Project Training Rural Early Educators (TREE) highlights:
GET MOST OF YOUR TUITION PAID FOR! If you live in a rural or mountainous region in Colorado, you may be eligible to have over 85 percent of your tuition and fees paid for through a U.S. Department of Education grant. You can earn your MA through the fully online program or the hybrid program (Saturday classes and online). Rural and mountai
nous regions are in great need
of well-qualified EC/ECSE professionals, so the grant is paid back by just working in one of these high need areas. For more details, contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
• Through collaborative and cross- disciplinary service approaches, you will become skilled in recommended intervention practices based on research evidence. You will also learn appropriate practices to work with children and their families across a range of abilities and cultural experiences.
• A significant amount of practicum and field experience will prepare you to advance your career.
• This program supports six sets of Early Childhood standards as well as Early Childhood Special Education standards promoting intervention in inclusive settings for children from birth to age 8.
• Earning your master’s degree in early childhood special education will increase your earning potential.*

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT
With 30 credit hours of coursework and up to six credit hours of practicum experience, this program is designed for the working professional in a 16-week fully online format or at the Denver Center at Lowry in a eight-week hybrid format of Saturday classes and online. Full-time students can typically complete the degree in two years. At the end of the program, you can earn either a master’s degree or a non- degree licensure in ECSE or both ECSE and EC. If you’re seeking initial teaching licensure, you may need to take an additional 12 credits. ENDORSEMENTS
Once you successfully complete the program you may be be eligible for the following licensures and/or endorsements:
• Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Early Childhood Special Education Generalist License/Endorsement
• CDE Early Childhood Special Education Specialist Endorsement
• CDE Early Childhood Education Endorsement
• Colorado Department of Human Services Child Care Director’s License
FACULTY OVERVIEW
There are 21 full-time faculty in the School of Special Education actively involved in teaching, research and collaborating with local school districts and agencies. They are leaders in the field and often called upon to consult with national and international organizations. UNC’s high ranking by U.S. News and World Report reflects a strong student-faculty connection. Here, faculty are engaged in training teachers to implement professional standards, advocate for infants, children and youth with special needs and their families and to collaborate with general educators and related services professionals. CAREER OUTLOOK
There is a strong demand for early childhood special education teachers in the western part of the U.S. In Colorado, 32 percent growth is forecasted between 2010 and 2020 for preschool, kindergarten and elementary school teachers. For more information please visit:
unco.edu/cebs/ecse
*According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014-15 Occupational Outlook Handbook, on average teachers with masters degrees will earn $8,000 to $10,000 more each year than those with only a bachelor’s degree.
