Welcome to Baltimore, Maryland, where the state-of-the-art academic system speaks for its authority’s unwavering devotion to delivering quality education at every level. It is a well-known fact that a child’s early education is a foundational step in their holistic development. Early Childhood Education not only prepares a child for primary school but also provides anchors for them to latch onto for their social, emotional, and cognitive development.
It is to be noted that for your child to receive well-rounded early education, influential and well-equipped educators are needed. Only a trained and skillful educator can unravel the true potential of a young mind. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) regulates various colleges and universities for this purpose. Let’s dig deep into the world of education where you can pursue a career in early childhood education by joining Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degree programs that are being offered both on-ground and online to suit your needs!
Early Childhood Education Degrees in Baltimore, Maryland – Onground
Here are some of the top-ranked educational institutes in Baltimore, Maryland, offering on-ground programs in Early Childhood Education:
Associate Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education
Baltimore City Community College – Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Education
Baltimore City Community College, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is a state-sponsored public community college offering an avant-garde certification of Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Education. The Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education is designed to produce senior teachers, assistant teachers, and paraprofessionals lending their services to child-care programs, federal programs, public schools, and hospital child-life programs. The course of study for this certification is divided into five major domains. These include theories of child development, supervised field placement, programming for children, theoretical coursework, and observation.
This degree program aims at nourishing interactive skills in educators to encourage group work by playing, story-telling, mathematics, science, literature, music, and arts. To pursue an Associate degree in early childhood education, it is necessary for the student to either possess 18 credit hours worth of educational experience or a certification in infant/toddler courses. Furthermore, it is customary for the student to hold prior experience in a child care center catering to the needs of all children, including gifted, special needs, at-risk, and children from culturally diverse populations.
Community College of Baltimore County – Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Development
Community College of Baltimore County, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is a top-ranked community college in workforce development, lifelong learning, and early childhood education. CCBC is offering an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Early Childhood Education to students aiming at pursuing their careers as directors, assistants, teachers, and professionals in the child-care domain. The course of study for this program is divided into four semesters. Students must complete 60 credit hours for their degree.
The program has 19 distinct courses covering the domains of child growth and development, child psychology, special education, materials in Early Childhood Education, communication, school-age child care, child nutrition and health, and field experience. Successful completion of this degree will allow students to understand diversity and tailor their teaching method as per the Common Core Curriculum Frameworks. It enables students to encourage inquiry, healthy social interaction, and positive engagement among the children.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education
Notre Dame of Maryland University – Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Early Childhood Education
Notre Dame of Maryland University is a private-sector Catholic University in Baltimore, Maryland, thriving in excellence in Early Childhood Education. The program offers a combined five-year Bachelor’s and Master’s degree to students aiming at pursuing their careers in elementary education as Master teachers, Reading Specialists, STEM specialists, School-based administrators, Curriculum Specialists, and Professional development coordinators. This combined bachelor’s and master’s program provides three majors. These are Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and TESOL.
Moreover, the program is designed to constitute a dual-area study to make teachers well-rounded and versatile. Further, a BA in elementary education can be followed by an MA in either Gifted and Talented Education, STEM Education, or Library Media Specialization. The course of study comprises 27 courses with a total of 339 credit hours. In this diversified course, Elementary readings, Educational Psychology, Social studies, communication, Mathematics, science, English grammar, and teaching methods are mastered.
Stevenson University – Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Early Childhood Education
Stevenson University is a private liberal arts college located in Baltimore, Maryland, offering a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Early Childhood Education to students shooting for the positions of academic advisor, childcare worker, teacher, teaching assistant, and social and human service assistant. In the first year of the degree, students are made to master experiential learning in diversified environments of public and private sector preschools. The course of study has 27 courses that need to be passed in addition to the Stevenson Educational Experience (SEE) certificate.
The courses focus on educational psychology, learning experiences of young children, acquisition of learning and reading, special education, mathematics, science, youth literature, philosophy of education, and child development. Upon successfully completing the degree, the students will be able to instruct according to content-related pedagogical skills, develop specialised teaching plans, design feedback on progress, and promote high-cognitive thinking in preschool students.
Coppin State University – Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Early Childhood Education
Coppin State University is a historical public sector university located in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland offering a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Early Childhood Education. This program aims at preparing potential preschool teachers to analyze teaching situations and alter their pedagogical methods as per the needs of preschoolers.
