The graduate program in Early Childhood and Family Development is designed for individuals who work with, or who are interested in working with, young children and/or families. The three pillars (Ethical Leadership, Cultural Competence, and Community Engagement) of the Missouri State Public Affairs Mission are an integral part of this degree throughout required courses, elective offerings and opportunities provided by program faculty, the college and the university. This degree is appropriate for a large number of persons working with children and families in a variety of settings. In addition to a core of required courses, students will choose electives that best meet their professional needs. This flexibility allows students to develop a program of study to meet their needs. Although it is not a certification program, some of the courses may be able to be taken for certification credit. This will be done individually for each student. The program has a core set of courses that provide a strong early childhood and child development background. There are also a wide variety of electives that can be taken to round out the degree according to the individual needs of the student.