Master's in Education, Early Childhood Teacher from Cambridge College

Learn How to Help Young Children to Thrive

Today’s young learners face a different landscape than we did. Gain the essential skills and practical knowledge to prepare their generation for the future with an Early Childhood Teacher Master’s in Education degree from Cambridge College.

You’ll learn techniques you can apply in an inclusive PreK to second-grade classroom right away. You’ll benefit from curriculum that includes a special emphasis on early literacy, cultural responsiveness and digital literacy. Plus, earning your master’s may lead to salary advancement in schools and centers using credit and degree-based pay scales (varies by state and district).

This program is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Select Your Preferred Format and Pace

Opt for the modality that best suits your schedule, learning style and licensure preference. Both are designed for working adults. Whichever format you choose, you can also progress through the program at a pace that works best for you.

100% Online Option

With the asynchronous online option, you decide when and where to attend classes and complete your coursework each week. You’ll love the award-winning, interactive online platform which makes it easy to connect with your professors, classmates and coursework. Only the non-licensure track is offered with this modality option.

Hybrid Remote & Online Option

The Boston-based hybrid option includes some remote (Zoom) courses and some online (asynchronous) ones. You may choose to take most of your courses online, if you like. All remote classes are held on nights (EST) and weekends so you can continue to work full-time while getting your degree. The hybrid option offers both the licensure and non-licensure tracks.

Licensure vs. Non-Licensure Differences

Required courses are the same for both the Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) non-licensure program and the ECT licensure program. Featured classes include:

Teaching Literacy
Adapting Materials for Students with Disabilities in Gen Ed Classrooms
Inclusion and Classroom Behavior Management
Development of Young Children

Licensure students will take part in a 14-week supervised field experience as well as a supporting practicum seminar based on the Professional Standards for Teachers in Massachusetts. Licensure students can opt to take online (asynchronous) classes from many of their required courses while the practicum courses are offered in remote (Zoom) format only.

Non-licensure program classes are offered in both remote and online modalities. ECT non-licensure students must take 4-6 elective credits.

Early Childhood Teacher Jobs & Income

Graduates of the licensure option are eligible for initial licensure and will be qualified to teach preschool, kindergarten and other early learning classrooms in grades PreK-2. Non-licensure graduates may be eligible for employment in early childhood education settings that do not require licensure. Alternative career options for early childhood teacher graduates include working as teaching assistants.

The mean national annual wage for kindergarten teachers in 2023 was $67,790, while in Massachusetts it was $88,800.* The mean annual wage for preschool and daycare education and childcare administrators in Massachusetts was $62,260-$86,690 in 2023.**

* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252012.htm (visited Oct. 10, 2024).

**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Annual Mean Wage of Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in Massachusetts, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119031.htm#st (visited Oct. 10, 2024).

The Cambridge College Experience

Excellence in Adult Learning

As the leader in adult learning, all our programs are designed with the flexibility and ease busy adults need. Our online programs are delivered by our online division, Cambridge College Global, on our award-winning platform.

Affordable Tuition

Cambridge College is an accredited non-profit college with a mission to provide academically excellent, cost-effective higher education for adult learners. It’s why we keep our tuition affordable and offer scholarships, financial aid, and discounts for military, veterans, first responders, and corporate partners.

Faculty: Experts who Care

CC faculty are accomplished practitioners with distinguished careers who bring a wealth of industry knowledge into the classroom. They genuinely care about students’ lives and outcomes. They hold weekly virtual office hours and are available by phone and email, as well.

A Legacy of DEI

Since its inception over 50 years ago, the College has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion – in faculty, staff, leadership, and curriculum. Our students hail from 50+ countries, and we invite and appreciate their varied perspectives, experiences, ages, and cultures.

Career Advancement Outcomes

Cambridge College offers career-building workshops, job fairs, seminars, online tools, a job-matching portal, and one-on-one sessions to help students and alumni grow professionally. In fact, over 94% of alumni reported that CC prepared them for their careers.