Towson Learning Network
Southern Maryland Higher Education Center
Early Childhood Education (M.Ed.)
In an effort to assist teachers and local school systems in Southern Maryland, Towson University offers the The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education. This is an advanced degree program designed to prepare the degree candidate for a future professional role, to increase competence in a current career role, or to provide a step toward further study in the field of Early Childhood Education. It is not an initial teaching certification or licensure program, but an opportunity for increased professional development at the graduate level. The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is recommended for practitioners in a wide range of programs for children from birth through age eight in a variety of community settings.
The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is aligned with NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation in Advanced Programs.
Admission Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is required for full admission and 2.75 for conditional admission to the program. All GPA calculations are made based on the last 60 credits of undergraduate and post-baccalaureate study.
- A current resume must be submitted with the application for admission as well as all post-secondary transcripts.
One or more of the following:
- An undergraduate degree or graduate coursework in Early Childhood Education, child development, family studies or a related field or
- Teacher certification in Early Childhood Education or
- Teacher certification in Elementary Education plus 6 semester hours in Early Childhood Education or
- A minimum of three years of professional experience in an early childhood program or related setting serving young children from birth to age eight or
- Undergraduate courses in the following areas:
- educational psychology or psychology of learning
- child growth and development
- curriculum and methods in early childhood education.
Application Information
If you are enrolling in this program and have not attended the Towson University Graduate School for the last three years, you must complete a Graduate School application and send any additional materials required by the specific program to the Towson University Graduate School.
Registration
Upon acceptance into the graduate school and department program, all candidates register for each course online. Typically the course sections at SMHEC range from 611 - 620.
For more information regarding registration, contact Ms. Alyssa Zumpano, TU/SMHEC site coordinator, at azumpano@towson.edu or 301-737-2500, x 307.
Tuition and Reimbursement
Upon registration for class, you will receive a bill from the Bursar’s Office for full tuition and fees. The fees for the SMHEC location are assessed at a reduced rate based on its distance from the main campus. This bill must be paid by the due date. Unpaid bills will be assessed late fees and after 90 days will be sent to a collection agency.
Towson University has a directly billing agreement with the three Southern Maryland county school sytems (Saint Mary's, Calvert, and Charles). If you are a teacher in one of these districts, you will receive, upon registration, a bill from the Bursar’s Office for a non-refundable, non-reimbursable closed contract processing fee. The school system is then billed for the remainder of the tuition for that course. If you have reached your maximum reimbursement, you will be billed for the remainder of the tuition at the rate charged to the school system at the conclusion of the semester. Each school system has a different reimbursement policy or procedure based on negotiated agreements with its unions and with the University. For more information on this benefit, contact your school system.
You may choose to seek reimbursement directly from your school system upon completion of each course in the program. Please note the following:
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Your school system will not pay for your tuition if you receive a grade that does not meet your school system’s reimbursement requirements, if you receive a grade of I (incomplete), or if you receive a grade of FX. Instead, you will be solely responsible for the tuition and fees.
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Your school system will not pay your tuition if you exceed their reimbursable credit limit. If you exceed your school system’s reimbursable credit limit, you are solely responsible for the tuition and fees
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Tuition and fees are subject to increase.
If you are taking courses for certification purposes, check with your local school system or Maryland State Department of Education certification personnel to ensure that you are registering for the course you need.
Grades and Transcripts
If you need a copy of your grades, you can receive them through Towson Online Services. You can get information about requesting official transcripts from the Registrar's Office.
Directions to the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center
Contact Us
If you have questions about the academic program, contact Dr. Cinda Raley, SMHEC program coordinator, at craley@towson.edu.
If you have questions about application or registration, contact Ms. Alyssa Zumpano, TU/SMHEC site coordinator, at azumpano@towson.edu or 301-737-2500, x 307.
If you have general questions about off campus programs, contact John Desmone at
jdesmone@towson.edu.
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