General Education Core Requirements (22 credit hours)

Liberal Arts Major Core Requirements (26 credit hours)

• PHL 205A - World Views (3)

• This course must be taken at CCU.

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• ART 112A - Art Appreciation (3) OR
• HUM 101A - Creative Arts (3)

• Or Creative Arts/Fine Arts/Music Appreciation equivalent.  

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• HUM 229A - C.S. Lewis in Film & Literature (3) OR
• HUM 216A - Classic Christmas Films & Literature (3)

• Or Literature equivalent.

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• INT 212A - Adult Studies Seminar II (3) (required)

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• HUM 114A - New Testament (3) OR
• HIS 111A - Old Testament (3)

• Other equivalent Biblical Studies course may be used.

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• CIS 201A - Introduction to Computer Applications (3)

• Or Computer Application equivalent. Only courses completed within the past 5 years will be accepted for Liberal Arts major core requirement.

• HIS 201A - World Civilization I (3)

• Or Social Science equivalent.

• HIS 204A - America since 1877 (3)

• American History/Government equivalent. If American Government is chosen, then another social science course with HIS prefix must be completed.

• Choose Natural/Physical Science elective equivalent to two (2) credit hours.

Elective Requirements (24 credit hours)

Complete 24 hours of elective credits.

Requirements for Entrance into the Professional Core:

1. Completed background check by submitting fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for acceptance by the Colorado Department of Education. (Required for program admission in order to be placed in a field experience.)
2. Cumulative GPA of 3.0 for courses completed at CCU. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be completed at CCU prior to admission into the education programs.
3. Interview with Dean of Curriculum and Instruction Education, Program Director or other education staff designee.
4. Writing sample completed at time of interview.
5. All applicants must take and pass the state approved content exam in Early Childhood Education and submit test results to CCU prior to enrolling in any education core courses. Applicants who do not pass the test may be admitted by the Program Director under conditional admission, retake the test and submit a passing score by the end of the first semester.
6. Applicants must complete all general education, liberal arts, and elective requirements prior to enrolling in any education courses. Applicants may be admitted by the Program Director for conditional admission with a maximum of 9 credits outstanding in any of the above areas. Prerequisite requirements may not be part of the 9 outstanding credits.
7. One professional letter of recommendation.
8. In addition, applicants to an early childhood education program must submit official transcripts of completion of two prerequisite courses at a Colorado community college or another accredited institution of higher education (prerequisites listed below).

Prerequisite Professional Core Requirements (6 credit hours)

Students must demonstrate a foundational background in early childhood education prior to beginning this degree by transferring 6 credits of early childhood education coursework from an accredited university. All students must transfer ECE 205 - Health, Safety, and Nutrition for ECE (3) and the additional 3 credits may be from any 100 level or higher ECE course, except field work or practicum experiences.

• ECE 205A - Health, Safety and Nutrition for ECE (3) AND
• 100 level or higher ECE course (3)

Professional Core Requirements (42 credit hours)

 All program admission requirements must be met before enrolling in the education core.

• ECE 201A - Teaching as a Profession (3)
• ECE 214A - Field I: Standards-Based Planning (2)
• ECE 314A - Curriculum: Mathematics/Science (3)
• ECE 324A - Curriculum: Reading/Language Arts/Literacy (3)
• ECE 334A - Curriculum: Social Studies/Creative Arts (3)
• ECE 340A - Assessment and Measurement (3)
• ECE 401A - Classroom and Instructional Management (3)
• ECE 403A - Special Needs Methods (3)
• ECE 414A - Field II: Research-Based Instruction (2)
• ECE 470A - Student Teaching (9)
• ECE 497A - Student Teaching Seminar (2)
• EDU 505 - Psychological Foundations of Education (3)
• RDG 447A - Diverse Reader: Intervention for Developing Readers (3)

Graduation Requirements

The faculty recommends students in the BA in Liberal Arts with Early Childhood Education Licensing to the Board of Trustees as candidates for graduation when they have completed the following requirements.

1. Completion of a total of 120 credits, including all general education, liberal arts, prerequisite, professional core, and elective requirements.  
2. Passing score on the state approved content exam.
3. A letter grade of D or higher in all CCU non-education coursework, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all CCU coursework.
4. Teacher candidates must earn a C- or better in all education cohort core courses, and must consistently demonstrate professional disposition qualities, knowledge and skills in all core courses and field studies. In Student Teaching the teacher candidates must earn a grade of C or better, and be assessed as proficient in Teacher Quality Standards, which includes the Teacher Work Sample and Teaching Evidence Log. Teacher candidates who do not maintain these standards may be dismissed from the program and/ or not be recommended for teacher licensure.
5. Recommendation by the CAGS Division of Curriculum and Instruction Education Dean for Early Childhood Education Licensing by the Colorado Department of Education. 
6. Compliance with CAGS residency requirements .
7. Formal and timely application for graduation by the date specified by the University Registrar.
8. No outstanding financial obligations to the University.