Early Childhood Policy Track (Online Courses)

This program track focuses on the policy context of early childhood from birth through kindergarten through interdisciplinary coursework in early childhood policy and educational leadership (see course sequence below). Upon graduation, an applicant who chooses this program may plan to pursue a future doctorate degree or seek new early childhood policy-focused career opportunities with school districts across the United States, U.S./state-level Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, etc., legislative or congressional offices, judicial offices, social service agencies with advocacy departments, state or federal education policy organizations, non-governmental agencies for education, health, mental health, housing, and/or legal services, international agencies (e.g., World Bank, United Nations, World Health Organization), family advocacy programs, early childhood organizations (e.g., NAEYC, Zero to Three), philanthropic foundations, or research institutions or think tanks focused on policy research (e.g., AIR, Child Trends).

Fall Year 1: 9 credit hours

• EEC 6665 – History, Child Development, & Equity in Early Childhood Policy (3 credit hours)
• EDA 6069 – Educational Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)
• EEC 6615 – Early Childhood Education: Backgrounds & Concepts (3 credit hours)

Spring Year 1: 9 credit hours

• EEC 6636 – Examining Practices, Policies, and Key Issues in Early Childhood Policy (3 credit hours)
• EDG 6285 – Evaluation in School Programs (3 credit hours)
• EEC 7056 – Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy (3 credit hours)

Summer Year 1: 3 credit hours

• EEC6667 – Theory & Analysis in Early Childhood Policy (3 credit hours)

Fall Year 2: 3 credit hours

• EEC 6905 – Individual Work / Internship in Early Childhood Policy (3 credit hours)

Spring Year 2: 6 credit hours

• EEC 6971 – Thesis (3 credit hours) or EEC 6910 – Supervised Research (3 credit hours)
• EEC 6905 – Individual Work (3 credit hours)