The Early Childhood Special Education program provides teacher education candidates with broad content knowledge and prepares them as early childhood teachers in an inclusive setting. This degree qualifies students for licensure in Early Childhood Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education, and enables them to teach in a preschool or elementary classroom setting with students 0 to age 8.
Before student teaching begins, students in this program gain over 200 hours of classroom experience with children of all ages and backgrounds. During internship, students complete the required 600 hours in inclusive classrooms, with both a preschool placement and a primary elementary placement. Giving students practical teaching experience in both areas.
Students may pursue this bachelor's degree outright, or pursue it after obtaining the Early Childhood Education Associate of Arts degree through CMU Tech. Students or PreK teachers who wish to obtain a bachelor's degree but are not interested in teaching licensure, may pursue our Early Childhood Education, Inclusive Non-Licensure program.
Colorado Placement
CMU's Education programs meet the requirements for licensure in the state of Colorado, as such, students are required to complete their field hours within the state of Colorado. Placements are arranged between a local school district and the Center for Teacher Education, and are typically within our 14-county western slope community of school districts. Placements outside of this 14-county region are made on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on several factors including, agreements with cooperating school districts, qualified mentor availability, and student support and supervision. While graduates have successfully obtained licensure in other states, at this time, CMU does not offer placement outside of Colorado. To find out about licensure requirements for other states, see our State Licensing Resources page.
The Early Childhood Special Education program provides teacher education candidates with broad content knowledge and prepares them as teachers for early childhood including birth through second/third grade (birth to age 8) in an inclusive setting.
Academic Requirements for Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education, Early Childhood EducationThe Early Childhood Education, Inclusive Non-Licensure program provides teacher education candidates with broad content knowledge and prepares them as teachers for early childhood including children ages birth through PreKindergarten in an inclusive setting. For more information on this program, contact Dr. Ann Gillies, our Exceptional Learner and Special Education Coordinator at [email protected].
Academic Requirements for Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, Inclusive Non-LicensureCareer Possibilities:
- K-2nd grade teacher
- Preschool teacher
- Special Education (SPED) preschool teacher
- Self-contained Special Education (SPED) classroom teacher
- Interventionist teacher
- Resource teacher
Career Links:
- What can I do with a major in education? https://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/education/
- Colorado Department of Education Current Educators Page: http://www.cde.state.co.us/educatortalent/currenteducators
- Colorado Teaching Jobs: https://colorado.teachers-teachers.com/
- Colorado Department of Education Future Educators Page: http://www.cde.state.co.us/educatortalent/futureeducators
- Colorado Department of Higher Education Funding Opportunities:
https://cdhe.colorado.gov/educators/educator-funding-opportunities - Nationwide Career, Salary, and Licensure Information at Teacher.org: https://www.teacher.org/
- Scholarship Resources: https://www.teacher.org/scholarships-grants/
Program Coordinator: Dr. Ann Gillies
EC/EC SPED students work with a variety of instructors throughout this program with different areas of expertise, from Early Childhood instructors/advisors to our Elementary Program Coordinator, to Literacy, Math and other content coordinators.
Dr. Ann Gillies, our Exceptional Learner and Special Education Coordinator, provides the majority of the program advising for EC/EC SPED. Dr. Gillies is also the advisor for Council for Exceptional Children Student Chapter (CEC Club) and is a strong advocate of inclusive education for all students.
EC/EC SPED Students Visit South Africa
EC/EC SPED students, Julie Boano, Lindsay Carpenter and Ashley Blankenbeckler accompanied Dr. Ann Gillies to volunteer at The Aiden Rose Centre in South Africa and participate at the Division of International Special Education Services of the Council for Exception Children in Cape Town.
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