 credits)
• HDFS 449: Children and Families with Special Needs (3 credits)
• 3 additional shared enrollment credits from an approved 800-level course

Shared Courses Completed as a Graduate Student

• HDFS 811: Child Development (3 credits)
• Electives (18 credits) from special topics courses in areas such as social-emotional development, and language development, observation methods, assessment, parenting, and family studies courses. Students may also develop independent study graduate experiences (variable credits) to address additional topics of interest.

Fields:

Education

Educational Administration

Early Childhood Education

Special Education

Policy

Graduate School

Example careers:

Early childhood teacher

Kindergarten teacher

Kindergarten-third grade teacher (with endorsement)

Special education teacher

Paraprofessional

Policy aide

Principal, Assistant Principal

Successful applicants will have strong academic records at the undergraduate level; a GPA of 3.0 is recommended but not required. Students must earn a 3.0 or greater on courses taken at the 400 level to be included in the master’s program. The GRE is not required to apply for the graduate program.

Step 1: Interested students should talk with their academic advisers early in their junior year about their preparedness for the 4+1 shared program option. Students interested in the 4+1 Child Development Master’s Degree should complete a form with the advising office, indicating which courses would be included in the shared program.

Step 2: Students will submit an online application for graduate study and complete the Shared Program Request form.

• Students interested in the 4+1 Child Development Master’s Degree should formally apply to the master’s program by Dec. 1 of their senior year. On the application form, select "Child Development Professional/Project Track (Plan B); code 7702.  
• Applications require
  • Three letters of recommendation from instructors or employers who can speak to the student’s knowledge, skills, and preparedness for graduate study.
    • One of the three letters should be from the student’s HDFS academic adviser, who will confirm their eligibility and identify the courses that will be included in the shared program
  • an academic statement in which the student describes their interests in early childhood policy or practice and their career goals
  • a personal statement about how the student’s life experiences (including social, economic, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges and obstacles you’ve overcome) motivate the student’s career interests and their decision to pursue a graduate degree. The student should describe any obstacles they have overcome to pursue their educational goals.
• When completing the online application, students should email an electronic copy of their undergraduate transcript/s and a copy of the Shared Program Request form to Phil Reid at Gradhdfs@msu.edu.

Admitted students with an approved shared program status may take nine credits from courses (six credits from 400-level courses; three credits from 800-level courses) in their undergraduate programs that will be applied to earning the 30 credits required in the master’s program. Courses to be included in the shared program must be confirmed with the advising office before students take the courses.

For financial aid purposes, students will hold undergraduate status until the 120 credits for the baccalaureate are earned and will be charged undergraduate tuition rates for the nine shared program enrollment course credits completed at undergraduate status. After completion of undergraduate degree requirements, students are considered as holding graduate student status, and graduate tuition rates are charged. Students are not eligible for financial aid as graduate students until the semester after the 120 credits required for the bachelor’s degree are completed.