2020-2021 Catalog 
    
    Apr 20, 2024  
2020-2021 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Inclusive Early Childhood Education, BI™


This innovative program is designed to prepare UCCS students to work with and for all children and their families in diverse early childhood settings (birth through 3rd grade).  This program qualifies graduates for Colorado teaching licensure in birth-8 and birth-8 special education, along with Center Director Qualification. UCCS students in this program will become  part of a newly emerging field of professionals in inclusive early childhood education who are called on to innovate in the area of curriculum development, individual learning supports, and technology.

Inclusive early childhood educators may have the opportunity to teach, run their own business, or invent, design, and market curriculum, technology, and applications. Inclusive early childhood educators will have preparation in the areas of inclusive education and care, innovation, business, and marketing and be able to take ideas developed while working with children and enhance them through business planning and implementation. A Bachelor of Innovation will prepare students to take advantage of the many opportunities that they will encounter throughout their careers.

The Bachelor of Innovation in Inclusive Early Childhood Education (BI:IECE) will combine both teacher preparation in Early Childhood Special Education (CDE license 5.09) and Early Childhood Education (CDE license 4.01) through a four-year, interdisciplinary professional degree. The term “professional degree” applies to this program because it meets the professional teaching standards established by the Colorado Department of Education for programs in early childhood and special education. The undergraduate program is designed to meet a growing need in Southern Colorado for qualified educators of young children, including those with disabilities or who are considered at risk and in need of early intervention. The program also qualifies students to earn Department of Human Services Director Qualification. 

Faculty

  • Lissanna Follari, Ph.D., Program Coordinator IECE, Assistant Professor 
  • Katie Anderson-Pence, Ph.D., Program Coordinator IELM, Assistant Professor
  • Barbara Frye, Ph.D., Associate Dean and Associate Professor
  • Mary Hanson, M.A., Instructor
  • Christi Kasa, Ph.D., Associate Professor
  • Pat McGuire, Ph.D., Co-Director UCCSTeach Program and Associate Professor
  • Ji Hyun Oh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor

General Academic Information


Academic Policies

It is the responsibility of each student to know and follow all academic policies established by UCCS and the College of Education that are set forth in this catalog.

Course Prerequisites

Students are responsible for knowing and completing all course prerequisites. Course prerequisites are strictly enforced for all classes at UCCS.

Email Accounts

All students are assigned an official UCCS email address. Email is the official means of communication for UCCS, so it is imperative that students check their email accounts regularly.

Advising

Education students in good standing are not required to meet with their academic advisor before registering for courses in any semester, but it is recommended. Academic advising assists students in selecting their classes so that they can progress effectively through their degree program. To make an appointment with a College of Education faculty advisor, please contact the COE Student Resource Office, University Hall Room 324, 719-255-4996 or education@uccs.edu.

Probation/Suspension

Students in the College of Education who have attempted at least 12 or more credit hours at any CU campus will be placed on academic probation in the College of Education for the following semester if their cumulative CU Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below a 2.0.  The cumulative CU GPA includes all courses taken at any CU campus.  Students may remain on academic probation for a maximum of 3 semesters as long as they maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.5 during that time to demonstrate academic improvement.

Students on academic probation may continue to take a normal course load but should plan their schedules carefully and are strongly advised to meet with their Academic and Faculty Advisors regularly.  While on academic probation, students will have a registration hold placed on their student account and they will not be able to register for the next semester (excluding summer) until their current semester grades have been posted and academic improvement can be verified.  Once a cumulative CU GPA of 2.0 or higher can be verified, students will be removed from academic probation.

If, after being placed on academic probation, the student’s semester GPA continues to fall below the required 2.5 or their cumulative GPA is still below 2.0 after 3 semesters, then the student will be suspended from the College of Education. Students who have been suspended from the College of Education are not automatically suspended from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Suspended students may apply to transfer to another college within the university and, if approved, take courses in the new major.

Students who have been suspended may apply for re-admission to the College of Education once they have raised their cumulative CU GPA to 2.0. Suspended students must apply to have their suspension removed (after meeting the above requirement) with their Academic and Faculty Advisors. In addition, students may be required to reapply to the University. Students who are in doubt of their academic standing with regard to scholastic deficiency are strongly urged to consult with the College of Education Academic and Faculty Advisors.

