Degrees

The Unified Early Childhood ProTeach program is an interdisciplinary teacher education program designed to prepare teachers to teach all children from the earliest ages to grade 3 (including those with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds). The program results in eligibility for the Preschool (birth to 4 years) Certificate, Prekindergarten/Primary (age 3 to grade 3) Certificate, the ESOL Endorsement and the Prekindergarten Disability Endorsement.

Completion of the program includes a fifth year of study and culminates in a master’s degree for those students accepted into the UF Graduate School. Otherwise, this becomes a year of post baccalaureate study. Admission to the junior year does not guarantee admission to the graduate program.

Undergraduate admission requirements information can be found at our Student Services website.

Questions about the Unified Early Childhood ProTeach program should be addressed to:

• Kristen Kemple, Ph.D., Professor
• Hazel Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor

This master of education (M. Ed.) program is designed for applicants that hold or are eligible to hold certification in Early Childhood Studies. This is a non-thesis master’s degree with a minimum of 36 credit hours. Each program is carefully developed with the student’s advisor. The program does not lead to initial teacher certification.

A typical program of study for this degree follows:

Early Childhood Specialization Courses include:

RED 5316: Emergent Literacy
EEC 6205: Early Childhood Curriculum
EEC 6304: Creativity in Early Childhood
EEC 6615: Early Childhood Background & Concepts
EEC 6525: Child Care Administration
EEC 6946: Practicum in Early Childhood
EDE 6905: Individual Work with Early Childhood focus
EDG 6910: Supervised Research with Early Childhood focus
Doctoral level courses in Early Childhood, as deemed appropriate by student’s advisor

This Master of Arts in education (MAE) program is designed for applicants that hold or are eligible to hold certification in Early Childhood Studies. This thesis program includes 30 hours of coursework including 6 hours of EDG 6971 thesis credit. Each program is carefully developed with the student’s advisor. The program does not lead to initial teacher certification.

A typical program of study for this degree follows:

Early Childhood Specialization Courses include:

RED 5316: Emergent Literacy
EEC 6205: Early Childhood Curriculum
EEC 6304: Creativity in Early Childhood
EEC 6615: Early Childhood Background & Concepts
EEC 6525: Child Care Administration
EEC 6946: Practicum in Early Childhood
EDE 6905: Individual Work with Early Childhood focus
EDG 6910: Supervised Research with Early Childhood focus
Doctoral level courses in Early Childhood, as deemed appropriate by student’s advisor

The Early Childhood Studies concentration of the doctoral program in the School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies at the University of Florida is designed to prepare leaders in scholarship and teacher education with focus on children from birth to age eight and their families. We strive to prepare professionals with expertise in promoting the development and learning of children of diverse ability, culture, and language in inclusive early childhood settings. The program emphasizes development and learning in the context of various settings (home, schools, and community-based settings) and in the context of various relationships (peer, teacher, and family relationships). Applicants may seek either a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).

Program Prerequisites

All applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, child development, special education, psychology, or a closely related field. In addition, the applicant must have at least 1 year of employment in the field of early childhood.

Program Requirements

In coordination with their doctoral committee, doctoral candidates create a flexible doctoral program to match their needs and interests. In addition to the basic requirements of the Ph.D. or Ed.D. in the School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies, students choosing the Early Childhood Studies doctoral concentration are required to take a minimum of 18 hours of doctoral work in early childhood studies.

Contact Information

Questions about the Doctoral concentration in Early Childhood Education should be addressed to:

• Kristen Kemple, Ph.D. Professor

Program Faculty

• Maria Denney, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
• Alice Kaye Emery, Ph.D., Assistant Scholar
• Hazel Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Kristen Kemple, Ph.D., Professor
• Pam Pallas, Ph.D., Director of Baby Gator
• Tina Smith-Bonahue, Ph.D., Associate Professor
• Patricia Snyder, Ph.D., David Lawrence Jr. Endowed Chair in Early Childhood Studies