Early Childhood Education MA Initial Extension

In the Early Childhood Education with Initial Certification and Bilingual Extension M.A. Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, we prepare early education professionals who are committed to the well-being of young multilingual children, families and communities, and who are knowledgeable about bilingual education (Birth-Grade 2). This degree program focuses on urban settings and centers issues pertaining to multilingualism and multiculturalism in curriculum, teaching, and learning, espousing a critical social justice perspective. Our students (who must be bilingual and biliterate in Chinese, French, Korean, or Spanish in order to be admitted to the program) are prepared to engage in the real world issues pertaining to the education of young multilingual learners via pedagogical, political, psychological, and sociological perspectives.

Through a curriculum that integrates early childhood education and bilingual education content, we aim to enable our initial certification students to become outstanding bilingual early childhood teachers and leaders in the education of young multilingual learners. Honoring the importance of understanding children’s development and learning in light of their cultural practices and multilingual repertoires, our Master of Arts program emphasizes collaboration with families and other professionals, and considers how policies have historically and continue to contemporarily affect families’ access to social services.

Our students participate in several field experiences in bilingual and multilingual early education settings, which serve as the foundation from which theories about language development, learning, and curriculum come to life. By bringing together coursework and fieldwork, graduates are well-prepared to begin and continue to develop their professional identity and practice in research-informed ways.