UMass Boston

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

The Early Childhood Admissions Committee will recommend for admissions those applicants who present evidence of their ability to do post master’s work with distinction.

Such evidence will include:

• A statement of purpose, clearly explaining the applicant’s reasons for pursing more graduate study in the field of early childhood education and answering these questions:
  • What excites you about this program?
  • How does it fit into your professional goals?
  • How will your participation in this program impact the lives of children and families?
  • If you wish to apply for the Early Educator Leadership Fellowship, please indicate your interest in this statement.
• Current Resume and Job Description to clarify past and present roles as an early childhood educator, please upload as one document.
• Three letters of recommendation
• Writing Sample: Write an original, 4-5 page doubled-spaced academic essay about an issue/topic in early education that you want to explore in this graduate program. Include a bibliography of the research/literature that has informed your interest in this problem.

Deadlines: June 15 for fall

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.

Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, please visit the Bursar's website; some fellowships available.

Required Courses (12 Credits)

• ECHD 701 - Early Education and Care Policy and Practice 3 Credit(s)
• ECHD 702 - Advanced Child Development and Early Learning 3 Credit(s)
• ECHD 703 - Translating Early Education Research into Practice 3 Credit(s)
• ECHD 704 - Leadership and Change in Early Education and Care 3 Credit(s)

For more information on curriculum, including course descriptions and degree requirements, visit the Academic Catalog.

In this program students will: 

• develop a strong knowledge of the dimensions of typical and atypical child growth and learning, leadership, advocacy, and policy.
• continue to grow in their current professional roles or find new challenges after completion of their program.

This program is also aligned with Early Childhood and Education Care PhD goals. Students will: 

• identify those early childhood-related problems and successes that are most important to study systematically.
• conduct research in a spirit of collaborative inquiry.
• conduct rigorous research that informs early childhood policies and practices.
• design evidence-based interventions that are likely to support early childhood development and family well-being.
• apply research methodologies well-suited to the problems being investigated.
• take into account cultural, linguistic, social, and ability diversity.
  be a highly effective faculty member or other early childhood leader.

Complete twelve credits from four required courses.

Statute of limitations: Three years.

Graduate Program Director Anne Douglass
anne.douglass [at] umb.edu
(617) 287-4622