The Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Special Education is home to the following programs:

• Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) is a teacher certification program that prepares graduates to work with young children birth through kindergarten. This certification can be earned at either the undergraduate level or at the graduate level through the Master of Arts in Teaching program

• Elementary (P-5) Education is an undergraduate major that certifies our graduates to work in elementary schools.

• Special Education (P-12) certifies our graduates to work with either students with mild to disabilities (Learning and Behavior Disorders) or more severe learning difficulties (Moderate and Severe Disabilities). At the undergraduate level all special education majors are also certified in either elementary education or middle school education. Either special education certification can be earned as a graduate student through the Master of Arts in Teaching.

In addition, the Department offers the following options for individuals who do not wish to pursue teaching certification:

• Child Development is a program which runs in parallel with the IECE program and prepares its graduates to work in and manage private childcare programs.

• Community Support Services is a major which prepares its graduates to work in community services for people with disabilities such as employment programs, group homes or other residential programs, or support services through Comprehensive Care Centers. This program also offers a minor that is appropriate for people majoring in psychology, social work, or other human service programs which may lead them to careers working with people with disabilities.

• Child Development Associate is a training program for child care workers which offers 9 hours of approved course work leading to the credential needed to work in licensed child care settings facilities. This program is managed by the Educational Unit on Child Care Services.