The Early Childhood Education program has strong undergraduate and graduate components. Undergraduate child development majors and master's students receive a strong foundation in early childhood education theory and practice, augmented by opportunities to work in the Mills College Children's School, an important campus resource. Graduate students can choose to focus in early childhood development or early childhood administration and practice. The Early Childhood Program offers several other opportunities for students, including specializations in child life, a program that prepares professionals who care for children in hospitals and the chronically ill, and an interdisciplinary master's degree program in infant mental heath offered with the Psychology Department. Graduate students can receive a certification in early childhood special education or a multiple subjects credential with an early childhood emphasis, which prepares them to teach in K-6 classrooms with an emphasis on young children.

Master of Arts in Education (MA)
with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education
(13 semester course credits)

This two-year degree program offers the possibility of specializing in one of two strands of early childhood education: either development and teaching, or administration and policy. The degree prepares students for professional leadership in preschool, childcare services, and other programs for children and families. Students will also be prepared to enter the fields of public policy, research, adult education, and parent education. Graduates also enter professional fields such as program development for private organizations and public agencies, and prepare for more advanced graduate work. It is possible to complete both a master's degree and a multiple subject credential with an emphasis in early childhood education. See description of multiple subject credential with an early childhood emphasis.

Degree Requirements:

Year 1

EDUC 234 Research Methodology for Observing Children (.5)

EDUC 236 Development and Learning in Young Children (1)

EDUC 238 Social, Emotional, and Moral Development and Learning (1)

EDUC 291A/B Theory and Practice of Early Childhood Education: Infants and Preschoolers (1; 1)

Year 2

EDUC 227 (427) Issues of Race and Ethnicity in Education (1)

EDUC 290 Advanced Seminar in Child Development (1)

EDUC 294A Graduate Seminar: Research in Education—ECE (1)

EDUC 294B Research Seminar—ECE (1)

If your focus is development and teaching you are required to take the following courses:

EDUC 237 Child Language Acquisition (1)

EDUC 246 Working with Families and Community (.5)

EDUC 260 History and Theories of Play in Human Development, Culture, and Education (.5)

Select an additional 2.5 credits from the School of Education and College offerings.

If your focus is leadership and policy you are required to take the following courses:

EDUC 203 Public Policy: Children, Youth, and Family Issues (1)

EDUC 276 Leadership in Early Childhood Education (1)

Select an additional 2.5 credits from the School of Education and College offerings.

In addition, students are encouraged to pursue their own interests, either through course work in other departments on campus or through the educational exchange with other local college campuses.

Master of Arts in Education (MA)
with an Emphasis in Leadership in Early Childhood
(10 semester course credits)

Degree Requirements:

Year One

EDUC 203 Public Policy: Children, Youth, and Family Issues (1)

EDUC 246 Working with Families and the Community (.5)

EDUC 263 Administrative practicum in Early Childhood Programs (1)

EDUC 265 Child Development for Early Childhood Leaders (1)

EDUC 276 Leadership in Early Childhood Seminar (1)

Year Two

EDUC 290 Advanced Seminar in Child Development (1)

EDUC 426 Ethical and Moral Considerations in Educational Leadership (1)

Plus 3.5 elective credits selected in consultation with the student's advisor

Doctor of Education in Leadership (EdD)
with an Emphasis in Early Childhood

Applicants to the doctoral program in educational leadership who have an interest in early childhood education may enroll in the Leadership in Early Childhood Program during their first year of study. Upon completion, students proceed into the "doctoral core" set of courses to develop their research expertise and area of focus.

Master of Arts in Education (MA)
with an Emphasis in Child Life in Hospitals
(13 semester course credits)

Child life in hospitals prepares students to work with children in medical and community settings. The curriculum includes content and theory in the special areas integrated with hospital and community observation and field practica.

