Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education

Accredited degree programs

The Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) is a CAEP-accredited program. We will prepare you to provide early intervention, care, and education for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten children with and without disabilities, and their families. Our program includes courses in early childhood special education, child development, early childhood, and professional education.

Get hands-on field and clinical experience in center-based early childhood programs and public school preschool and kindergarten classrooms. You will complete 200 field experience hours in these early childhood settings before student teaching.

IECE student gives presentation about diversity

TEACH Grant

The TEACH grant program provides grants of up to $4000 a year to IECE students who are completing or plan to complete course work needed to begin a career in teaching.

Career options IECE-Certified Educators

  • Preschool Teacher
  • Kindergarten Teacher
  • Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
  • Early Head Start Teacher
  • Developmental Intervention (Birth to 2 years of age with developmental disabilities)
  • Parent Educator

Undergraduate programs

BA/BS in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (Birth to Primary

As an undergraduate student in the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program you will complete courses in three general areas:

  • Murray State University’s required University Studies program,
  • professional education course sequences, and
  • content area requirements in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education.

Curriculum INTERDISCIPLINARY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (BIRTH TO PRIMARY)

In addition, you will be required to pass the IECE Praxis exam as part of the certification requirements.

2+2 options at regional campus locations

Our 2+2 Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) program, at Murray State’s Madisonville, Henderson, Paducah, and Hopkinsville regional campuses, provides coursework and practicum experiences for students from around the Western Kentucky region. The program requires participation in a semester long student teaching experience in appropriate settings. Completion of the IECE program leads to a birth to primary teaching certification.

Graduate programs

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (Birth to Primary)

Undergraduate majors from elementary education, early childhood education, special education, communication disorders, or other human service fields are eligible for entry in the M.A. in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program. Courses include opportunities for applied activities, collaboration activities, research, reflection and discussion.

Convenient options to complete your master's degree

Most coursework is taught online. Face-to-face courses are taught on campus and off campus in the evening. A minimum of 3.0 GPA is required for completion of this CAEP-approved program.  Students choose from two tracks in the MA in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program.

M.A. in Education: Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Initial Certification

This track is a 33-credit-hour initial-certification program designed for students seeking their first certification in any education field. Students must meet all university requirements for admission to Teacher Education, pass clinical experiences in IECE (student teaching at the graduate level), pass the exit portfolio, and attain a passing score on the IECE Praxis exam.

M.A. in Education: Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Certification

The track is a 33-credit-hour certification program that leads to eligibility for a certification in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, birth to primary. Exit assessments for the certification program include passing the practicum course, the exit portfolio, and the IECE Praxis exam.

Contact Us

Dr. Jessica Branch

Dr. Jessica Branch

Program Director
Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education

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