Office: 1380 Lawrence Street Center, 701
Telephone: 303-315-6300
E-mail: sehdacademicservices@ucdenver.edu
Website: www.ucdenver.edu/education

Overview

Early Childhood Education Program Pathways

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) program area offers a variety of graduate degree, licensure and certificate pathways for students.  Each pathway is grounded in a shared commitment to inclusion, equity and social justice from birth through grade three. Deep and reciprocal community-engaged partnerships support relevant learning across a variety of contexts. Faculty bring seasoned experience with teaching practice, research design and community leadership that contributes to innovative and responsive courses where students thrive. Courses are available in a variety of formats to match your learning preferences and personal circumstances.

The ECE Program outcomes are:

• Early childhood professionals who demonstrate an understanding of the interdependent relationship between sociocultural and biological aspects of child growth and development. as well as individual developmental and learning differences between and among young children with and without disabilities.
• Early childhood professionals design and implement culturally, linguistically, developmentally appropriate curricula and create inclusive learning environments for young children. They implement a variety of evidence-based, culturally sustaining practices  to individualize learning opportunities for children with diverse identities and sociocultural contexts.
• Early childhood professionals observe and document child development and learning of individual children within their families’ sociocultural context. Early childhood professionals select relevant  tools and processes, including formal and informal assessments of development, learning, environments, and programs.
• Early childhood professionals know, use, and advocate for ethical guidelines and professional standards related to interactions with young children, families and other professionals within early childhood contexts.
• Early childhood professionals examine and plan their leadership and advocacy toward equitable, diverse and inclusive early childhood environments. They critically analyze theories, policies, research and practices to promote all children’s development, learning and well-being.
• Early childhood professionals appreciate and value the diverse assets of children’s sociocultural contexts including families and communities.  They demonstrate respectful, responsive, and reciprocal relationships that inspire belonging among children, families and professionals.

ECE Program graduate students may select from the following program options:

Master’s Degrees in Early Childhood Education

• Early Childhood Education Personalized Professional MA. The Early Childhood Education (ECE) PPMA program leads to a master’s degree in early childhood education. The program prepares teachers and leaders who will enrich the life experiences of young children (ages birth to 8 years) and their families through a variety of professional roles.  The personalized design of the program of study for each graduate student allows for specialization across diverse areas of focus within a variety of early learning contexts and communities of practice.

Licensure as an Early Childhood Special Educator:

• Early Childhood Special Education Endorsement (available with or without MA)
• Early Childhood Special Education Initial Licensure (available with or without MA)

The licensure programs focus on building and supporting learning and development of all children across inclusive settings in the natural environments where they live, grow and learn. The program emphasizes family-centered practices, culturally sustaining teaching and is inspired by the potential of all children and families. Field experiences are a part of each course and provide an opportunity for each student to gain knowledge, abilities and dispositions while interacting with children, families, program staff and community agencies. Culminating practicum experiences are designed for students to apply knowledge and practice skills in a closely supervised environment. Upon successful completion of a licensure program, students may apply for either an added endorsement or initial license (depending on the program completed) from the Colorado Department of Education.

Early Childhood Education option through Continuing Education:

• Early Childhood Education MA through Boulder Journey School Partnership offers the study of innovation for children birth to age 8, at Boulder Journey School, inspired by the schools for young children in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Study quality multi-media examples of learning and teaching, engage in collaborative examination of documentation, and develop interpretations and new practices to innovate the field of Early Childhood Education. This is a fully online program.

Fieldwork and Practicum Requirements

Prior experience with young children is required for enrollment in the MA program. Prospective applicants who do not have field experience can apply for and, if accepted, start the ECE program while working (or volunteering) in a setting with young children. Prior to acceptance in the ECSE licensure program, prospective applicants must provide evidence documenting at least one year of field experience with young children with delays or disabilities.

For the MA in ECE plus the ECSE initial license, a total of 800 hours of fieldwork/practica is required. Approximately 300 hours of fieldwork are associated with course assignments and ongoing field work with culminating practicum experiences occurring toward the end of the second year of study.

Programs

Faculty

Professor:

Elizabeth Steed, PhD, University of Oregon | Early Childhood Education

Associate Professor:

Cristina Gillanders, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Early Childhood Education

Teaching Associate Professor:

Lori Ryan, PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo | Early Childhood Education

Assistant Professor:

Diana Schaack, PhD, Erickson Institute/Loyola University Chicago | Early Childhood Education

Teaching Assistant Professor:

Andrea Laser, EdD, University of Colorado Denver | Early Childhood Education

Senior Instructor:

Liliana Flores Amaro | Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education (ECED) Courses