Bachelor of Arts in Inclusive Elementary Education

What is "inclusive" education?

Description

You will learn to be a teacher for all children with a BA in Inclusive Elementary Education. This degree prepares teachers to utilize universal design for learning, innovative methods, instructional best-practice, and technology to support the success of all students. The program leads to:

✔ An Initial Teaching License in Elementary (K–6)

✔ A Special Education Generalist (ages 5–21) Endorsement

✔ A Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education (K–12) Endorsement

Bachelor of Arts in Inclusive Elementary Education Highlights

• Program focus is on elements of student diversity and inclusive practices in classrooms
• Emphasis on strategies to teach students within an inclusive school community
• Preservice teachers spend over 800 hours in the field in multiple inclusive instructional settings planning lessons, delivering instruction, and assessing student learning
• Master inclusive teachers provide coaching and feedback throughout the program
• Courses are designed to infuse special education and English as a Second Language methodology in the classroom

"Graduates of this program will be in high demand. We believe that all teachers need to be prepared to teach all learners. This degree will prepare teachers to work across the spectrum of learning that they face in today's classrooms."   -Valerie Martin Conley, Dean of the College of Education, Communique Article, 2015

Fact

A recent labor market report from the Colorado Office of Economic Development found that the number of annual graduates (1,976) falls well short of the annual number of job openings (3,456) for preschool, elementary, secondary, and special education teachers.

Watch our 2020 video contest winner, Mya Austin, explain why she wants to be a teacher!

To remain in good standing within the College of Education, students must maintain a cumulative CU GPA of 2.0, or better all semesters. Students whose cumulative CU GPA falls below a 2.0 will be placed on academic probation for the next semester in which they are enrolled. While on probation, students must raise their cumulative GPA to 2.0 within one semester. If the required semester GPA is not met, the student will be suspended from the College of Education for a full academic year. An cumulative CU GPA of 2.75 is required to graduate with a BA in Inclusive Elementary Education.

All IELM courses must be completed with a grade of B- or better.

All courses listed below are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

New Students & Initial Program Advising

First step is to apply to UCCS. Once admitted to the University, your next step is to attend an orientation and meet with an advisor in Academic Advising. In your advising session, you will complete a Preparation Plan listing coursework needed to complete the undergraduate degree.

Transfer Students & Year 2 Advising

Continue to meet with your Academic Advisor and call the College of Education Student Resource Office (719) 255-4996 to make an appointment with a College of Education Faculty Advisor.

Year 3 Advising

September–November before your Professional Year, contact the UCCS College of Education Student Resource Office at (719) 255-4996 to schedule an advising appointment with your assigned IELM Faculty Advisor. During this appointment the Faculty Advisor will verify that you are on-track to meet program requirements, will review the application process with you, and will outline the upcoming Professional Year.

Request for Professional Year Placement

The final year of the program is called the Professional Year. The Professional Year is a Summer/Fall/Spring sequence of coursework. During the Professional Year, you will be placed, engage in training activities, student teach, and be supervised within inclusive classroom settings.

Request Process

Students request their Professional Year placement during the EDUC 3992 Introduction to Professional Year - Elementary course. In this course students submit materials to showcase their growth toward becoming a teacher, interview with faculty and/or school administrators, and receive support in taking the Praxis exams.

For questions regarding this process, please contact the COE Student Resource Office: 719-255-4996

Passing scores on the state-required Praxis exams for an elementary teaching license are an admission requirement for the elementary Professional Year (#5901 Elementary Education: Three Subject Bundle and #5205 Teaching Reading: Elementary). Students may opt to take the each sub-section of the three-subject bundle separately (#5903, #5904, #5905, respectively). Students must have passed at least TWO of the four subjects (Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science) by July 15 of their Professional Year in order to continue to the Fall semester. Students must have passed all FOUR sub-sections by December 31 in order to continue to the Spring semester of the Professional Year. If this requirement is not met by the deadline, the student must withdraw or defer their Professional Year until it is met.

A passing score on the Praxis #5354 exam is required to qualify for the Special Education Generalist (ages 5-12) endorsement. It is recommended that students take this exam after completing IELM 4005 taken in the Summer just prior to the Professional Year.