Improving educational outcomes for young learners requires a thoughtful curriculum, skilled mentors, and inspiring leaders. Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) offers an Early Childhood (P-3) concentration within the Education Specialist in Elementary Education program, empowering you to spark an interest in learning when children first enter the classroom.
Online EdS in Elementary Education – Early Childhood (P-3)
Deepen your expertise in teaching and supporting learners from birth through third grade with advanced coursework and a practicum. Graduates are prepared to pursue Class AA certification and leadership roles in early childhood education.
The Early Childhood (P-3) concentration provides opportunities to review, analyze, and interpret research on early childhood education. In addition to gaining the expertise to foster success in pre-K and elementary classrooms, you’ll meet requirements to advance from Class A to Class AA certification in Alabama, boosting your earning potential. *
Application Deadline1/7/27
Start Date1/11/27
Online
Modality
As few as 1.5 years
Duration
30
Credit Hours
$483 per Credit
In-State Tuition
Online
Modality
As few as 1.5 years
Duration
30
Credit Hours
$483 per Credit
In-State Tuition
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Nurture a Passion for Learning in Young Students
Delve into the latest research and trends in early childhood education
Transfer up to 12 credits to finish on your schedule
Ranked among the top public schools and best colleges for veterans by U.S. News & World Report1
Named one of the top 10 schools by Military Friendly® for 2026–20272
No GRE testing requirement for qualifying students
CURRICULUM
A Research-Driven Curriculum for Aspiring Leaders in P-3 Education
The Early Childhood (P-3) curriculum immerses you in qualitative and quantitative research on how young students grow and thrive. During 16-week terms, you'll learn from faculty who bring practical experience to each online course, and you can focus on language arts, math, social studies, or science. Backed by accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, AUM's EdS in Elementary Education program positions you for success as an education leader.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
A study of theoretical frameworks, concepts and designs in qualitative research. Includes an overview of historical and current issues. Field experiences and research initiated. Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
A basic research course designed to evaluate research design, methods and experimentation in education and related areas.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
This course provides a fundamental understanding of educational statistics and enhances the ability to perform essential statistical analysis and interpretation in a variety of experimental situations for program and services evaluation.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 6
Candidates will prepare a theoretical thesis formulated from research conducted in their classroom or other educational setting. The method(s) of inquiry will be selected based on a review of current literature.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
This course provides a fundamental understanding of educational statistics and enhances the ability to perform essential statistical analysis and interpretation in a variety of experimental situations for program and services evaluation.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 6
Candidates will prepare a theoretical thesis formulated from research conducted in their classroom or other educational setting. The method(s) of inquiry will be selected based on a review of current literature.
Must choose 1 of the following courses.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Examination of and training in collaborative teaching in educational settings. Participants will study interpersonal relationships with other professionals in the school setting and with families of students with exceptionalities. Included are evidenced-based best practices in collaboration, the fundamentals of group processes, and skills needed for collaboration. Prerequisite: ESPE 6200.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Introduction to the social and cognitive foundations of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination and how these biases effect education. The focus will be on awareness of why prejudice develops and its pervasiveness in the educational community. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Course includes factors impacting family relationships, with special emphasis on child/parent interactions, child abuse, neglect and exploitation; family structure, attitudes and multicultural issues of selected diverse populations will be examined. This course meets CAST certification requirements.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
The advantages and limitations of curriculum and instructional strategies for teaching basic mathematics and reading skills to students with exceptionalities. Students will learn about modifications and accommodations of basic mathematic and reading instruction to integrate learners into the general curriculum. This course will focus on evidence-based reading instruction for students with exceptionalities. Basic mathematics strategies for teaching students with exceptionalities will be covered. The course provides the tools to individualize instruction in a variety of school environments based on assessment, effective planning, and instructional design.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
This course is designed to embrace students’ comprehension of urban/rural schooling with particular attention to the following: 1) relationship between the urban context and educational policies and practices in urban/rural schools; 2) along with a service learning component in urban/rural schools, the historical, socioeconomics, and political factors influencing urban education; and 3) the distribution of opportunity in cities and their schools; and effective pedagogical and organizational practices that close the achievement gap, including multicultural education, the development of positive school cultures and the use of community service and resources.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Provides opportunities for students to understand the effects of attitudes, experiences, ethnicity and other cultural factors on the counseling process and relationship. Also includes counseling strategies for client populations experiencing loss, victimization, discrimination or other specific concerns.
