The Master of Science program in Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) is designed to meet the needs of professionals who want to work with young children and their families. The ECDE program delivers relevant, rigorous course work and related academic experiences.
The program is designed for candidates with undergraduate degrees in a wide range of areas either related to early childhood development and education, such as child development, psychology, communication disorders, sociology, nursing, theatre, music or other degrees. The program of study includes advanced professional development in early child development and education for careers with direct and indirect services for young children and families. Direct early education services to young children and families can include homes, schools, and other community settings, such as child care and Head Start. Indirect services can include: child assessment, program evaluation, child care resource and referral, early learning coalitions, community college instruction, and child advocacy. Graduates of this program are encouraged to serve as a bridge among schools and community agencies and to nurture leadership skills in these areas.
In addition to fostering the professional development of previously certified early childhood teachers, this program will also serve as a bridge among schools and community agencies and will provide the educational experiences to nurture educational leaders who will work within and across these areas.
15 January 2025
Start date
18 August 2025
University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd.,
ORLANDO,
Florida,
32816, United States
Students must hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from a governmentally recognized institution of higher learning.
Minimum UCF Requirement for TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo
TOEFL iBT score of 80
IELTS band score of 6.5
Duolingo English Test score of 120
*Duolingo English Test scores will be accepted for applicants effective the Fall 2025 admission cycle.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.