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).

Praxis Exam Requirements

Graduate-level IECE teacher candidates are required to take the following Praxis exams or submit for the corresponding MMCC by May 1 prior to their student teaching semester.
Please see the CDE website for more information. 

5024: Education of Young Children 

5692: Special Education: Preschool/Early Childhood 

Graduate-level IECE teacher candidates are also required to take the following Praxis exam prior to their student teaching semester. Note: MMCC are not accepted for reading. 

5205: Teaching Reading: Elementary 

Candidates who have not passed these exams or secured approval for MMCC before their student teaching semester will have a formal conference with their Faculty Director and document a plan to meet content competency requirements. 
 

---

Program Coursework

Term	Courses
Fall 1  6 Credit Hours	IECE 5010 Inclusive Child Development (Birth-8)    IECE 5600 Inclusive Early Childhood Curriculum and Instructional Strategies
Spring 1 9 Credit Hours	SPED 5020 Significant Support Needs    SPED 5303 Designing Trauma Informed Supports in the Classroom    IECE 5500 Collaborative ECSE Assessment and Planning with Families
Summer 1  6 Credit Hours	SPED 5001 Foundations of Special Education    SPED 5010 Multisensory Structured Language Education    (Substitute for TED 5570)
Fall 2  6 Credit Hours	IECE 6950 Inclusive Early Childhood Student Teaching

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