Choose one of the following courses.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on research into trends within the field of early childhood science education.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on research into trends within the field of study.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on research into trends within the field of study.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on research into trends within the field of study.
Choose one of the following courses.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing quantitative research dealing with teaching methods and strategies within the field of study.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Quantitative Research in Language Arts. Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing quantitative research dealing with teaching methods and strategies of early childhood language arts education.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing quantitative research dealing with teaching methods and strategies of early childhood mathematics education.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing quantitative research dealing with teaching methods and strategies within the field of study.
Choose one of the following courses.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing qualitative research dealing with curriculum trends, issues, and problems in early childhood language arts education.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Qualitative Research in Mathematics. Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing qualitative research dealing with curriculum trends, issues, and problems in early childhood mathematics education.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing qualitative research dealing with curriculum trends, issues, and problems in elementary social studies education. Prerequisite: ECEL 7553.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing qualitative research dealing with curriculum trends, issues and problems within the field of study.
Choose one of the following courses.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis and interpretation of research leading to development and implementation of a quantitative or qualitative research study in early childhood language arts.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Current Issues & Trends in Social Studies. Review, analysis and interpretation of research leading to development and implementation of a quantitative or qualitative research study in early childhood social studies education.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Current Issues & Trends in Mathematics. Review, analysis and interpretation of research leading to development and implementation of a quantitative or qualitative research study in early childhood mathematics education.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis and interpretation of research leading to development and implementation of quantitative or qualitative research study in elementary science. Prerequisite: ELEM 7544.
Choose one of the following courses.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on research into trends within the field of study.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on reading, interpreting, and designing qualitative research dealing with curriculum trends, issues, and problems in the field of study.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on research into trends within the field of study.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Review, analysis, and interpretation of available research with emphasis on research into trends within the field of study.
Must choose 2 of the following 6 courses or an advisor approved course not listed.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
This course is designed to introduce and apply the fundamentals of instructional design using a systems approach model; that is, the ideas and procedures for analyzing, designing, developing, implementing and formatively evaluating instruction. In this course, the emphasis will be on the development of authentic instructional materials.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
This course is designed to explore existing and emerging technologies used in education, with an emphasis on current and future practices and strategies. Students will be required to demonstrate their understanding of a variety of digital tools in technology-rich learning environments and communicate and collaborate globally with others.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
This course examines the role of leadership as it relates to the implementation of educational technology and is designed to apply the skills and knowledge needed to direct the use of learning technologies in a variety of educational settings. Students taking this course will be exposed to a range of concepts and components related to the coordination and direction of technology facilities and resources in industry and/or a K-12 setting.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Methods, procedures and evaluative instruments for determining teaching effectiveness, pupil learning, and attainment of educational goals in cognitive, psychomotor and affective areas. May be taught concurrently with FNDS 4800.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Effective teaching in multicultural and diverse environments. Includes content and strategies in classroom management, curriculum and instructional techniques for elementary, middle school and secondary teachers.
Duration: 16 WeeksCredit Hours: 3
Supervised independent study of issues, problems and trends affecting educational theorizing and practice. Emphasis on application of knowledge from social sciences to predict and resolve educational problems.
ADMISSIONS
Apply for Your Online Education Specialist Degree
Online Application
Official Transcripts
3.25 GPA
AUM makes it simple to apply to the Education Specialist in Elementary Education – Early Childhood (P-3) program. We offer generous transfer credit opportunities, and our rolling start dates allow you to apply anytime. Our enrollment team is here to help every step of the way — request information to learn more.
Cost reflects tuition only, does not include fees.
A Quality Experience for Online Learners
Earn your degree online from Auburn University at Montgomery to experience a quality education with the flexibility to succeed in class and your career. You can complete your coursework using your laptop or mobile device with opportunities to study when and where it's convenient.
- Academic support: Access online advising and tutoring
- Career services: Prepare to succeed after graduation
- Help desk: Get technical assistance for your program
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AUM accepts applications on a rolling basis, so the sooner you apply, the sooner you can start.
Sources and Disclaimers
- U.S. News & World Report. "Auburn University at Montgomery Rankings." Retrieved April 30, 2026, from https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/auburn-university-at-montgomery-8310/overall-rankings.
- Military Friendly®. "Auburn University at Montgomery." Retrieved April 30, 2026, from https://www.militaryfriendly.com/school-profile/?sid=88.
*Certification requirements vary by state. Be sure to review the requirements for the location where you plan to teach after completing your program.