Early Childhood Special Education
PROGRAM TEMPORAILY NOT ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION.
The University of Northern Colorado's undergraduate program in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) prepares teacher candidates to teach young children with disabilities (Birth – 8 years). The program supports national and state ECSE standards that promote the development of young children with disabilities in inclusive settings. Graduates will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Students who successfully complete all requirements of our Teaching Concentration program will receive a recommendation for licensure as an ECSE Teacher through the Colorado Department of Education and a recommendation for Large Child Care Center Director Qualification through the Colorado Department of Human Services.
The curriculum consists of recommended Liberal Arts core requirements, courses in early childhood and early childhood special education theory, practice, and pedagogy and courses in the Professional Teacher Education Program to ensure students have the breadth of knowledge to be an early childhood special education teacher. Strong emphasis is placed on promoting families as partners, collaborative and cross-disciplinary service approaches, recommended intervention practices that are based on research evidence, and appropriate practices for work with children and their families across a range of abilities and cultural experiences. Students are required to take technology courses; and the use of technology is incorporated into the special education coursework. Extensive field based experiences in inclusive settings with children in three age-groups- birth to 2 years, 3- 5 years, and 5-8 years are included.
The program meets national and state early childhood special education professional development standards for the promotion of development and learning of young children from birth to age 8 in inclusive settings.
Learn More About Early Childhood Special Education B.A.
Program Courses and Sequence
The ECSE Undergraduate Program consists of 123 credit hours of courses and student teaching practicum. If you wish to see an example of the courses over the full four-year period, download the Example Four-year Plan.
When you decide to be an early childhood special education major, you will need to meet with an advisor in the School of Special Education, and together you will complete an individually tailored Special Education Advising Sheet.
Declaring ECSE as a Major
Students can declare ECSE as their major upon acceptance into the University of Northern Colorado. Students may also transfer into the ECSE program at any time from within a different UNC major, from another 4-year university, or a 2 year college. It is recommended that transfer students meet with the program coordinator, Dr. Nancy M Sileo, to ensure a smooth transition into the early childhood special education major.
