NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University's online master's degree program in early childhood education has been ranked one of the top 20 best online programs in the nation for 2017 by BestColleges.com, a website connecting students to schools and programs that suit their educational needs.

"Our program promotes excellence in early childhood instruction while benefiting students in an online environment," said Dr. Susan Casey, program coordinator at SFA. "As professors, we strive to meet the needs of students through an interactive environment, and I'm pleased our efforts are being acknowledged."

The ranking is based on courses the school offers, available specializations, student outcomes, career support services and additional criteria used to determine academic excellence.

SFA's Master of Education in early childhood education takes 36 credit hours to complete and is designed to meet the specific needs of individuals who work with children from birth through age 8.

Additionally, the program is designed to develop specialized competency in organizing programs for young children and families through in-depth study and research related to child growth and development, theoretical underpinnings of classroom practice, development of learning strategies and sociological and psychological factors influencing behavior in young children.

Courses are offered completely online through SFA's online learning management system, Desire2Learn, and are taught in half-semester formats. Students may determine the pace at which they progress, but generally, it takes two years to complete the program.

For more information, visit http://www.sfasu.edu/elementaryed/103.asp.