Graduate Bulletin and Course Catalog

Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
College of Fine and Applied Arts

Sarah R. Jordan, Chair and Associate Professor
JordanSR@appstate.edu

Sammie G. Garner, Program Director and Professor
GarnerSG@appstate.edu

http://www.fcs.appstate.edu/

The Departments of Family and Consumer Sciences, Curriculum and Instruction, and Language, Reading and Exceptionalities cooperate to offer the M.A. degree in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten (548*/13.1209). The degree is coordinated by and conferred by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. This program has the following three concentrations:
                        Administration (548C)           
                        Allied Personnel (548D)           
                        Teaching (548B)[T]

The Teaching concentration leads to NC “M” level licensure; the other tracks do not lead to licensure.

The Department Family and Consumer Sciences also offers the Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences and the Master of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences Education described under separate heading in this bulletin.

PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT: BIRTH THROUGH KINDERGARTEN (Major Code: 548*/13.1209)

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree in Child Development or a related field from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Cratis Williams Graduate School (http://www.graduate.appstate.edu), including resume, three letters of recommendation, official GRE general exam scores, and official transcripts from all colleges attended; demonstrated proficiency in educational technology.

Note for Teaching Concentration Applicants: The teaching concentration (548B)[T] requires a North Carolina “A” license or the equivalent from another state.
Note for Other Applicants: The administration (548C) and allied personnel (548D) concentrations require prerequisite courses in Child Development, Statistics, and Individual Differences.

Basic Criteria for Unconditional Admission: (Undergraduate GPA X 400) + GRE Verbal + GRE Quantitative = 2000 OR: Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or greater and GRE Writing score of 3.5 or higher.

Location: On Campus

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten with a Concentration in Administration (548C)

Required Courses

CI 5630: Instructional Technology (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5111: Advanced Developmental Assessment and Program Evaluation for Children (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5112: Advanced Developmental Curriculum and Instruction for Young Children (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5113: Seminar: Issues in Birth through Kindergarten Education (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5900: Internship (3 hours for students in CI & FCS; 6 hours for students in SPE)
FCS 5100: Application and Theories of Child Development (3)
FCS 5105: Family Life Education (3)
SPE 5630: Collaboration and Advocacy (3)

24 or 27

Administration
Concentration Courses (548C)

FCS 5610: Administration of Early Childhood Programs (3)
HE 5250: Conflict Management in Educational Administration (3)
Choose one of the following research courses

    • FCS 5001: Orientation to Research in FCS (3)
    • RES 5000: Research Methods or equivalent (3)

9

Thesis Option (CHOOSE ONE)

With Thesis
FCS 5999: Thesis (1-4)
Remaining hours may be chosen from graduate courses with the approval of the program director and department chair

OR
Without Thesis
3 or 6 s.h. of approved graduate electives

1 or 4
(thesis)

OR

3 or 6

Total Semester Hours Required for the Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten with a Concentration in Administration (548C)

37
(thesis)
OR
39

 

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten with a Concentration in Allied Personnel (548D)

Required Courses

CI 5630: Instructional Technology (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5111: Advanced Developmental Assessment and Program Evaluation for Children (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5112: Advanced Developmental Curriculum and Instruction for Young Children (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5113: Seminar: Issues in Birth through Kindergarten Education (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5900: Internship (3 hours for students in CI & FCS; 6 hours for students in SPE)
FCS 5100: Application and Theories of Child Development (3)
FCS 5105: Family Life Education (3)
SPE 5630: Collaboration and Advocacy (3)

24 or 27

Thesis Option (CHOOSE ONE)

With Thesis (9 or 12 s.h.)
FCS 5999: Thesis (1-4)
Remaining hours may be chosen from graduate courses with approval of the program director and department chair

OR
Without Thesis (12 or 15 s.h.)
12 or 15 s.h. of approved electives chosen from graduate courses with approval of the program director and department chair

9 or 12
(thesis)

OR

12 or 15

Total Semester Hours Required for the Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten with a Concentration in Allied Personnel (548D)

36
(thesis)
OR
39

 

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten with a Concentration in Teaching (548B)[T]+

Required Courses

CI 5630: Instructional Technology (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5111: Advanced Developmental Assessment and Program Evaluation for Children (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5112: Advanced Developmental Curriculum and Instruction for Young Children (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5113: Seminar: Issues in Birth through Kindergarten Education (3)
CI/FCS/SPE 5900: Internship (3 hours for students in CI & FCS; 6 hours for students in SPE)
FCS 5100: Application and Theories of Child Development (3)
FCS 5105: Family Life Education (3)
SPE 5630: Collaboration and Advocacy (3)

24 or 27

Teaching
Concentration
Courses
(548B)[T]

+Advanced Licensure: Requirements for this degree were designed, and have been approved by the appropriate bodies at the state level, to meet the advanced competencies as mandated in the North Carolina Excellent Schools Act for Master-level teacher education programs.

CI/RE/RES/SPE 5040: Teacher as Researcher (3)
FCS 5110: Practical Issues in Family Development (3)
FCS 5525: Product of Learning (3)
HE 5630: The Adult Learner (3)
0 or 3 s.h. of graduate electives chosen with the approval of the program director and department chair

12 or 15

Total Semester Hours Required for the Master of Arts in Child Development: Birth through Kindergarten with a Concentration in Teaching (548B)[T]+

39

***A student entering the program with curricular deficiencies may be required to complete more than the minimum number of hours for completion of the program. In addition, students opting for the Administration concentration with a thesis will complete their degrees with 37 semester hours.

Other Requirements for MA in Child Development: Birth Through Kindergarten (all Concentrations):

Thesis: Optional (Thesis course or as part of Product of Learning in the TEACHING concentration)
Proficiency: The language proficiency for entrance may be satisfied with the following courses, taken either before entry into the program or during graduate study: STT 2810 Introduction to Statistics, STT 3820 Statistical Methods I, OR RES 5600 Educational Statistics, or equivalent
Comprehensive: All candidates will complete either a written comprehensive examination administered by the student’s advisory committee or an oral presentation of a performance-based portfolio. Candidates selecting the TEACHING concentration must complete the portfolio; those selecting the ADMINISTRATION or ALLIED PERSONNEL concentrations may choose either option. The portfolio must be presented to the graduate committee and (for students in the TEACHING concentration, to practitioners from the public school system). An oral defense of the thesis is required when selecting the thesis option.
Product of Learning: Required for the TEACHING concentration.