Early Childhood Special Education

The Program

The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Program offers a non-categorical program of study that prepares early childhood educators and early childhood special educators to work with children birth through eight. The early childhood special educator may work directly with children who have disabilities and their families or may work in a collaborative relationship with other professionals. Settings for service delivery include public and private school special education classes and inclusive classes, early intervention programs, Head Start and Early Head Start, public and private child care, the home, hospital settings and specialized agency programs. Students are offered the opportunity to train in age-related subspecialties of preprimary, birth to five, or primary school age, K through Grade 3. The ECSE Program is an approved program by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children. Program graduates possess knowledge and skills in the specific content areas recommended by NAEYC and DEC:

• child development and learning,
• curriculum development and implementation
• routine-based intervention in natural environments
• family-centered service delivery models
• child assessment, evaluation, and progress monitoring
• cultural, linguistic, and economic diversity
• field-based practicum and internships.

Students interested in working with infants, toddlers and their families in early intervention settings can take an Infant Special Education Concentration.

View the Program of Study for the ECSE Master's and Infant Special Education specialization...