The University of Wyoming is dedicated to offering high quality graduate programs that will provide students with the necessary skills to become educational leaders within their areas of specialization. The university is pleased to offer an innovative post-baccalaureate program in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE).
Drawing from the expertise in four colleges (Education, Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, and Agriculture), an interdisciplinary program has been developed. It ensures that graduates will demonstrate the highest competence in working with young children with disabilities/delays and their families.
This program is competency based. It is drawn from the State of Wyoming teacher certification standards for early childhood special education and from the Council of Exceptional Children Division of Early Childhood's national recommendations.
Please note: This is a pre-kindergarten certification program and does not prepare candidates to work with kindergarten and primary grade students.
Those with a baccalaureate degree in education, family and consumer sciences, developmental psychology, communication disorders, nursing or social work are eligible for admission to the certification program.
Prior to enrolling in any of the endorsement program courses, the candidate must complete the online application to UW, send official transcripts, pay the ECSE program application fee, and receive formal notification of program admittance. When you are filling out the application, choose the Graduate level option: Graduate Studies. The Program of Study option is: Endorsement -Early Childhood Special Education (Distance Learning). A letter of intent is required; be sure to include your background in early childhood, and why you want to pursue this certificate. Once you have completed the application process and paid the university fee through the UW admissions website, please pay the ECSE program application fee.
Twenty hours of course work and an additional three to six hours of practicum experience are required for certification.
Upon completion of the program, students compile a portfolio to demonstrate program competencies.
WY Quality Counts will provide funds of $1000 per year, per student, for pursing this endorsement. Students must apply for funds 45 days prior to enrollment in a course. Students must have the signature of a program advisor to complete paperwork with the Department of Workforce Services for these funds. Students should email Nikki Baldwin (nikb@uwyo.edu) if they need that signature.
Most courses are offered online through the UW at a Distance which enables students to take courses without traveling to the UW Campus in Laramie.
This post-graduate endorsement program is NCATE accredited and prepares students to teach children with disabilities or delays (Birth to Five) using Council for Exceptional Children/Division of Early Childhood Recommended Practices.
