Major in Early Childhood Education

In collaboration with Educator Preparation within the School of Education (SOE), the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) provides an Early Childhood Education Major with teacher licensure (ECE-L).  

The ECE-L degree enables students to apply for Early Childhood with teacher licensure and Director Qualification in the state of Colorado and will qualify students to engage in a number of early childhood professions including teaching grades Pre-K to 3rd in public or private schools in Colorado, teaching in Head Start or other preschool or child care programs, providing infant and toddler programming, establishing a business as a family child care center or child care provider, and serving as director of a child care center. An understanding of human development and family studies provides a strong foundation for students desiring a license to teach young children between the ages of 0 and 8. Knowledge of lifespan developmental processes and family systems prepares future teachers to work in partnership with families in educating children. Students who earn the ECE-L degree also earn a minor in HDFS without taking additional coursework.

Students are encouraged to declare the ECE major during their freshman or sophomore years and are required to meet with their HDFS advisor during the first semester of their sophomore year. Following a review process, ECE students will transition into the formal teacher licensure program in semester 4, when the ECE-L designation will be added to their academic record. Students are also encouraged to carefully review the program of study as some program requirements must be completed before beginning teacher licensure coursework (e.g., the EDUC sequence). Students move through licensure coursework as a cohort, starting fall semester of junior year. Students in the ECE-L major achieve both Early Childhood Education core learning outcomes obtained through HDFS and EDUC courses, and the educator competencies required by the Colorado Department of Education for Early Childhood Education teacher licensure.

Learning Objectives

Students will demonstrate:

1. Content knowledge and understanding of theory, research, and practice relevant to optimizing the development, health, and well-being of children and families in the context of the larger social environment.
2. Effective written and oral communication skills appropriate for early childhood educators interfacing with colleagues, children, and parents/guardians.
3. The ability to access, critically evaluate, and apply multiple forms of information related to children and families.
4. Professional and leadership skills with individuals and families, including ethical and culturally sensitive conduct.
5. Knowledge and skill in teaching and assessing literacy, mathematics, social studies, science, music, art, and physical education in early childhood.

Learn more about the Early Childhood Education major on the Department of Human Development and Family Studies website.

Students must earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA in all AUCC courses and a minimum grade of a C (2.000) in all HDFS and EDUC courses and PSY 460, including courses used as substitutions. Students must achieve a 2.75 GPA to transition to the education coursework (ECE-L) in semester 5. For teacher licensure, students must complete their degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.

Additionally, only a maximum of 6 credits fulfilling major requirements may also count toward the HDFS Minor, department certificates (Youth Mentoring with Campus Connections, Disability & Neurodiversity, and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health), and the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor. Students double majoring must have a minimum of 27 credits that are unique to the second major.

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

Students must meet with their Human Development Family Studies (HDFS) Advisor/Academic Success Coordinator to successfully complete HDFS and ECE-L degree requirements. Coursework in the Center for Educator Preparation (CEP) requires a 4 semester (or 2 year) consecutive sequence to complete, therefore EDUC courses must be taken in the semester indicated. Additional requirements--Students must: 1) meet with their HDFS Advisor during semester 3 to review coursework and requirements; 

2) have a 2.75 GPA and be cleared to begin teacher licensure coursework by the end of semester 4;

3)  pass a criminal arrest record background check before participating in field placement courses;

4)  complete a graduation contract with an HDFS Advisor during the first two weeks of the semester in which they are graduating.