COURSE CURRICULUM

The Early Childhood Special Education program requires students to complete General Education, Professional Studies, and Teaching Field coursework to ensure a strong academic foundation and professional preparation for working with young children with and without disabilities. Students must earn at least 120 total credit hours for graduation while meeting all university and program-specific requirements. In the Foundational Core, students begin with First Year Compass courses such as UA 101 Legends (or UA 201 for transfer students) and EDU 200 Orientation to Teacher Education, along with courses in psychology or human development like PY 101 or HD 101. Additional general education requirements include coursework in humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics, with extra science and math credits required to meet state certification standards. Students must also complete approved courses in U.S. and Global Citizenship, fulfill a world language proficiency requirement, and take computer education courses such as CAT 200 and CAT 250 to build digital literacy skills. The Professional Studies component includes courses in educational psychology, school culture, instructional strategies, and special education foundations, along with a required internship (SPE 479) and internship seminar (EDU 400) that provide extensive hands-on teaching experience in real classroom settings. Students are also required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50 in overall coursework, teaching field, and professional studies, and must earn at least a C- in all professional courses. The Teaching Field courses focus on practical and specialized skills such as early childhood mathematics instruction, reading and literacy development, classroom assessment, behavior management, family collaboration, and differentiated instruction for diverse learners. Multiple practicum experiences (SPE 311, 312, and 313) allow students to gain real classroom exposure before completing the full internship. Overall, this program combines academic study, field experience, and professional training to prepare future educators for certification and careers in inclusive early childhood special education classrooms.