Full Course Description List:

MSEC Courses

5 credits

What does it mean to be a professional in the diverse and dynamic early childhood field? Why is considering the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every child, family, and colleague integral to professionalism as well as healthy growth and development? How are early childhood professionals making a difference as advocates and leaders? Early childhood professionals in this course begin a rich and complex journey examining the breadth and depth of the field; what it means to be a professional guided by a code of ethical conduct; and the critical role research plays in illuminating how early childhood professionals can work as leaders and advocates to help young children, families, and the field grow and thrive.

5 credits

Research on how the brain develops in utero and throughout early childhood provides insights and guidance critical to young children’s healthy development. As brains develop, early experiences affect brain architecture in ways that promote or impede healthy relationships, self-concepts, growth, and learning. Early childhood professionals, as leaders and advocates in the field, study current, fascinating research on brain architecture, child mental health, and the ways toxic stress, trauma, and resilience influence child development across domains.

5 credit

Traditions, cultures, structures, interactions, and values all influence the developing child. Understanding family context, at the heart of which is respecting each family’s dignity, worth, and uniqueness, is key to developing partnerships that help young children thrive. However, building partnerships with families is not a simple, one-size-fits-all process. In this course, early childhood professionals study the components and nuances of family context and ways to build and sustain culturally responsive, reciprocal relationships with families. Such relationships foster effective family collaboration within early childhood settings and in efforts to partner with community organizations to foster children’s healthy development and learning.

5 credits

Play is a time when children explore, discover, and imagine; they express themselves, lose themselves, and find themselves all over again. Creativity may involve seeing the world in new ways, finding new ways to solve problems, and giving birth to ideas based on who each child is, what they feel, and how they learn, think, and interact. Early childhood professionals recognize that both play, and creativity are integral to healthy human development. And, both flourish in environments where children feel respected, are encouraged to take risks, and have time to live in what they are experiencing. In this course, early childhood professionals, as leaders of and advocates for effective practice, study international research and perspectives on the value of play and creativity and how to advocate for the infusion of play and creativity into early childhood teaching and learning.

5 credits

Early childhood environments have the power to invite learning, foster curiosity, and empower meaning-making. Such environments offer spaces for children to be quiet and introspective as well as interact in robust play. The aesthetics of early childhood environments can nurture children’s appreciation of the many aspects of beauty, while the soul and feel of environments can help children and families be comfortable with who they are. In this course, early childhood professionals analyze the role of the environment as the third teacher, the ways early childhood environments support community and belonging, and the value of leading early childhood teams to create effective early childhood environments that nurture discovery, wonder, and awe.

Prerequisites

• MSEC 6003 (may be concurrent)
• MSEC 6101 (may be concurrent)
• MSEC 6102 (may be concurrent)
• MSEC 6103 (may be concurrent)

5 credits

In order to design and implement meaningful learning experiences for and with young children, early childhood professionals must understand the principle content strands that comprise each academic discipline as well as the key concepts and methods of inquiry across academic disciplines. This course supports professionals, as advocates of meaningful curriculum, in leading efforts to apply knowledge of content and pedagogy to designing learning experiences that are engaging and challenging, and that reflect children’s individual, cultural, and linguistic diversity.

5 credits

Early childhood professionals understand that observation is a critical method of assessment in early childhood settings. Thoughtful, ongoing observation and documentation are authentic approaches that provide a holistic picture of children and help to guide developmentally appropriate planning, interactions, and instruction. In this course, early childhood professionals consider their roles as leaders and advocates of effective observation and assessment practices who model and mentor the process of analyzing assessment strategies, methods, and data to support children’s healthy development and learning. They are challenged to critically examine and lead effective collaboration with families and other professionals to promote ethical and meaningful assessment practices, including early intervention.

Prerequisites

• MSEC 6104 (may be concurrent)
• MSEC 6106 (may be concurrent)

5 credits

Early childhood professionals understand that positive and supportive interactions with young children rightly place the young child at the heart of the learning and teaching process. In this course, early childhood professionals analyze developmentally appropriate approaches that reflect knowledge of how children develop and learn. In the role of leaders, they advocate and mentor by applying this knowledge to the planning of differentiated learning experiences that are responsive to young children’s individual strengths and needs as well as their family and cultural contexts. They examine concepts and evaluate models of quality inclusive care and education for young children. They build awareness throughout the field of the vital importance of reflective, responsive, and intentional practice to support and nurture the healthy growth and learning of each individual child.

5 credits

Early childhood professionals employ a broad repertoire of skills and strategies that are appropriate for the young children in their settings. In this course, they apply their knowledge of young children’s characteristics, needs, strengths, and family and cultural contexts to planning and instruction in an authentic P–3 classroom setting. They intentionally plan differentiated learning experiences to ensure challenge and meaning for each child as well as for the group. As they engage in the planning, learning and teaching, and assessment cycle, early childhood professionals collaborate with host teachers and other colleagues to sharpen their instructional skills, deepen reflection on their own practice, and lead professional development to promote effective practice in P–3 settings.

Prerequisites

• MSEC 6107 (may be concurrent)
• MSEC 6108 (may be concurrent)

5 credits

Effective leaders in early childhood settings develop and maintain programs that are grounded in ethical principles and exemplify healthy organizational culture. This effort takes an abundance of skill particularly related to modeling and applying ethical standards and legal requirements; building respectful relationships with—and between—staff, families, and children; and stewarding the program’s mission and vision. Leadership is deeply challenging, rewarding, and dynamic. This course helps early childhood professionals in search of leadership skills, tools, and insights, become the program leaders they hope to be.

5 credits

Consider the needs and challenges of early childhood programs. How might knowledge of and skills related to budgeting, allocating resources, and obtaining additional funding help an early childhood professional develop and maintain a high-quality program? Creating successful grant proposals, having the tools to effectively market the program, and continuously working with staff to productively manage a facility with financial skill is key to program success as well as the ability to serve the best interests of children and families. This course provides early childhood professionals with a strong foundation in the key areas of grant writing, budgeting, and making strategic decisions about funding.

5 credits

The master’s capstone experience provides the opportunity to integrate and apply program learning to real-world situations in the early childhood field. Early childhood professionals identify and research issues or problems that impact young children and families in their local communities. In collaboration with families, colleagues, and/or community partners, they design projects that demonstrate their leadership and advocacy skills in the early childhood arena. The capstone experience culminates with implementing the projects, in whole or in part, and reflecting on how these projects represent growth as early childhood professionals, leaders, and advocates.

Prerequisites

• MSEC 6109 (may be concurrent)