Chaminade University of Honolulu

Master of Education

Educate. Innovate. Inspire.

Request Information
Join a Virtual Info Session
Start Your Application
Graduate Scholarship

Jump to

Terms & Deadlines
Overview
Concentrations
Program Details
Financial Aid
School of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Graduate Programs Admissions

Transform learning and transform lives.

Advance your career and make a lasting impact in education. Our Master of Education (MEd) program equips aspiring and experienced educators with the knowledge, leadership skills, and practical strategies to inspire students, drive innovation, and strengthen schools and communities.

Terms & Deadlines

Accelerated Winter Term Begins: January 12, 2026
Application Deadline: November 21, 2025

Accelerated Spring Term Begins: April 13, 2026
Application Deadline: March 20, 2026

Accelerated Summer Term Begins: July 13, 2026
Application Deadline: June 19, 2026

A program built around you.

Our fully online MEd offers the flexibility to balance work, life, and learning, while providing personalized support from experienced faculty. You’ll gain practical, hands-on strategies that can be applied immediately in your classroom or leadership role.

100% online

30 total credit hours

Finish in 18 months

10-week terms,
four terms per year

Experienced faculty

WASC accredited

Choose Your Concentration

Child Development

Serve children and families in diverse settings. Grounded in theory, research, and real-world application, this emphasis develops compassionate leaders who become educators, advocates, and scholars—committed to lifelong learning and equity in child development.

Instructional Leadership

Designed for teachers and educational practitioners looking to deepen their knowledge of leadership and classroom practice, this concentration emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, letting you apply your studies directly to your own classroom or educational setting through a self-designed action research project.

Teach For America (TFA) cohort: In partnership with Teach for America – Hawai’i, Chaminade’s MEd program offers coursework leading to teaching licensure in Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education. For information and applications to this special program, go to the TFA website.

Montessori Emphasis

This concentration helps you explore diverse learning styles, refine your Montessori teaching methods, and design engaging, child-centered learning environments. You’ll develop the skills to inspire curiosity, support individual growth, and create meaningful learning experiences for every child in your classroom.

Program Details

Upon completion of the M.Ed. in in Child Development, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze his/her own professional and intellectual development and its relationship to best practices in Child Development.
  2. Critique major learning theories, education literature and research methodologies in Child Development.
  3. Compose academic prose for a variety of audiences.
  4. Promote academic and professional dialogue within a community of learners.
  5. Use strategies aligned with education research to make informed decisions for adaptation and change.
  6. Employ professionalism and ethical standards of conduct.

Upon completion of the M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze his/her own professional and intellectual development and its relationship to best practices in education.
  2. Critique major learning theories, education literature and research methodologies.
  3. Compose academic prose for a variety of audiences.
  4. Promote academic and professional dialogue within a community of learners.
  5. Use strategies aligned with education research to make informed decisions for adaptation and change.
  6. Employ professionalism and ethical standards of conduct.

Upon completion of the M.Ed. with Montessori emphasis, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze his/her own professional and intellectual development and its relationship to best practices in Montessori education.
  2. Critique major learning theories, education literature and research methodologies in Montessori education..
  3. Compose academic prose for a variety of audiences.
  4. Promote academic and professional dialogue within a community of learners.
  5. Use strategies aligned with education research to make informed decisions for adaptation and change.
  6. Employ professionalism and ethical standards of conduct

MEd Child Development (30 total credit hours)

Required Courses

  • EDUC 701 Educational Research and Design
  • EDUC 790 Issues of Peace, Justice, & Educational Reform
  • EDUC 794 Culminating Experience

Emphasis Courses

  • EDUC 722 Cognitive Development Theory to Practice
  • EDUC 723 Language Development: Theory to Practice
  • EDUC 724 Social-Emotional Development: Theory to Practice

Elective Course (choose four courses)

  • EDUC 608 Montessori Development
  • EDUC 649 Montessori Philosophy
  • EDUC 652 Multicultural Education and Diversity
  • EDUC 660 Introduction to Exceptional Children
  • EDUC 712 Learning Styles and Learning Theories
  • EDUC 726 Children’s Literature
  • EDUC 764 Culturally Appropriate Practices & Montessori Methods
  • EDUC 765 Development of the Senses & Montessori Methods
  • EDUC 766 Early Childhood Language Arts
  • EDUC 767 Early Childhood Math Methods
  • EDUC 768 Place-Based Education for the Young Child**
  • EDUC 769 Nurturing the Spirit of the Child**
  • EDUC 770 Integrated Curriculum & Montessori
  • EDUC 771 Advanced Leadership & Guidance in Education*
  • EDUC 772 Advanced Leadership & Montessori*
  • EDUC 773 Child Development in Cultural Context

MEd Instructional Leadership (30 total credit hours)

Required Courses

  • EDUC 701 Educational Research and Design
  • EDUC 790 Issues of Peace, Justice, & Educational Reform
  • EDUC 794 Culminating Experience

In addition to the required courses listed above, candidates will select advisor-approved electives to reach a minimum of 30 credits total.

