Special Education, Early Childhood and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Our departmental faculty are focused in three different program areas – Special Education, Early Childhood Education and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education.