The fully online Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) master’s program at Florida State University prepares individuals with the knowledge they need to work with young children from birth to five years old who have disabilities/developmental delays. By the time students complete this program, they will have gained expertise on typical and atypical child development; collaborating with families and other professionals; assessing young children; creating meaningful curricula; implementing developmentally appropriate and evidence-based interventions; and professional and ethical practices. Our ECSE program’s curriculum aligns with the latest guidelines from the Council for Exceptional Children’s Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education Standards.
Thanks to the online format, our program is an ideal choice for working professionals and ECSE teachers wishing to gain more information working with young children with disabilities/developmental delays within the context of their families. The majority of coursework takes place asynchronously, allowing individuals to learn and complete assignments on their own time.
Completing the Early Childhood Special Education program allows currently certified special educators to earn the Florida Department of Education Pre-Kindergarten Disability Endorsement. This endorsement opens up career options and may lead to increased earning potential.
The demand for ECSE teachers continues to climb across the country. Students who complete the ECSE master’s program at Florida State University will be able to provide early childhood preschool services and early interventions to young children with disabilities/developmental delays and their families, which can be critical to enhancing their early development. Our early childhood special education program places an emphasis on providing these interventions within the context of a child’s family to better promote positive outcomes.
In order to meet minimum University admission requirements, applicants must have:
- A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.
- GRE test scores*. Official test results are required from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). These scores are considered official only when they are sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency. Examinee copies are not considered official. Graduate Record Exam (GRE): http://www.ets.org/ – FSU Institution Code: 5219.
- Target Scores: Verbal – 146+, Quantitative – 140+
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) does not retain scores for longer than five years. If your test scores are older than five years, you may have to retake the test to have official scores sent directly to FSU from the testing agency. If you have the report that was mailed to your home address for older scores, then FSU will accept that report. - NOTE: The GRE requirement may be waived for applicants if the applicant meets at least ONE of the following criteria:
- Three years of professional experience as a practicing educator or equivalent field provided that the candidate can provide evidence of Effective or Highly Effective teacher evaluations, OR
- Successful completion of six graduate credit hours from the C&I program with a graduate GPA of 3.50 or higher, OR
- Passing score on the General Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination or an equivalent state certification examination.
- Target Scores: Verbal – 146+, Quantitative – 140+
Applicants must provide evidence to satisfy the criteria being applied; please send documentation to ste-gradcoord@fsu.edu. Approval of a GRE waiver does not guarantee admission. Prospective students must still apply and meet all other admissions requirements. *NOTE: The GRE admission requirements for master's and specialist programs have been waived through Fall 2026.
- Language proficiency test (international students only) – FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), MELAB (minimum 77), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level (minimum 180), Michigan Language Assessment (minimum 55), and Duolingo (minimum 120)
- Transcripts – Applicants must submit an official transcript from each college and/or university attended. Transcripts should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically at graduateadmissions@fsu.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope:
- Florida State University
Office of Graduate Admissions
314 Westcott Building
P.O. Box 3061410
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410
- Florida State University
Applicants must upload the following REQUIRED supporting documents to the Admissions Application Portal:
- Statement of purpose (at least one page) – should describe your purpose for pursuing a degree, qualifications and long-term career goals.
- Two letters of recommendation
- One page resume/curriculum vitae
- Writing Sample – it is acceptable to submit a paper used in another class or one that was published.
Fall: July 1st
| Term | Course Number | Course Title |
| Fall 1 | EEX 5017 | Typical and Atypical Early Development |
| EEX 5075 | Foundations of Evidence Based Practices in Special Education | |
| Spring 1 | EEX 5239 | Assessment and Methods in Early Childhood Special Education |
| EEX 5248 | Positive Behavior Support | |
| Summer 1 | EEX 5456 | Program Development for Young Children with Disabilities |
| XXXX | Elective | |
| Fall 2 | EEX 5708 | Teaming with Families, Schools, and the Community |
| EEX 5269 | Curriculum and Play for Young Children | |
| Spring 2 | EEX XXXX | Special Education Capstone Experience |
| XXXX | Elective |
Click here to learn more about our Early Childhood Special Education faculty!
