MEd Child Study and Early Education at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Programme overview

MEd in Child Study and Early Education giving a broad overview of the educational and developmental needs of young children and families in early childhood settings, with attention to cultural context.

Department: Education | Location: Amherst, MA, United States

What you will study

Students may focus on early childhood education (infancy to age eight), family services, public policy for children and families, or interdisciplinary childhood studies.

Career pathways

Graduates work in nonprofits, early intervention and educational consultation, or return to classrooms as teachers.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School minimums for UMass Amherst graduate programmes: a bachelor's degree (US regionally accredited or an equivalent four-year international degree) completed before the start date; minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale, with some programmes expecting higher; two letters of recommendation in most programmes (some require more); personal statement and resume; a short essay of up to 600 words on a community or group; $90 application fee; transcripts from all institutions where 9 or more credits were earned. Applicants whose native language is not English (non-US citizens/permanent residents) need TOEFL iBT 80 (4 on the new scale for tests from January 2026), IELTS Academic 6.5, Duolingo 115 or PTE Academic 53, unless a waiver applies. GRE/GMAT is required only where the programme sets it. Three-year bachelor's degrees (e.g. Indian 3-year degrees) and Nigerian ND/HND are not accepted as equivalent.

Requirements published at program group level.

Apply through the official page: https://www.umass.edu/graduate/apply

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