MEd Child Development – TFA Cohort (30 total credit hours)

Required Licensing Courses

  • EDUC 635 Long/Short Range Planning
  • EDUC 636 TFA Seminar I
  • EDUC 637 TFA Seminar II
  • EDUC 660 Introduction to Exceptional Children
  • EDUC 780 Special Topics in Education – The Science of Reading

Required Courses

  • EDUC 701 Educational Research and Design
  • EDUC 790 Issues of Peace, Justice, & Educational Reform
  • EDUC 794 Culminating Experience

Elective Course (choose from any of the following courses to fulfill the remaining credit requirements)

  • EDUC 630 History and the Profession of Education
  • EDUC 631 Psychological Foundations of Education
  • EDUC 632 Learning Environments
  • EDUC 633 Diverse Learners
  • EDUC 665 SPED: Mild/Moderate Disabilities
  • EDUC 712 Learning Styles and Learning Theories
  • EDUC 714 Integrated Curriculum
  • EDUC 717 Principles of Project-Based & Design-Based Learning
  • EDUC 718 Mobile and Online Learning Technologies
  • EDUC 719 Leadership in Learning Seminar
  • EDUC 726 Children’s Literature
  • EDUC 747 Curriculum Administration
  • EDUC 780 Special Topics in Education

MEd Montessori Emphasis (18 total credit hours with Montessori Credential or 30 total credit hours)

If you already have a Montessori Credential, you can transfer 12 credits toward your degree.

Required Courses

  • EDUC 701 Educational Research and Design
  • EDUC 790 Issues of Peace, Justice, & Educational Reform
  • EDUC 794 Culminating Experience

Elective Course (choose seven courses)

  • EDUC 608 Montessori Development
  • EDUC 649 Montessori Philosophy
  • EDUC 652 Multicultural Education and Diversity
  • EDUC 660 Introduction to Exceptional Children
  • EDUC 712 Learning Styles and Learning Theories
  • EDUC 722 Cognitive Development: Theory to Practice
  • EDUC 723 Language Development: Theory to Practice
  • EDUC 724 Social-Emotional Development: Theory to Practice
  • EDUC 726 Children’s Literature
  • EDUC 764 Culturally Appropriate Practices & Montessori Methods
  • EDUC 765 Development of the Senses & Montessori Methods
  • EDUC 766 Early Childhood Language Arts
  • EDUC 767 Early Childhood Math Methods
  • EDUC 768 Place-Based Education for the Young Child**
  • EDUC 769 Nurturing the Spirit of the Child**
  • EDUC 770 Integrated Curriculum & Montessori
  • EDUC 771 Advanced Leadership & Guidance in Education*
  • EDUC 772 Advanced Leadership & Montessori*
  • EDUC 773 Child Development in Cultural Context

*Courses transferred from Castle Colleague credits.
**Courses transferred from the Montessori Summer Institute credits.

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Chaminade University has been accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the nationally recognized agency for accreditation of post-secondary institutions in its area of the United States.

Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)

Chaminade University has received specialized accreditation for its early childhood education programs by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) and affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS). The Master of Education in Early Childhood Education with Montessori Credential is accredited by MACTE and affiliated by AMS.

General Admission Requirements

  • Completed Chaminade application
  • Hold at least a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college/university in the U.S. or equivalent from a foreign institution
  • Official college transcripts

Visit the Graduate Admissions website for more information.

Cost of Attendance

Please visit the Graduate Cost of Attendance webpage for tuition rates and fees.

Additional Resources

Notable Alumni

2018 Hawaii National Distinguished Principal

Brittnie Caraulia receives a warm welcome home after being recognized as Hawaii's Counselor of the Year.

Linell Dilwith ’98, MEd ’08

Complex Area Superintendent, Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt

2018 Milken Family Foundation Teacher of Promise

Brittnie Caraulia receives a warm welcome home after being recognized as Hawaii's Counselor of the Year.

Ken Kakesako, MEd ’15

Former Teacher, Stevenson Middle School

2016 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year

Brittnie Caraulia receives a warm welcome home after being recognized as Hawaii's Counselor of the Year.

Stephanie Mew, MEd ’04

Elementary Computer Science Teacher & Tech Coordinator School Teacher

2016 Washington Post Principal of the Year

Brittnie Caraulia receives a warm welcome home after being recognized as Hawaii's Counselor of the Year.

Ryan Tauriainen, TFA ‘08, MEd ‘10

Executive Director, Teach For America

NEXT STEPS

Request Information
Join a Virtual Info Session
Start Your Application

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at [email protected] or (808) 739-8524.