New Law, New Program: Accelerated Master's In Early Childhood Launched
/The University of Saint Joseph – formerly Saint Joseph College - is launching an accelerated master of arts degree in Early Childhood with Teacher Licensure for Nursery to Grade Three. The new format responds to a shortage of licensed teachers in early childhood education, along with a new state requirement: as of July 13, 2013, new licensed teachers must hold the Nursery-Grade 3 license in order to teach kindergarten. Partners in the new program at the West Hartford institution include the nationally recognized University of Saint Joseph School for Young Children and the acclaimed Wintonbury Early Childhood Magnet School in Bloomfield. Each will host pre-school and kindergarten clinical experiences, and outstanding area elementary schools will provide clinical experiences for grades 1-3.
Details of the new degree program include:
- The 30-credit accelerated program is designed to be completed in one year (August-August) and includes a 10-week teaching placement and a 5-week practicum.
- Successful candidates are eligible to continue with a 3-credit course in Educational Research in fall 2013. Candidates who complete the cohort for the Nursery-Grade 3 license will be granted a tuition scholarship for this course.
- Comprehensive exam taken in spring 2014 for completion of the master of arts degree
- Candidates who complete all requirements participate in the university’s commencement in May 2014
- Accepting a maximum of 15 people in the 2012-2013 cohort
The Early Childhood Special Education Accelerated Program (ECSE/AP) combines the university’s Connecticut State Department of Education approved Early Childhood/Special Education program for teacher licensure with newly expanded clinical experiences to provide an intensive, research-based, practitioner-oriented teacher preparation program.
