Whether you are a practicing teacher, working in the community, or right out of a bachelor’s program, the master of education in Elementary Education: The Early Years may be the right fit for you.
The early elementary education graduate program prepares you to use innovative practice to meet the demands of today’s diverse, inclusive, and technology-driven schools. You'll receive individualized instruction and be prepared to serve and value diverse children and families in a variety of educational settings.
Through hands-on graduate work, Widener challenges educators and encourages learning through civic engagement, scholarship, and cultural diversity. You'll receive personalized attention through small class size, expert faculty, and individualized program counseling.
Widener's Center for Education is proud of its 2016 NCATE accreditation and is prepared to meet the renewed rigor and relevance of excellence by seeking accreditation based on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) 2023 standards. Eligible programs take steps to maintain gapless national accreditation for educator preparation. See CAEP standards and annual impact and outcome measures.
View the academic catalog for curriculum and coursework requirements.
You may earn your teaching certification in Elementary Education: The Early Years (PreK-4) in addition to the master's degree.
You will have an admissions interview with a faculty advisor.
We have rolling admissions, so you may enter the program in any semester.
As an incoming MEd student, you are eligible to receive a program-specific scholarship upon acceptance. Scholarship amounts are awarded based on program-specific criteria.
No need to fill out a scholarship application—you are automatically considered and if you have been chosen for a scholarship, it will appear in your acceptance letter.
Two letters of recommendations are needed for admission into the Elementary Education: The Early Years master's program.
Our graduate program in elementary education gives you the professional skills and preparation to advance your teaching career in preK-4 grades.
Students learn through a combination of class time, fieldwork, and one-on-one advising. This multi-faceted approach fosters confidence and experience and prepares students to become compassionate educators. Most of our students are working professionals and can easily fit this program into their schedules because classes are held during the week and in the evening.
Students in the program spend time working in the field to develop their skills and gain personal experience interacting with students and teachers. Field experience asserts the importance of collaboration among students, faculty, seasoned teachers, administrators, and supportive educational specialists.
Faculty are committed to excellence, scholarship, and service and will work closely with you on research projects that transform theory into practice. Small class sizes mean you’ll receive individual attention from well-qualified and respected faculty who will help you construct a foundation for career enrichment and success in elementary education.
Get to know our faculty in the Elementary Education: The Early Years program.
"My teaching focuses upon cognitive processing and application. In this regard, critical literacy complements the cognitive learning process. Critical literacy is the ability to actively read a text that promotes an understanding of social concepts and human relationships."
"I believe in establishing a classroom climate that fosters self-discovery, student engagement and opportunities to use problem-solving strategies."
"Learning to be a teacher requires discipline and hard work. Learning to be great teacher requires passion and a deep dedication to the many and diverse children that we serve."
"My interests include brain development, literacy development, and applications of technology in research and instruction. My greatest excitement in teaching comes from the way that working with graduate students spills over to my teaching of undergraduates and vice versa."
"I believe classroom culture should include opportunities to create community through social justice values, respect, and equality for everyone. Teachers must include students' needs and interests, their knowledge from personal experiences, interactions, opportunities to explore hands-on activities, social-emotional regulation through positive behavior supports, and self-constructed inquiry and knowledge through questioning."
Zora Wolfe, an associate professor in Widener’s Center for Education, shares ways for parents, students, and educators to smoothly transition to online learning.
Hyatt Hall
Kapelski Learning Center
Room 120
Hyatt Hall
Room 119