Flexible Format for Working Professionals
The Master of Education for Experienced Teachers program in Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support is designed for educators who want to do more than teach our youngest learners — they want to lead, advocate, and partner with families during their children’s earliest and most formative years.
Designed specifically for working professionals from across North Carolina, this two-year, part-time ECIFS program offers 30-34 credit hours through a hyflex format, — hybrid, flexible classes with in-person and remote options — enabling our students to immediately apply new strategies in their work with young children and families. The program welcomes licensed professionals with at least two years of classroom or community-based experience, as well as non-licensed professionals who hold relevant degrees and have practical experience, making it accessible to a broad range of educators.
Hands-On Learning and Impact
Our students gain practical, real-world experience, empowering them to confidently meet the wide-ranging needs of young children and their families. Students engage deeply in experiential learning, complete assignments aligned with the Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education Standards, and examine family-centered practices through evidence-informed research. Throughout the program, our students master assessment and instructional strategies grounded in rigorous evidence, consistently focusing on what best serves young children and the caregivers who support them. Our graduates are prepared to build high-quality inclusive, culturally responsive environments where every child — including those with developmental disabilities — has the opportunity to reach their maximum potential.
Expanding Career Opportunities
While many of our students prepare for advanced or add-on licensure in Birth–Kindergarten education, they, along with their non-licensure track colleagues, do so as part of a committed cohort dedicated to transforming early childhood education. Together, they turn knowledge into meaningful action that enriches children and families, while shaping communities in lasting ways.
T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Bachelor’s Plus Scholarship Program
The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) Scholarship Program was developed to upgrade the level of education of teachers working with young children while making the educational process affordable, increasing wages and reducing turnover. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need and commitment to the Early Childhood Education field.
Any child care center teacher who would like to attend a participating university to earn a B-K license or master degree is eligible. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- be employed at least 30 hours per week in an early childhood classroom;
- have a bachelor’s degree with enough transferable credit to only have 15 classes (max 45 credit hours) needed to earn B-K certification;
- be eligible for university admission as an in-state student, and;
- have worked in child care in North Carolina for at least one year.