Inclusive Elementary Education, BA to Special Education, MA (Accelerated Masters Pathway)

The Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) in TESOL allows high-achieving students to pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Inclusive Elementary Education (IELM BA) and Master of Arts in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages—TESOL MA) degrees in an accelerated manner.

AMP is a combination of these two existing programs, allowing for 9 credits of graduate credits, at the undergraduate rate, to count toward the requirements of both degrees.

Requirements for the combined AMP are the composite of the IELM BA and TESOL MA degrees. Specifically, 9 credit hours of graduate-level courses count towards the Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) endorsement requirements of the IELM BA degree, while also counting toward the requirements of the TESOL MA degree. Below is the program plan: 

AMP Courses (9 Credits): These three courses can be taken by undergraduates in the IELM BA degree—they replace similar undergraduate courses in the IELM BA program: 

• CURR 5713 – Linguistics for Educators 
• Replaces IELM 3100 – Language and Linguistics 
• CURR 5705 – Second Language Acquisition 
• Replaces IELM 3150 – Second Language Acquisition 
• CURR 5704 – Practicum in ESL/Multicultural Education 
• Replaces IELM 3950 – Field Experience II 

 Additional Courses Needed for TESOL MA (21 Credits): 

• LEAD 5700 – Introduction to Research and Statistics 
• CURR 5750 – ESL for Educators 
• CURR 5701 – Methods & Materials for ESL/Multicultural Education 
• CURR 5702 – Literacy for All Learners 
• CURR 5703 –Assessment for Multilingual Learners 
• CURR 5707 – Parent and Community Engagement 
• CURR 5090 – Research Project 

Total Credit Hours: 30

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.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Holly Sandler (hsandler@uccs.edu) - IELM Faculty Director or Dr. Scott Kupferman (skupferm@uccs.edu) - Special Education Faculty Director.