2024-2025 Catalog 
    
    Dec 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog

Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Early Childhood Education (Licensure & Endorsement)


About the Program

This graduate program in Early Childhood Special Education qualifies students to earn a Colorado Department of Education teaching license/endorsement in Early Childhood Education (birth-8) and Early Childhood Special Education (birth-8 Special Education).

The coursework in this certificate may be applied towards a Master’s degree in Special Education. Students who complete the Master’s degree in addition to the certificate will qualify for the Early Childhood Special Education Specialist endorsement from the Colorado Department of Education. 


Focus of Study

The Inclusive Early Childhood Education graduate certificate program educates 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 and tools.

The curriculum 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 a rich, meaningful curriculum and interactive learning experiences. 


Program Requirements

The Inclusive Early Childhood Education Graduate Certificate Program requires 27 credit hours (8 courses).

The Praxis exams measure the academic skills and subject-specific knowledge needed as an educator. Students must pass the state-approved elementary education licensure exams prior to student teaching to be recommended for licensure.

Students must receive a passing score on the following exams no later than June 15 prior to the student teaching semester:

  • #5024 Education of Young Children
  • #5692 Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood
  • #5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary

If these requirements are not met by the deadlines, the student must withdraw or defer their student teaching until the requirements are met.


Program Coursework

Term Courses

Fall 1 
6 Credit Hours

Spring 1
9 Credit Hours

Summer 1 
6 Credit Hours

Fall 2 
6 Credit Hours

Connect with Dr. Follari for individual program planning, email lfollari@uccs.edu.

Additional Information on Licensure


The Inclusive Early Childhood Education Certificate 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 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 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 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