All of Erikson’s master’s degree programs are built upon a rigorous, integrated curriculum covering all aspects of child development. Courses draw from the fields of developmental psychology, neurobiology, anthropology, psychiatry, education, sociology, health, and social work, so you understand the whole child in the context of his or her family and culture.

You’ll learn from a nationally known faculty members who are leaders in early childhood. You’ll learn with a cohort of diverse and experienced students, in small classes with close relationships among faculty and students.

The knowledge you’ll gain is extraordinary, but what really sets our programs apart from others in the field is how we prepare you to put this knowledge into practice.

Internship
You’ll complete a year-long, closely supervised internship that complements your course work and sharpens your skills. You will spend a minimum of 15 hours a week working in a setting that complements your program and career goals; child care center, school, hospital, therapeutic program, parent-child center, government bureau, or social agency. Students in the early childhood education master’s program complete their internship in a classroom.

Tutorials
You’ll amplify the lessons of your internship experiences in concurrent one-on-one faculty tutorials and small group sessions known as integrative seminars. These sessions are the bridge between theory and practice. They are opportunities to move beyond technique, to discuss, question, reflect on, and fine-tune your practice. You’ll acquire the habit of self-reflection, a critical professional competency every student is asked to master. It’s the extra element that enriches your experience and makes you a more effective professional.

Comprehensive exams
In addition to successfully completing all course work, an internship, and a tutorial, you must pass a written comprehensive examination covering the major areas in child development and/or early childhood education.

Cohort structure
To give you the advantages of belonging to a small community of learners, all of our master’s programs use the cohort system. You will take most of your classes in either the morning, afternoon, or evening with the same group of students.
See more information about cohorts and program schedules »

Writing Program
Some students need a hand strengthening the writing skills necessary to succeed in our master’s degree programs. Erikson offers an important academic resource for those students: the Kathy and Grant Pick Writing Program. Erikson assesses the writing of all students master's students before enrollment and provides support if needed.