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Early Childhood Special Education ,Certificate

Early Childhood Special Education, Certificate

Academic programs / Undergraduate minors and certificates / Early Childhood Special Education

Disability, Early Childhood, Early Intervention, Kindergarten, Pre-K, Preschool, Special Education, children, youth

Earn your teaching credential, then go make a profound difference in the lives of young children who have diverse learning abilities and needs.

Description

The certificate in early childhood special education prepares students to work with young children who have a disability or who are at risk of developing one.

Students develop foundational knowledge of child development, including child development theories and best practices. They learn how to:

  • assess, monitor and report the progress of young children
  • build effective practices for engaging families
  • create enriched, inclusive learning environments
  • design coherent instruction
  • plan and facilitate learning

Graduates are eligible to earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Early Childhood Special Education, birth through grade 3, from the Arizona Department of Education. To teach in an Arizona public school, graduates must pass the appropriate Arizona educator exams: National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.

Format option
This program is also offered via ASU Sync. ASU Sync enables students to attend live classes remotely via Zoom. Classes are designed to foster active collaboration and discussion in real time with faculty and peers. ASU Sync students need to reside in Arizona throughout the duration of the program. Students on I-20 visas are not permitted to complete courses via Sync and should speak with an advisor about other options to complete this program.

Students seeking to use GI Bill® benefits for ASU Sync programs should contact the Pat Tillman Veterans Center regarding certain limitations.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

At a glance
Program requirements

In addition to completing this certificate and a teacher certification program major, students will be required to earn a passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the AEPA/NES exam and a passing score on the subject knowledge portion of the AEPA/NES exam in each area an Arizona teaching credential is sought. Subject knowledge exam waivers may apply. Students should contact the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College for more information.
This certificate requires 18 credit hours. A "C" or better is required in all coursework.
Required Courses -- 18 credit hours
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.

Enrollment requirements

This certificate program can be added to the following programs at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College to allow students eligibility for dual teaching certificates at the completion of their undergraduate degree:

  • BAE in early childhood education
  • BAE in elementary education
  • BAE in elementary multilingual education
  • BAE in special education

Students should have a valid Arizona DPS Identity Verified Print fingerprint clearance card.

A GPA of 2.25 is required for continued good standing. Students should contact the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College for more information.

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student but may not be eligible for an institutional recommendation for Arizona teaching licensure without additional preparation beyond the certificate.

Career opportunities

There is a strong demand for both early childhood educators and special educators in Arizona and nationwide. Earning a credential that prepares graduates for both early childhood and special education can lead to many opportunities. Many graduates with early childhood education credentials hold leadership positions in Head Start, private nonprofit and private for-profit center-based programs, and public school early childhood environments.

Professional licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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