Introduction

Please click here to see School of Education & Human Development information. 

The ECE track has two options: Licensure and Non-licensure. Information regarding the Non-licensure track can be found here. 

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) track in the Education and Human Development major has a strong focus on engaging Colorado's rapidly diversifying student and family population. It combines research with contextually relevant classroom experiences. Together with your peers and professors, you will critically explore the robust and evolving knowledge base relevant to the field of early care and education as  you engage with experiences that elevate your understanding of children's thinking, culturally sustaining pedagogy, inclusive curricular and environmental design, and assessment and documentation of children's learning. Our program's history of deeply responsive community partnerships creates compelling and supportive opportunities for students to fully experience, and become inspired, by the daily life of Colorado educators. All ECE track students have the opportunity to take all required courses to fulfill the State of Colorado's Director qualifications and become leaders in the field of early learning.

Licensure Track

Students who select the 126 credit hour licensure track fulfill all requirements for a license to teach children birth-Age 8 in Colorado's school districts and community-based early childhood centers. This track prepares students to become teachers of children up through third grade. Field-based experiences take place in the School of Education's Professional Development network of partner schools.

Students in this track have the opportunity to apply for the Bachelors to Masters Program (BAMA) during their junior year. The BAMA allows students to take 9 credits of their professional year program at the graduate level and apply them to one of 8 MA degrees in the SEHD.  

Program Delivery

• This is an on-campus program with a variety of delivery options for many of our courses including hybrid, evening, weekend and online courses.

Declaring This Major

• Click here to go to information about declaring a major.

General Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the three areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.   

• CU Denver Graduation Requirements
• CU Denver Undergraduate Core Curriculum
• School of Education & Human Development Graduation Requirements
• Click here for information about Academic Policies.

Program Requirements

1. Students must complete a minimum total of 126 semester hours for the EDHD Early Childhood Education Track.

2. Candidates must meet Colorado Department of Education content competency requirements through approved Multiple Measures or by passing the appropriate Praxis exam prior to beginning their final semester of the Professional Year. 

3. Application to the last year of the program, the Professional Year, is required. After successfully completing all other Core, major, and elective courses, all students must apply for admission into the Professional Year. Requirements for admission include a 3.0 GPA, positive letters of recommendation, successful evaluations of earlier clinical experiences, and a successful interview. (Students with a lower GPA may be considered under certain conditions. Please visit the SEHD website.)
4. A minimum GPA of 2.0, grade of C or better, is required for all major courses applying to EDHD - Early Childhood Education requirements unless otherwise specified.
5. Students must complete and maintain a 3.0 minimum grade point average in Professional Year coursework to complete licensure requirements. Please see an advisor for more information on this requirement.
6. Transfer courses must be approved by faculty and/or advisor to apply to the major.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Major Courses
CLDE 2000	CLDE Foundations 1	3
ECED 4650	Dual Language Learners Learning and Development	3
ECED 4060	Working with Families, Professionals, and Communities	3
EDFN 1000	Equality, Rights & Education	3
or LCRT 2000	Rebels, Villains, & Superheroes: How Children's Literature Shapes Our Identities
or LCRT 3815	Once Upon a Time: Family Literacies in Culturally Diverse Communities
EDFN 4010	Social Foundations and Cultural Diversity in Urban Education 1	3
HDFR 2110	Child Ecology	3
or HDFR 3050	Children's Thinking and Assessment
or HDFR 1010	Life Span Development in Ecological Settings
INTE 2000	Digital Teaching and Learning	3
LCRT 3720	Introduction to Writing Development and Teaching	3
LCRT 4000	Elementary Literacy Instruction and Assessment in Diverse Classrooms 1	3
MTED 3040	Mathematics for Elementary Teachers 1	3
ECED 2000	Early Childhood Education as a Profession	3
ECED 2030	Nutrition, Health, and Safety	3
ECED 4102	Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Methods and Techniques	3
ECED 4040	Leading Early Childhood Programs	3
ECED 4200	Observation, Screening and Assessment of Young Children	3
ECED 3110	Development and Education of Infant and Toddlers	3
EDHD 1930	Community Based Field Experience & Seminar 1	3
ECED 1202	Child Guidance and Classroom Community	3
EDHD 2930	Learning & Development Field Experience & Seminar 1	3
ECED 2935	Infant & Toddler Field Experience & Seminar	3
Professional Year Courses
A minimum grade of B- is required in each course.
SPED 4030	Understanding (dis)Ability in Contemporary Classrooms 1	3
LCRT 4710	Inclusive Early Literacy Development and Instruction	3
UEDU 4040	Planning for Learning 1	3
UEDU 4050	Capstone: Planning, Instruction & Assessment 1	3
SCED 4004	Elementary and Middle School Science Methods 1	3
MTED 4002	Elementary Mathematics Teaching I 1	3
UEDU 4931	Internship & Lrng Comm I 1	2
UEDU 4932	Internship & Lrng Comm II 1	2
UEDU 4933	Internship & Lrng Comm III 1	6
General Electives
Additional General Electives hours may be needed to reach the required hours for the BA
Total Hours		88

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Courses require a grade of B- or better; all other courses require a grade of C or better.

Non-Licensure Track

A 120 credit hour track is ideal for students who currently and/or intend to work in community-based early childhood environments that serve children from infancy-age five years is also available.

To review the Degree Map for this program, please visit our website.