Course Load

A full-time course load is 12 credit hours in a semester. The maximum course load is 18 credit hours in a semester. If a student wishes to take more than 18 credit hours in a given semester, special permission must be obtained through the Academic Advising Center. Students who expect to work while enrolled in university courses should register for course loads that they can complete without unusual difficulty. Recommended course loads based on work hours are listed below. 

Employed Hours Enrolled Credit Hours
40 hours per week 6-9 credit hours
30 hours per week 8-11 credit hours
20 hours per week 10-13 credit hours

Degree Requirements

  • A minimum of 120 hours must be completed with a cumulative CU grade point average of 2.5; at least 45 of these hours must be at the upper-division level (courses numbered 3000-4999).
  • A minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher must be maintained in upper-division level College of Education courses to be awarded the BI in Inclusive Early Childhood Education.
  • A cumulative CU GPA of 2.50 or above must be maintained in the upper-division level to remain in good academic standing in the program.
  • Students must complete all Block 1, Block 2, and Student Teaching or IECE Professional Internship courses as a student in the College of Education.
  • Students pursuing Teacher Licensure must complete student teaching.
  • Students pursuing the Non-licensure option must complete IECE Professional Internship.
  • Courses numbered below 1000 do not count towards degree completion.
  • Additional course options may be available for the Humanities and Natural Science requirements. Contact your faculty or academic advisor for more details.

Application and Admissions Requirements

Please visit our website for admissions information.

Course Requirements


The IECE program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours of College of Education coursework.

All upper-division (3000+ level) IECE courses must have a grade of “B-” or better.

All other courses must have a grade of “C-” or better.

Cross-Disciplinary Core Courses (15 Credit Hours)


Complete one of the Cross-Disciplinary Cores listed below. Each Cross-Disciplinary Core consists of 15 credit hours. See the BI website for specific courses.

  • Business
  • Creative Communication
  • Engineering Technology
  • Globalization
  • Transfer or Veteran Student-Designed Core

Composition Courses (3 Credit Hours)


General Education Courses (16 Credit Hours)


All UCCS students are required to complete one course in each of three areas - humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Although any Gateway Program Seminar course can be completed, students are encouraged to choose “Head of the Class” or “Teaching in a Muggle World.”

Humanities - choose one of the following

Social Science

Natural Science - complete one of the course combinations listed below

Gateway Program Seminar

Quantitative Reasoning Skills

General Electives

  • 3 credits in licensure program  or
  • 3 to 7 credits in non-licensure program

Licensure/Endorsement Requirements


Students must successfully pass the PRAXIS ECE and ECSE tests before being given an institutional recommendation for licensure. Students should verify specific test codes on the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) website for the most current test information.

Post Bac Licensure - Inclusive Early Childhood Education


The post baccalaureate licensure program is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree, but would like to earn their teaching license in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE).  

Students wishing to earn teaching licensure in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education can take the licensure portion post baccalaureate. The student would earn the licenses offered, but no degree would be awarded.

 Licensure Coursework

Student Teaching - Offered in Spring (12 credit hours)


**Students who are seeking endorsement in ECE and ECSE are required to take student teaching. Students who already hold a valid Colorado teaching license and are looking to earn an added endorsement in ECE only are NOT required to complete student teaching. Students seeking an endorsement in ECSE are required to complete student teaching, regardless of prior, similar coursework.

Additional Information on Licensure


The Inclusive Early Childhood Education Licensure Program is a dual licensure program. Students who successfully complete the post baccalaureate program will be recommended for an initial teaching license in Early Childhood Education (CDE License 4.01) and an added endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education (CDE License 5.09).

Upon completion of the program students should apply for the following:

  1. Initial teaching license in Early Childhood Education (CDE License 8.01)
  2. Added endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education (CDE License 9.08)

Students completing the post baccalaureate program as an added endorsement should apply for both Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education as added endorsements.

Exam Requirements

In order to receive an initial license or added endorsement students will need to complete the following exams:

  • PRAXIS Elementary Content Knowledge 5001 (strongly recommended, not required)
    • Taken prior to degree program admission
  • PRAXIS Early Childhood Education
    • Prior to Student Teaching
  • PRAXIS Early Childhood Special Education
    • Prior to Student Teaching

For more information, students should visit: https://www.ets.org/praxis/

Students should take the exams during the semester before student teaching.