Welcome!
The mission of the UCD Early Childhood Education program is to prepare early childhood professional leaders with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of young children and their families within a rapidly changing and diverse
society.
Why This UCD Program?
This program consistently scores high in student satisfaction due to high personal involvement and interaction (max of 25-30 per course), and the online flexibility lets students maintain time with family and friends (95% of students work full time).
This ECE program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and nationally recognized by CEC and NAEYC, and leads the state in the number of ECSE licensure candidates.
Program Summary
The goal of the online ECE program is the same as the on-campus program... to provide you with substantive support and personal interaction in becoming a leader in professional practice in one of two alternative career paths.
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The first, as an early childhood teacher with the Master's degree in ECE.
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And the second as a specialist working with children with disabilities and their families with the Early Childhood Special Education License.
The Master’s degree in ECE will prepare you to excel in the following fields:
- Public schools
- Child care programs
- Early intervention programs (including Head Start and Early Head Start)
- Family support and home-based programs
Program Requirements
Please note that you must be an in-state resident to complete the online MA or ECSE programs. They are designed to meet the need for leaders in the early childhood field in Colorado and to meet Colorado ECSE Specialist requirements.
The online option is also limited to Colorado residents living 60 or more miles from Denver. You must commit to one cohort—online or on-campus. Online students are required to attend a one week seminar in Denver each summer.
If you live closer than 60 miles to Denver you may petition to be part of the online cohort by writing a letter detailing extraordinary circumstances which prevents you from attending classes on campus in late afternoon or weekends.
Take the Next Step
If you are interested in receiving specific information on this program, request your own
personalized information packet about this Early Childhood Education program. If you're ready to get started, you can take the next step and
begin the application process.