The course of study has four domains. These are General Education Requirements, Program Requirements, Core Requirements, and Methods and Student Teaching. Students must complete 120 credit hours to avail the degree.
Master’s Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education
Coppin State University – Masters of Arts (M.A.T) in Elementary Education
Coppin State University is a public sector university located in Baltimore, Maryland offering a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Teaching and Instruction. This degree is designed to equip teachers with well-rounded pedagogical skills such as deconstructing curriculum to suit the needs of children and encouraging students in positive engagement. The department provides services by offering a supervisor to each student to plan their course of study. Credit hours are split between two courses which are Core Requirements and Professional Course Requirements.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Master of Arts (MEd) in Early Childhood Education
University of Maryland, Baltimore County is a public research university located in the heart of Baltimore. UMBC’s MAE is designed to integrate a responsive attitude in certified elementary educators aiming to expand their careers with content knowledge in mathematics, technology, and computer science. The coursework targets teaching dilemmas such as teacher leadership, educational research, and equity in education.
This Master’s degree has 12 courses making a total of 36 credit hours that are needed to be studied for the successful completion of the degree. This degree is also designed to prepare elementary school teachers for their PRAXIS exam. Moreover, students are given the liberty to pursue their degree online, hybrid with partnership, or on-campus.
Ph.D. Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education
Johns Hopkins University – Doctor of Philosophy in Education
Johns Hopkins University is a private sector university offering a full-time Ph.D. program in Education aimed at interdisciplinary research-based pedagogy and evidence-based educational practices for the betterment of educational stages of early childhood learning, elementary learning, middle schooling as far as enhancing the quality of education being offered at undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level.
Program requirements include completing 72 credit hours with four coursework components of Research Methods and Statistics, Major and/or Minor Area Electives and Readings, Seminars, and Dissertation Research. Moreover, all Ph.D. students will be offered a four-year-long fellowship with an annual stipend and health insurance incentives.
Early Childhood Education Degrees in Baltimore, Maryland – Online
Here are some of the top-ranked educational institutes in Baltimore, Maryland offering online programs in Early Childhood Education:
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education
Coppin State University – Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Early Childhood Education
Coppin State University is a public sector university offering a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Early Childhood Education and Human Development online. This program is curated to meet the modern-day challenges of meaningful interaction, learning management, equity in education, and tending to minority students. Nourishing young minds through cultural acceptance and tolerance are the core objectives of this program.
The course of study is designed for professionals working with children from their age of infancy to age five. Course duration consists of 120 credit hours emphasizing general education courses that might be delivered in asynchronous or synchronous formats followed by an on-site internship.
Master’s Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education
Towson University – Master of Arts (MAT) in Early Childhood Education
Towson University is a public sector university located in Baltimore, Maryland offering a fully online Master of Arts in Teaching with General and Special Education tracks. This 2-3 years long online cohort program will commence in the fall of 2023. Beginning in the first year, students will take two online synchronous courses in their fall term with a 5 p.m. start time.
After successful completion of online courses, students are required to intern on-site at a public preschool. In addition to many benefits, internships will be duly facilitated by the MAT office. After the completion of the Master’s degree, a student stands eligible for initial certification at any public school located in the state of Maryland.
Ph.D. Degree Programs in Early Childhood Education
Johns Hopkins University – Doctor of Education (EdD) in Early Childhood Education
Johns Hopkins University is a private sector research university offering a global online Doctor of Philosophy EdD in Education to professional educators looking for a part-time doctoral program to widen their potential and career opportunities. The program consists of 54 credit hours with a completion time of 4 years. The course of study focuses on social determinants of teaching and education, technology, entrepreneurship, data analysis, and empirical inquiry at every educational level.
Students can carry out their dissertation in various research areas such as Creativity, Advanced Learning and Twice Exceptionality, Educational technology, Digital age learning, and Urban leadership. For successful enrollment to EdD, the applicant must complete 36 credit hours of the Master’s program which then will be transferred to EdD graduate hours. During the degree, students must complete a Doctoral Dossier with three research projects.
Conclusion
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has served exceptionally well in setting up quality Early Childhood Education training programs at the Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral levels. Educators and administrators are working tirelessly to ensure the lifelong learning and emotional well-being of a child. If you’re an aspiring educator, select the program of your choice and get enrolled now!