Early Childhood Unified Program Curriculum & Admission Requirements

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Coursework

Students take a major concentration of courses entailing a minimum of 33 credit hours of coursework designed to develop the knowledge base necessary for effective research and scholarship development.

Project/Thesis

Upon completion of 30 graduate credit hours, the student’s culminating activity is either the presentation/defense of a project/portfolio or the completion of a thesis. Students also have the option to complete a comprehensive exam in place of a project/thesis.

Practicum

The practicum provides a supervised teaching experience (i.e., student teaching) in a setting appropriate to the goals of the aspiring teacher. After taking initial courses, two practicum experiences are required, one of which may be completed in the student’s current work setting when appropriate.

Program Curriculum

The program’s curriculum blends knowledge and skills in early childhood education and early childhood special education thus preparing the early educator to appropriately address all learners' needs including those at-risk and those with identified disabilities. Designed to accommodate the schedules of our students, most courses are hybrid (both asynchronous on-line and face-to-face class sessions) and offered at both KU’s Lawrence and Edwards campuses. When occurring face-to-face, each class meets one evening a week. Students’ practicum experiences can be completed any semester including summers. Students will work closely with an advisor to determine a plan of study. The curriculum requirements outlined below are the minimum required for the degree. To be adequately prepared for an intended career, the student’s advisor may encourage additional coursework or opportunities which may include presenting and/or publishing scholarly papers.

Course Requirements

Please note, this is a potential plan of study. Please consult with your faculty advisor before enrolling.

Additional Requirements

Minimum program credit hours = 33

Graduate Admission

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with at least a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited institution or a foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor’s degree requirements. International applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the application process well in advance of the application deadlines in order to ensure adequate time for processing of visa-related paperwork.

Meeting minimum admission standards does not guarantee admission to the program. Other factors considered by the committee include: strength of the letter of application; strength of the letters of recommendation; quality of previous experience and background in special education or a closely related discipline; availability of an appropriate advisor in the applicant's identified area of emphasis; and the fit between the applicant's professional and graduate program goals and the purpose and mission of the KU.

Application Deadlines

Aug. 1, 2025

Fall semester application deadline

Application Checklist

M.S.E. in Early Childhood Unified (Birth-K)

Applicants are required to submit the following materials and meet the following requirements before the application deadline:

Admission & Curriculum Resources

The online application is designed to give applicants the ability to submit all supporting documents in one form. We invite you to explore our graduate degree information, review our student resources, and learn more on our knowledgeable faculty and the vibrant community of Lawrence, Kansas.

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