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Ever notice the way a child’s face lights up after learning something new?

You could experience that on a daily basis by becoming a teacher.

The Department of Special Education, Early Childhood and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education focuses on career readiness and real-world experiences. Our students learn in small classes taught by experienced faculty and spend myriad hours observing and teaching in classrooms so that the theories they learn during their course work can be directly applied to a classroom of students. Whether you decide to focus on supporting students with disabilities by becoming a special-education teacher, would like to learn strategies and skills to support students from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, or want to focus on a career as an Early Childhood teacher so you can nurture preschool-age children during their critical years of academic development, our program will help you achieve your goals. 

Few jobs are more rewarding or more important than helping guide our youngest through their first intellectual steps. Earning your teaching license won’t be easy. However, over time, you will develop the necessary knowledge and awareness to support the educational needs of all students. By joining the Department of Special Education, Early Childhood and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, you will graduate as an educator with the skills to make a lasting difference in the lives of your students. Whichever path you choose, you’ll graduate from MSU Denver equipped to succeed.

Our Programs

We offer a variety of programs for learners at all levels interested in special education, early childhood education and culturally and linguistically diverse education. Please browse our program options below.

SPECIAL EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

SPECIAL EDUCATION POST-BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS

SPECIAL EDUCATION GRADUATE PROGRAMS

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS

CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE PROGRAMS

Programs in Special Education

Whether you are seeking a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, a license to teach special education, a certificate in autism and significant support needs, an added endorsement for your existing teacher’s license, or you are simply interested in coursework in the field of special education, we have an option for you!

Special Education Undergraduate Programs (major, minor)

Students in the Special Education major engage in courses and field experience work that will prepare them to teach individuals with disabilities in a variety of K-12 education settings.  Successful completion of this degree program earns candidates a recommendation for initial teacher licensure in Special Education Generalist (K-12) in Colorado.

We also offer a minor in Special Education, which is a great option for undergraduate students who are still exploring their career options and for those who wish to acquire the skills necessary to work with diverse learners in a career other than school teaching.

Select the program tiles below to learn more.

Special Education Post-Baccalaureate Programs (licensure, added endorsement)

We offer pathways to teacher licensure in special education at the undergraduate level for learners who have already earned a bachelor’s degree.

Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree or post-baccalaureate program that leads to teacher licensure in another area may also choose to complete added endorsement courses in special education so that they may earn multiple endorsements by the time they complete their program.  This is also a great program for currently licensed teachers who wish to add this endorsement to their license. This is a state-approved added endorsement program.

Select the program tiles below to learn more.

Special Education Graduate Programs (major, certificate)

The School of Education’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program offers a concentration in Special Education.  Graduates of this program earn recommendation for initial teacher licensure in Special Education Generalist (K-12) along with the master’s degree.

Additionally, we offer a graduate-level certificate program in Autism and Significant Support Needs.  This is a great certificate for any licensed or pre-service teacher, and the courses you complete will also count toward our Master of Education in Curriculum Instruction – Inclusive Practices concentration!

Select the program tiles below to learn more.

Programs in Early Childhood Education

We offer a variety of undergraduate programs focused in Early Childhood Education (ECE).  Students seeking an undergraduate degree can major in ECE and choose a path – Teacher Licensure or Early Learning Specialization, or they can choose to declare a minor in ECE.

For those who have already completed a bachelor’s degree, you can become a licensed ECE teacher by completing our Post-Baccalaureate ECE Teacher Licensure program.

Select the program tiles below to learn more.

We also offer coursework which satisfied the requirements for ECE Director Qualification in Colorado – speak with one of our advisors to learn more!

Programs in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Education has become a necessity for teachers.  Our state-approved added endorsement program is a great addition to any teaching license (past, present or future).

Are you a Spanish-speaker?  Perhaps you should consider our state-approved Spanish Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Bilingual (CLDB) Education Specialist K-12 Added Endorsement Program, which will result in recommendation for the CLD Bilingual added endorsement in Colorado.

Pre-service teachers: you can take the courses for these endorsement programs along with your initial licensure program courses and earn recommendation for the added endorsement(s) as soon as you finish your initial licensure program (smart move, if you ask us)!

Additionally, we offer a Bilingual Education Specialist Certificate for School Educators.  This certificate program provides additional expertise in teaching bilingual Spanish-English/English-Spanish students.

Select the program tiles below to learn more.

Meet our Elementary Special Education, Early Childhood and CLD Faculty

Headshot photo of Dr. Kathy Whitmore

Dr. Kathy Whitmore

Professor of Early Childhood Education, Department Chair

[email protected] 303-615-1777 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Dr. Rosemarie Allen

Dr. Rosemarie Allen

Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education

[email protected] 303-615-0113 Full Profile
Headshot photo of P. Charlie Buckley.

Dr. Pamela Charlie Buckley

Assistant Professor of Special Education

[email protected] 303-615-1944 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Dr. Rebecca Canges

Dr. Rebecca Canges

Professor of Special Education

[email protected] 303-615-0251 Full Profile
Headshot of Dr. Jeanne Connelly

Dr. Jeanne Connelly

Assistant Professor of Special Education

[email protected] 303-605-7564 Full Profile
School of Education logo on blue background.

Eric Elmore

Lecturer of Early Childhood Education

[email protected] 303-605-7936 Full Profile
School of Education logo on blue background.

Ivan Espinosa Orozco

Lecturer of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

[email protected] Full Profile
Headshot of Dr. Brandon Gilbert

Dr. Brandon Gilbert

Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education

[email protected] 303-605-7563 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Dr. Kara Halley

Dr. Kara Halley

Professor of Special Education

[email protected] 303-615-0528 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Dr. Elmer Harris

Dr. Elmer Harris

Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education

[email protected] 303-605-7194 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Dr. Tina Herring

Dr. Tina Herring

Professor of Special Education

[email protected] 303-615-0566 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Lina Martin Corredor.

Dr. Lina Martin Corredor

Assistant Professor of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

[email protected] 303-605-7565 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Dr. Dorothy Shapland

Dr. Dorothy Shapland

Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education

[email protected] 303-615-1175 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Dr. Michele Trujillo

Dr. Michele Trujillo

Associate Professor of Special Education

[email protected] 303-605-7197 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Dr. Peter Vigil

Dr. Peter Vigil

Professor of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

[email protected] 303-615-1274 Full Profile
Headshot photo of Andrew Walton

Dr. Andrew Walton

Assistant Professor of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

[email protected] 303-605-7932 Full Profile

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Questions?

Our contact information can be found to the right, but if you'd like to ask a quick question, please use the button below.

CONTACT US

Email
[email protected]

Phone
303-615-1777

Campus Location
West Classroom Building, Suite 136

Mailing Address
Campus Box 21
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362