Early Childhood Special Education

Accelerated Master's Pathway (AMP)
Program Delivery
On Campus, Online, Hybrid
Total Credits
12 Credits

About the Program

The Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) in Early Childhood Special Education allows high-achieving students to pursue the Bachelor’s of Arts in Inclusive Early Childhood Education (IECE BA) and Master’s of Arts in Special Education (SPED MA) degrees in an accelerated manner. AMP is a combination of these two existing programs, allowing for 12 credits of graduate credits to count toward the requirements of both degrees. The program is essentially a recruiting tool that motivates students to pursue their MA at UCCS, which is beneficial to both the Department of Teaching and Learning and the overall career development of the student. 

Why AMP?

Earning your MA isn't just about the extra letters after your name; it’s a strategic career move. Most school districts offer a higher starting salary for teachers with a Master’s degree, and the advanced training opens doors to leadership roles, specialized consulting, and more job security in high-demand fields. 

Focus of Study

The IECE BA to SPED MA Accelerated Program is a fast-track option for students who want to earn a Master’s Degree without starting from scratch after undergraduate graduation. Instead of taking separate classes for each degree, you can count up to 12 graduate-level credit hours toward both your Bachelor’s and your Master’s. By "double-dipping" on these credits, you significantly cut down the time it takes to finish your advanced degree. 

Program Requirements

Requirements for the combined AMP are the composite of the IECE BA and SPED MA degrees. Specifically, 12 credit hours of graduate-level courses count towards the special education endorsement requirements of the IECE BA degree, while also counting toward the requirements of the SPED MA degree. Below is the program plan:

 

AMP Courses (12 Credits):

  • SPED 5004: Transition and Self-Determination (Fall)  
    • Replaces IECE 4500 – UDL for Learning and Individualized Supports
  • SPED 5020 – Significant Support Needs (Spring)
    • Replaces IELM 3250 – Complex Support Needs
  • SPED 5021 – Positive Classroom Environments (Fall)
    • Replaces IECE 4020 – Positive Classroom Communities
  • SPED 5022 – Consultation and Collaboration (Spring
    • Replaces IECE 3600 – Culturally Responsive Leadership and Practices in Early Childhood

 

Additional Courses Needed for SPED MA (18 Credits):

  • LEAD 5700: Introduction to Research and Statistics
  • SPED 5000: Disability Studies in Education
  • SPED 5001: Foundations of Special Education
  • CURR 5090: Applied Research Project
  • IECE 5010: Diversity and Child Development
  • SPED 5303: Designing Trauma-Informed Supports in the Classroom 

 

Total Credit Hours: 30 

Program Admission

Students may apply for AMP after they have:

  • Completed at least 30 credit hours at UCCS
  • Completed at least 15 credit hours in the IECE BA program
  • Earned Junior class standing or higher
  • Maintained a cumulative UCCS GPA of at least 3.00
  • Interviewed with a SPED MA faculty member

  • Completed an Intent Application

     

After the application is accepted, the student may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate classes as an IECE BA student. The 12 credit hours of graduate coursework will be applied toward special education endorsement requirements for the IECE BA, as well as toward course requirements for the SPED MA.

Continuous enrollment (Fall and Spring semesters) from IECE BA to SPED MA is needed for courses to double count towards both degrees. Further, while students are in AMP, they must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA throughout the program. Lastly, if admission to another UCCS Master's or Doctoral program is sought, admission must follow completion of the IECE BA to SPED MA AMP.

Contact

For additional information, please contact Ashley Lawless (alawless@uccs.edu) - IECE Faculty Director or Scott Kupferman (skupferm@uccs.edu) - Special Education Faculty Director.