Degree Requirements:

Year One

EDUC 231 Assessment and Intervention for Children with Special Needs (1)

EDUC 242 The Hospitalized Child (1)

EDUC 254 Medical Information: Children in Hospitals and Clinics (.5)

EDUC 256 Topics in Child Health and the Exceptional Child (.5)

EDUC 291A/B Theory and Practice of Early Childhood Education: Infants and Preschoolers (1; 1)

Select one of the following:

EDUC 214 Diversity in Children with Special Needs: Cultural and Family Systems (.5)

EDUC 255: Children with Special Needs: Infacnts and Young Children (1)

Select one of the following:

PSYC 242 Attachment and Loss (1)

PSYC 265 Infancy (1)

Year Two

EDUC 253 Administering Early Childhood Programs (.5)

EDUC 260 History and Theories of Play in Human Development, Culture, and Education (.5)

EDUC 263 Administrative Practicum in Early Childhood Programs (.5–1)

EDUC 273A and /or EDUC 273B Field Experience in Child Life in Hospitals (.5–3)

EDUC 294A Graduate Seminar: Research in Education—ECE (1)

EDUC 294B Research Seminar—ECE (1)

Select one of the following:

EDUC 236 Development and Learning in Young Children (1)

EDUC 238 Social, Emotional, and Moral Development and Learning (1)

Select one of the following (or other with advisor's approval):

PSY 110 Stress and Disease (1)

PSY 243 Parents and Caregiving (1)

SOC 142 Medical Sociology (1)

SOC 147 Social Aspects of Cancer (1)

SOC 148 Sociology of Death and Dying (1)

Early Childhood Special Education Credential Program
(15 semester course credits)

Students can earn both the Preliminary Level I and the Clear Professional Level II credentials. These credentials enable teachers to provide educational services to children from birth to pre-kindergarten who are eligible for early intervention or special education. It can be earned with either a master's degree in early childhood education with an emphasis in early childhood special education, or a master's degree in infant mental health combined with early childhood special education. 

The master's degree in early childhood education or master’s degree in infant mental health combined with the specialist credential provides students with academic preparation and training for work with infants and young children with developmental disabilities and their families in early intervention and preschool special education settings. This California-approved education specialist instruction credential in early childhood special education enables teachers to provide services to children, ages birth to pre-kindergarten, diagnosed with mild/moderate and moderate/severe disabilities and traumatic brain injury. Further, the Mills credential program provides added authorization in the areas of autism spectrum disorders and emotional disturbance.

Credential Requirements for Masters in Education with an Emphasis in ECE with ECSE Credential Preparation

Preliminary Credential:

Year One

EDUC 214 Diversity in Children with Special Needs: Cultural and Family Systems (.5)

EDUC 231 Assessment and Intervention for Children with Special Needs (1)

EDUC 236 Development and Learning in Young Children (1)

EDUC 253 Administering Early Childhood Programs (.5)

EDUC 255 Children with Special Needs: Infants and Young Children (1)

EDUC 260 History and Theories of Play in Human Development, Culture, and Education (.5)

EDUC 291A/B Theory and Practice of Early Childhood Education: Infants and Preschoolers (1; 1)

EDUC 379 Teaching Language Arts and Literature in the Primary Grades (1)

EDUC 242 The Hospitalized Child (1)

EDUC 254 Medical Information: Children in Hospitals and Clinics (.5)

EDUC 258 Early Childhood Curricula for Children with Special Needs (1)

EDUC 263 Administrative Practicum in Early Childhood Programs (.5–1)

EDUC 275A/B Field Experience and Seminar in Early Childhood Settings (1; 1)

EDUC 294A Graduate Seminar: Research in Education—ECE (1)

EDUC 294B Research Seminar—ECE (1)

Select one of the following:

EDUC 237 Child Language Acquisition (1)

EDUC 238 Social, Emotional, and Moral Development and Learning (1)

Level II Credential*:
(2.5 semester course credits)

At this level, each student develops an individual induction plan in consultation with an advisor. This requires enrollment in special education pre- and post-induction planning seminars for .25 credit each, and the following courses:

EDUC 203 Public Policy: Children, Youth, and Family Issues (1)

EDUC 277 Special Education Pre-Induction Seminar (.25)

EDUC 278 Special Education Post-Induction Seminar (.25)

EDUC 352 English Language Development and Content Instruction Methods—Multiple Subjects (1)

Non-college activities offered at employing school districts or the special education professional community (.5)

Under the master’s degree in early childhood education, the early childhood special education emphasis can be combined with the child life emphasis for an additional semester of course work. Students who choose to study both emphases will graduate with a California education specialist instruction credential in early childhood special education and will qualify to take the national child life certification exam.

* Tentative, subject to CTC (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing) approval.