Inclusive Early Childhood Education, BA

About the Program

The Bachelor of Arts in Inclusive Early Childhood Education (IECE) program offered by UCCS is an excellent opportunity for aspiring educators who wish to specialize in inclusive early childhood education. Graduates qualify for Colorado teacher credentials in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education (birth-3rd grade), as well as the Colorado Child Care Center Director Qualification. 
The BA in Inclusive Early Childhood Education degree program is available on campus or 100% online.

Best Accredited Colleges named the Inclusive Early Childhood Education undergraduate program at UCCS one of the best online IECE programs in the nation.

Focus of Study

The BA in Inclusive Early Childhood Education degree 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 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 a rich, meaningful curriculum and interactive learning experiences. 

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Program Requirements

• A minimum of 120 credit hours must be completed with a cumulative CU grade point average of 2.5.
• At least 45 credits must be completed at the upper-division level (courses numbered 3000+). 
• All upper-division (3000+) IECE courses must be completed with a minimum grade of B-.
• Students must complete all 3000- and 4000-level IECE courses and field placement courses as a student at UCCS.
• Courses numbered below 1000 do not count towards degree completion.

Program Coursework

	Courses
IECE Core Courses 76 Credit Hours	IECE 1000 Introduction to Inclusive Early Childhood Education    IECE 1010 Inclusive Child Development Birth-8   IECE 1020 Learning Through Play    IECE 1500 Diversity and Anti-Bias Practice in IECE    IECE 2000 Collaborative Partnerships in Inclusive Early Childhood Education    IECE 2100 Social Emotional Learning and Trauma Sensitive Practice    IECE 2200 Designing Inclusive Child-Centered Curriculum    IECE 2500 Relationships, Positive Guidance, and Behavior Supports in IECE    IECE 3000 Observation and Assessment for Inclusive Early Childhood Education    IECE 3010 Early Language Arts and Communication Disorders (Birth-4)    IECE 3020 Practicum 1: Birth-4    IECE 3025 Practicum 1 Seminar    IECE 3500 Young Dual Language Learners and Family Literacy    IECE 3600 Culturally Responsive Leadership and Practices in IECE    IECE 4000 Math and Numeracy in the Early Childhood Inclusive Classroom    IECE 4010 Literacy Development, Instruction, and Interventions K-Grade 3    IECE 4020 Creating Classroom Communities: Social & Behavioral Supports for Young Children    IECE 4030 Practicum 2: K-3rd Grade    IECE 4035 Practicum 2 Seminar    IECE 4500 Universal Design for Learning and Individualized Supports in IECE    IECE 4600 Practicum 3: Differentiating Instruction for Young Children    IECE 4800 Inclusive Early Childhood Student Teaching    IECE 4801 IECE Capstone Professional Portfolio
Education Courses 19 Credit Hours	COUN 4500 Wellness, Resilience and Emotional Intelligence    EDUC 2200 Children’s Literature    EDUC 2400 Arts Integration for Educators    EDUC 2600 Integrated Science I    EDUC 2650 Integrated Science II    EDUC 3991 Introduction to Professional Year - Inclusive Early Childhood    IELM 3250 Teaching Students with Complex Support Needs
General Education Courses 25 Credit Hours	GES 1980 World Regional Geography    GPS 1010 Gateway Program Seminar    ENGL 1310 Rhetoric and Writing I    ENGL 1410 Rhetoric and Writing II: Argument and Research    MATH 3010 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I    MATH 3020 Mathematics for Elementary Teachers II    PORT 3000 Writing Portfolio Assessment    PSY 1000 General Psychology    U.S. History (choose one): HIST 1510 U.S.: Birth of a Nation, 1607-1789    HIST 1520 U.S.: Expansion and Division, 1789-1877

 

Professional Exam Requirements

Undergraduate-level IECE teacher candidates are required to take the following Praxis exams or submit for the corresponding Multiple Measures of Content Competency (MMCC) by May 1 prior to their Professional Year.  (Please see the CDE website for more information)  

5024: Education of Young Children 

5692: Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood 

Candidates who have not passed these Praxis exams or secured approval for MMCC by August 1 of their Professional Year will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements. 

Undergraduate-level IECE teacher candidates are also required to take the following Praxis exam by August 1 of their Professional Year. Note: MMCC are not accepted for reading. 

5205: Teaching Reading: Elementary  

Candidates who have not passed Praxis 5205 by January 1 of their Professional Year will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements.