Program Overview
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
The graduate level endorsement program for the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) is designed to prepare outstanding early childhood special education educators to meet the unique educational needs of children from birth through age 8. This program is designed to develop a range of specialized skills for individuals who work in classrooms and community-based settings with children who have identified disabilities or are at-risk and their families. The program leads to recommendation for Colorado Department of Education’s ECSE Generalist Teaching License/endorsement, and ECSE Specialist endorsement. In addition, the students will receive a recommendation for Large Child Care Center Director Qualification through the Colorado Department of Human Services. The program consists of the required courses and practicum requirements agreed upon by the student and advisor. If a student enters the endorsement program for ECSE without a current teacher licensure, the student is required to complete additional admission requirements and course requirements listed under Professional Teacher Education.
Federal student loans are not currently available to students who are pursuing a CO state license (initial or additional) through UNC's stand-alone, graduate level licensure programs without being simultaneously enrolled in a Masters, Specialist, or Doctoral program.