Exploring Columbia University's Early Childhood Education Programs

Columbia University, through its Teachers College and affiliated programs, offers a robust suite of early childhood education programs designed to prepare educators, policymakers, and leaders to champion the needs of young children and their families. These programs are grounded in a commitment to inquiry, social justice, and the understanding of childhood as integral to teaching, learning, and development.

Comprehensive Programs for Aspiring Educators

Columbia University and its affiliates, such as Teachers College and Bank Street College, offer various pathways for individuals seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills in early childhood education. These programs cater to a diverse range of interests and career goals, from classroom teaching to policy-making and leadership roles.

Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education

Teachers College offers M.A. degrees in Early Childhood Education leading to birth- 2nd grade certification, positioning graduates to actively lead in matters of justice related to curriculum-making, pedagogy, and institutional change. This program emphasizes children's innate capacities to interact with materials, each other, the world, and adults in creative and imaginative ways. Foundational to this idea is understanding childhood from the youngest to the oldest as integral to teaching, learning, and development.

Early Childhood Special Education/Dual Degree with Columbia University School of Social Work

Bank Street College offers the Early Childhood Special Education/Dual Degree with Columbia University School of Social Work program. This program requires 32 credits for completion at Bank Street. The Master of Social Work from Columbia requires an additional 48-54 credits, which are billed by Columbia at their current tuition rate. When you successfully complete the program, you will receive a Master of Science in Education and a Master of Social Work and you will be eligible for New York State certification in Students with Disabilities, Birth - Grade 2, provided you complete all other State certification requirements.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

For those seeking advanced scholarship and leadership positions, Teachers College offers an Ed.D. program in Early Childhood Education.

Read also: Columbia University Legacy

Core Principles and Curriculum

Columbia University's early childhood education programs are built upon several core principles:

Child-Centered Approach: The programs center children's innate capacities to interact with materials, each other, the world, and adults in creative and imaginative ways.
Integration of Theory and Practice: Central to a Bank Street education is the integration of coursework and field experiences as you engage and educate children based on a solid grounding in what makes children tick.
Social Justice and Equity: Guided by Teachers College's longstanding commitment to inquiry and social justice, we prepare educators to teach and support young children across diverse contexts of preschools, elementary schools, homes, and community centers. Situated in the urban context of New York City, we are committed to equity and inclusion at the intersections of race, gender, class, disability, citizenship, and language.
Understanding Child Development: In this certification program you become well grounded in child development and its variation. This program will support your understanding that learning develops through play, social interaction, and sensory experiences.

The curriculum explores the fascinating journey of early childhood development-from the first smile to the first steps, and beyond. Designed for students interested in education, psychology, social work, or related fields, this course will give you a deeper understanding of how children grow physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively during their first formative years. Through a blend of key developmental theories and practical insights, we’ll look at how early experiences shape a child’s future. How do family, culture, and society influence development? Why are attachment and emotional regulation so crucial for children’s well-being? We’ll dive into these questions while exploring milestones from infancy through toddlerhood, the importance of language, and how social interactions foster emotional growth. You’ll also gain a broad overview of the American educational system and how it has evolved to support young learners.

Fieldwork and Practical Experience

A hallmark of Columbia University's early childhood education programs is the emphasis on practical experience. Students participate in fieldwork placements in diverse settings, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. Working teachers and assistants (in approved settings) may use their own classrooms for their fieldwork setting.

Rita Gold Early Childhood Center

The Rita Gold Early Childhood Center (RGC) at Teachers College, Columbia University, serves as a laboratory school and a model for high-quality early childhood education. Amanda R. Fellner, Ed.D. is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Curriculum and Teaching Department at Teachers College, Columbia University and the Faculty Co-Director at the Rita Gold Early Childhood Center, also located at Teachers College, Columbia University.

The RGC provides a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can thrive. "My memories of Rita Gold are all truly wonderful. The teachers and the children have created an environment that is warm, loving, creative and supportive - unlike any I have seen. There is a true sense of community amongst the families, students and staff. "I worked at Rita Gold as a practicum student and graduate assistant during my enrollment in the early childhood program at Teachers College. I have worked and visited many childhood centers throughout my schooling and career as an early childhood educator but there is really no place like RGC. It was a place of growth, wonder and study for me but I think this was one of the things that made it especially unique for all involved there.

Faculty and Research

Columbia University's early childhood education programs are led by renowned faculty members who are actively engaged in research and scholarship. Their expertise spans a wide range of areas, including child development, curriculum design, early intervention, and educational policy.

Select Faculty Publications

Fincham, E.N. & Fellner, A.R. (2025). Eating Lunch: Toddlers’ lunchtime entanglements. In C.Y. Myers, K. Smith, M. Tesar, & R. L. Hostler (Eds.), Reframing the Everyday in Early Childhood Pedagogy.
Fellner, A.R. & Templeton, T.N. (2023). Sitesensing: Methods for connecting to young children’s worlds. In A.L. Goodwin, C. Genishi, & H. Yoon (Eds.), Diversities in early childhood: Rethinking and doing.
Recchia, S. L., Fellner, A. R., & Fincham, E. N. (2022). The rights of the toddler: The complexities of supporting young children’s becoming and belonging in an inclusive classroom community. In F. Press & S. Cheeseman, (Re)conceptualizing children’s rights in infant-toddler care and education: Transnational conversations.
Fellner, A. R. (2020).
Fincham, E. N., & Fellner, A. R. (2019). Including Autism: Confronting Inequitable Practices in a Toddler Classroom.
Fincham, E. N., & Fellner, A. R. (2016). Transitional practice: Teachers and children in-between classrooms in one early childhood centre.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Prospective students should carefully review the admission requirements for their program of interest. You will have five business days after the application deadlines to finish providing any missing required materials. We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.

The majority of Bank Street students receive some type of financial aid. We strongly recommend applying early and submitting your FAFSA at the time you apply for the broadest consideration for scholarships and financial aid.

Career Prospects

Graduates of Columbia University's early childhood education programs are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the field. They may work as teachers, curriculum specialists, program directors, policy analysts, or researchers. The programs equip graduates with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to make a positive impact on the lives of young children and families.

Read also: Paying for Columbia

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