Undergraduate Licensure in Special Education

Financial Aid Priority filing date is March 1

To be eligible for admission to SELP, students should have:

• Selected an appropriate major for content and level
• Attended an advising session with the College of Education Advisor (Bill Bannister, Ruth Sansing or Brain Mann) and complete a Preparation Plan listing course work still needed to complete the undergraduate degree content and prerequisite courses. Included in this plan is a timeline of dates and a list of the Teacher Education core courses still needing to be completed
• Earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better

Application Process

• Carefully read this Program Information Bulletin and identify questions you have about the program.
• Complete the UCCS online undergraduate application found at: Apply Now!  Complete the SELP application below
• Pay the $50.00 application fee online during the application process (International students pay $100.00 application fee)
• Contact the Financial Aid office to determine eligibility for aid. (Phone: 255-3460)
• Schedule an admissions and information interview with a Special Education program faculty member early in the process. The goal of this appointment is to answer questions you have about the program, clarify the procedures for admission to the program, and to determine your level of interest in and preparation for the program. Call 719-255-4996 or education@uccs.edu to set up the appointment.
• Have one copy of all previous academic transcripts sent directly to the Admissions and Records office. (See below for address).
• Prepare a written "Goals Statement" 
• Obtain three letters of recommendation that speak to your ability to successfully complete a program in Special Education. Choose your references carefully. Persons who have been in positions to supervise and/or evaluate your work. Do not ask friends or others who might be biased to write a recommendation.
  SPED recommendation letter
• • Send all documents to:
  University of Colorado Colorado Springs
  Office of Admissions, Special Education
  Department Admissions
  
  
  Postal Services:
  UCCS Office of Admissions
  1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
  Colorado Springs CO 80918-3733
  Electronically:
  gradapp@uccs.edu

Additional items of note for International applicants:

English Proficiency must be demonstrated through providing evidence of an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, a TOEFL score of 550-(paper-based) or 80-(internet-based) or a Kaplan International Tools for English (KITE®) score of a minimum of 460. Students may make arrangements to take KITE® at the Global Engagement Office.

Applicants with any post-secondary course work from an international higher education institution that is recognized by their country’s Education Ministry must submit a course-by-course foreign degree evaluation by member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org/members), AACRAO (http://aacrao.matrixdev.net) or World Education Services/WES (https://www.wes.org).

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, its educational programs and activities.

Click here for the SELP application

The course planning for undergrad students seeking initial Special Education licensure (42 semester hrs).  Additional courses for the BA in English, Biology, Geography, Spanish or History are required for the BA.  The program for both the BA and SPED Generalist Initial Licensure is 124 semester hours of course work.

All students are admitted during the summer and begin their coursework for their special education license the fall. Students must commit to completing these courses in sequence. Students have the option of taking three courses before they start their work in the program. The initial licensure program requires a significant amount of time spent working in the field. Applicants who anticipate problems in completing the 800 clock hour field experience courses of the program (4 week practicum, one day per week field experience, and student teaching) should speak with a faculty member immediately and consider other options for their study if the concern cannot be resolved. For additional information about course sequencing, please see the advising sheets.

Undergraduate Initial Licensure Planning Form

Students seeking a Special Education Generalist License in the State of
Colorado must complete the following exams to be recommended for licensure:

*Students will not be permitted to continue on to student teaching until both exams are passed.

Exam Information