2023-2024 Catalog 
    
    Nov 05, 2024  
2023-2024 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Inclusive Early Childhood Education, BA


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The UCCS IECE programs educate the head, heart, and hands of future inclusive early childhood educators through a three-fold focus on essential foundational knowledge, relationship-driven dispositions, and evidence-based inclusive practices andtools.

The BA in IECE integrates content in:
•culturally responsive practice
•strategies for inclusion
•trauma-sensitive care
•learning through play and developmentally appropriate practices

Effective distance education and supervision methods, including intensive field residencies, deeply engage students in arich, meaningful curriculum and interactive learning experiences. Graduates qualify for CO teacher credentials in ECE, ECSE, aswell as CO Child Care Center Director Qualification.

Faculty

  • Pat McGuire, Ph.D., Department Chair, Professor
  • Ashley Lawless, M.A., Program Coordinator for Undergraduate IECE, Instructor
  • Lissanna Follari, Ph.D., Associate Professor
  • Christi Kasa, Ph.D., Professor
  • Scott Kupferman, Ph.D., 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 and faculty advisor beforeregistering for courses in any semester, but it is recommended. Academic advising assists students in selecting their classesso that they can progress effectively through their degree program. To make an appointment with a College of Educationfaculty advisor, please contact the COE Student Resource Office, University Hall Room 324, 719-255-4996 oreducation@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 astudent wishes to take more than 18 credit hours in a given semester, special permission must be obtained through theAcademic Advising Center. Students who expect to work while enrolled in university courses should register for course loadsthat 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 the upper-division level College of Education program.

  • 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 3000 and 4000-level IECE courses and Student Teaching courses as a student in the College of Education.
  • Courses numbered below 1000 do not count towards degree completion.
  • Additional course options may be available for the Humanities and Natural Science requirements

Application and Admissions Requirements
Please visit our website for admissions information.

Course Requirements


The IECE program requires a minimum of 94 credit hours of College of Education coursework. All upper-division (3000+ level) IECE courses must have a grade of “B-” or better. 

Additional Information on Licensure


The Inclusive Early Childhood Education Licensure Program is a multi-credential program. Students who successfully complete the program will be recommended for an initial teaching license in Early Childhood Education (ages 0-8), and an added endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education (ages 0-8).

Exam Requirements

In order to receive an initial license or added endorsement students will need to complete the following exam(s):

  • PRAXIS II Education of Young Children #5024. This exam must be passed by June 15 just prior to Professional Year courses. Students will not be allowed to continue with Professional Year coursework unless they have passed this exam.
  • PRAXIS II Teaching, Reading: Elementary #5205. This exam must be passed by June 15 just prior to Professional Year courses. Students will not be allowed to continue with Professional Year coursework unless they have passed this exam.
  • PRAXIS II Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood #5691. This exam must be passed by June 15 just prior to Professional Year courses. Students will not be allowed to continue with Professional Year coursework unless they have passed this exam.

When registering to take the Praxis exam(s), students need to send their scores to UCCS (4874) and the Colorado Department of Education (7040).

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

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