MA in Leadership, Policy & Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being

Be an Advocate for Young Children

The MA in Leadership, Policy & Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being prepares you to understand and influence the systems that impact young children (birth to 8 years) and families. Learn from professionals in medicine, business, humanities, public health, social work, public policy/advocacy, human services, and education. 

This program blends master’s in early childhood leadership knowledge with education policy master’s and early childhood studies skills. You’ll have a strong foundation to address systemic inequality through research and policy.

Beginning in fall 2026, the master’s in Leadership, Policy & Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being program coursework will be fully online.

Program Pathways

Gain Meaningful Field Experience

With a comprehensive program that blends learning typically found in a master’s in early childhood leadership, an education policy master’s, and an early childhood studies master’s, you can tackle the challenges that limit children and families. Approach problems through education policy, research, or advocacy and complete field-based experiences that build these skills.

Faculty advisors will serve as mentors throughout your placement, and you can even complete the fieldwork at your place of employment.

Policy-Making and Advocacy Work

Prepare to work in early childhood education policy at the local, state or national level. Complete fieldwork at nonprofits and policy centers in Massachusetts. Learn to craft policy and champion causes vital to childhood well-being as you complete your program with skills found across early childhood leadership master’s and education policy master’s programs.

In-School Leadership, Research, and Curriculum Development

Want to stay in a school setting? With our MA in Leadership, Policy & Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being, you’ll dig into leadership practices to guide curriculum development and conduct and analyze research — all to the benefit of your students and school community. This is the power of a program that draws from the curricula of a master’s in early childhood leadership and  education policy master’s.

Related Programs

Career Outcomes in Leadership, Policy & Advocacy for Early Childhood

Play a crucial role in children’s development as an early childhood educator or policy advocate. After completing the MA in Leadership, Policy & Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being, you’ll have the skills to:

• Critically analyze current research on young children and their environments, and policies that affect them
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of texts, concepts, and issues in early childhood
• Develop the skills necessary to actively dismantle systemic oppression in one’s practice settings and systems
• Understand public and private social policy as it pertains to young children, their families, and the systems that contain them

Alumni in Leadership, Policy & Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being

When considering early childhood leadership master’s and education policy master’s programs, it’s important to look at student outcomes. Graduates of our MA in Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being utilize their knowledge and skills in early childhood education, policy, leadership, or research in a variety of professions.

BU Wheelock alumni go on to lead as:

• Policy maker
• Advocate
• Researcher

Dr. Nermeen Dashoush‘s work focuses on leveraging media and technology to provide access to high-quality STEM education. A clinical associate professor at BU Wheelock, her research interests include enhancing discourse between adults and children, elevating classroom quality, and STEM informal learning spaces. She has created several award-winning apps and children’s television programs, for which she was nominated for an Emmy. Her digital resources are used in thousands of classrooms nationwide, and her apps have received over 10 million downloads worldwide.

Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy Courses

The MA in Leadership, Policy & Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being offers a flexible curriculum with classes in a range of disciplines, including early childhood education, human development, applied psychology, and social science research.

Courses include:

• Child Development & Families in Societal and Cultural Contexts
• Psychology of Oppression
• Child Policy

Scholarships Available

Admissions & Dates

Connect with BU Wheelock to learn more about the MA in Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being. Learn about application requirements and deadlines, sign up for an information session, or start your application today.

Background Checks
Students who are admitted into BU Wheelock routinely participate in field experiences as a part of their respective program curriculum and requirements. Most field sites require criminal background checks to determine students’ eligibility for participation. History of a criminal background may disqualify students from participating in these required experiences, which in turn may impede the successful completion of one’s degree program.