Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education

Overview

The Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education BAE program from Arizona State University teaches child development, research-based instructional and assessment practices in early childhood education and the skills to assess, monitor and report the progress of children with and without disabilities. It provides techniques and approaches to collaborate and partner with family members in the growth and development of young children.

This program is designed to prepare highly competitive graduates. The teacher certification program in early childhood and early childhood special education is clinically embedded during the junior and senior years. The primary goal of all clinical experiences is to provide interns and student teachers with multiple opportunities to apply knowledge learned in coursework to practice with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and children in preK-3 classrooms. Students complete internships during their junior year that require a minimum of two days per week in a classroom. In their senior year, students complete a full-time, year-long apprenticeship known as the senior year residency. Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College faculty and experienced mentor teachers from partner schools coach interns and student teachers during required clinical experiences. The clinical experiences provided by the program is unmatched in Arizona. It provides students an opportunity to work directly with children and make an immediate impact on classroom achievement.

Career Opportunities

There is a strong demand for early childhood special education teachers in Arizona. A high percentage of students from this program receive job offers during their senior year residency. Many graduates with a degree in early childhood special education hold leadership positions in Head Start, private nonprofit and private for-profit center-based programs and public school early childhood environments.