This early childhood special education teacher certification program teaches you how to support young children with exceptionalities and advance your understanding of early childhood education. You'll gain knowledge of child development theories, best practices and assessment methods. You'll also learn how to plan and implement effective interventions, monitor children’s progress and engage families collaboratively. Emphasizing the roles of family, community, collaboration and advocacy in early childhood special education, this program provides you with the knowledge, experience and certification needed to excel in this rewarding field.
Skills you’ll develop in this master’s program
Throughout this program, you'll develop a wide range of skills and competencies essential for working in early childhood education and special education settings, including:
- Collaboration with educators and parents.
- Design of inclusive instructional methodologies for various subjects.
- Development of research-based practices for typical and atypical behaviors in young children.
- Positive relationship building with children, families and communities.
- Remediation of learning difficulties.
- Support for child growth and development, including special health care needs.
- Support for language and literacy development.
- Use of a variety of assessment practices to evaluate young children's progress.
This teacher certification program also includes three professional placements: one in a birth-preschool setting and two in pre-kindergarten to grade 3 settings. You can choose between traditional or alternative certification routes. Traditional certification involves two internships and one student teaching experience, while the alternative route requires being hired as an early childhood teacher and completing two apprentice teaching courses, with an additional course or internship to meet requirements. These experiential learning opportunities will prepare you for a career in early childhood special education.
What candidates are a good fit for this early childhood special education teacher certification?
This early childhood special education master’s is ideal for candidates with a bachelor's degree in a field other than early childhood, special education or early childhood special education, who aspire to teach early childhood special education and obtain certification. If you're currently working in public or private preschools, elementary schools or early childhood education centers and you’re seeking certification or an alternative certificate, this program is well-suited for you.
Upon graduation, you'll receive an institutional recommendation for the Arizona Department of Education Early Childhood Special Education teaching certificate and will be prepared to sit for licensure exams, paving the way for a rewarding career in this field.
Prepare for teacher certification with Arizona State University’s online Master of Education in early childhood special education – teacher certification program. This program offers unique opportunities to blend early childhood development with special education, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of early childhood special education. Graduates receive an institutional recommendation for the Early Childhood Special Education teaching certification in Arizona, making you well-equipped for roles in public school systems, early intervention programs and more.
In this program, you'll take a variety of courses that blend theory with hands-on practice. You'll study child development theories and best practices, learning how to assess young children and plan interventions. Courses will cover topics such as designing inclusive instructional methodologies, supporting language and literacy development and collaborating with families and communities. You'll also learn to use various assessment practices to evaluate children's progress. The program includes experiential learning opportunities, including internships and student teaching, to apply your knowledge in real-world settings.
The Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation faculty draws from a range of academic disciplines including cognitive science, psychology and economics. They seek to answer questions about the process of learning, teaching practices and effects of education policy. Our faculty is also committed to connecting research to schools and other learning environments. They ensure teacher and leadership preparation programs combine scholarly rigor with practical application.
Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation brings people and ideas together to increase the capabilities of educators and the performance of education systems. Our university has been recognized with peer-reviewed honors from U.S. News & World Report.
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Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of their bachelor's program. Alternatively, applicants must have a minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in an applicable master's program.
All applicants must submit:
- Graduate admission application and application fee.
- Official transcripts.
- Personal statement.
- Resume.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) must provide proof of English proficiency.
- The letters of recommendation should be from individuals who have worked with you in professional or academic capacities and who can attest to your aptitude for the teaching profession and your ability to succeed at graduate-level coursework.
- The personal statement should describe the personal and professional goals that motivate you to apply for this program, what has led you to this career path and how this program will help you excel as an early childhood special education teacher. The admission committee pays particular attention to the quality of writing and ideas expressed in the personal statement.
- GRE testing or scores aren't required for admission.
Professional licensure and certification:
- Graduates are eligible to earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification from the Arizona Department of Education.
- Graduates can directly apply for licensure through the Arizona Department of Education and via licensure-to-licensure review in another state. To be eligible for an educator credential in Arizona, candidates must meet all requirements specified by the Arizona Department of Education. To apply via licensure-to-licensure review, candidates must hold a comparable, standard and valid out-of-state educator license before applying for licensure.
- Note: The out-of-state license must have no pending/active deficiencies or disciplinary actions.
- Arizona Revised Statutes require many professions to have an active fingerprint clearance card before or as a condition of licensure, certification or employment. We highly recommend that students apply for an Identify Verified Prints (IVP) fingerprint clearance card before degree completion to facilitate teacher certification.
State authorization:
We strongly recommend you visit our state authorization page to learn how ASU is authorized to operate in your state, policies for out-of-state students and program exceptions.
ASU's academic programs that prepare you for professional licensure or certification are designed to meet Arizona's requirements. Completing an ASU program may not fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states. For additional information, visit the professional licensure webpage.
Contact [email protected] if you have questions about licensure or certification.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”